Earthly Branches
| Earthly Branches | ||
|---|---|---|
Hanyu Pinyin dìzhī | | |
| Yue: Cantonese | ||
| Yale Romanization | deih ji | |
| Jyutping | dei6 zi1 | |
| Southern Min | ||
| Hokkien POJ | tē-chi / tōe-chi | |
| Transcriptions | |
|---|---|
| Revised Romanization | jiji |
| Transcriptions | |
|---|---|
| Romanization | chishi |
| 12 Branches | |
|---|---|
Hanyu Pinyin | shí'èr zhī |
| Yue: Cantonese | |
| Yale Romanization | sahp yih ji |
| Jyutping | sap6 ji6 zi1 |
| Southern Min | |
| Hokkien POJ | si̍p-jī-chi / cha̍p-jī-chi / cha̍p-lī-ki |
The twelve Earthly Branches or Terrestrial Branchesordinals.
Origin
This system was built from observations of the orbit of Jupiter. Chinese astronomers divided the celestial circle into 12 sections to follow the orbit of 歲星 Suìxīng (Jupiter, the Year Star). Astronomers rounded the orbit of Suixing to 12 years (from 11.86). Suixing was associated with 攝提 Shètí (η Boötis) and sometimes called Sheti.
Jonathan Smith has proposed that the first meanings of the earthly branches, predating the
heavenly stems at that point referring to divisions of the ecliptic. After being adopted as a calendar these would have lost their clear lunar reference, permitting their repurposing for Jupiter stations.[2]
History
In correlative thinking, the 12 years of the Jupiter cycle also identify the 12 months of the year, 12 animals (
jiéqì
system provided single hours and 15-degree arcs in time and space.)
Chinese seasons are based on observations of the sun and stars. Many Chinese calendrical systems have started the new year on the second new moon after the winter solstice.
The Earthly Branches are today used with the Heavenly Stems in the current version of the "traditional Chinese calendar" and in Taoism. The Ganzhi (Stem-Branch) combination is a fairly new way to mark time; in the second millennium BC, during the Shang era, the 10 Heavenly Stems provided the names of the days of the week. The Branches are as old as the Stems (and according to recent archaeology may actually be older), but the Stems were tied to the ritual calendars of Chinese kings.
Twelve branches
| Earthly Branch |
Chinese | Japanese | Ryukyuan (Okinawan) | Korean ( RR )
|
Mongolian | Manchu | Vietnamese | Chinese zodiac |
Japanese zodiac |
Direction | Season | Lunar Month | Double Hour | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mandarin Zhuyin
|
Mandarin Pinyin |
Cantonese Jyutping |
Hokkien POJ |
Middle Chinese Baxter |
Old Chinese Baxter-Sagart |
on'yomi of Earthly Branch |
kun'yomi of Animal / Zodiac |
on'yomi of Earthly Branch |
Japanese-based kun'yomi of Animal / Zodiac |
native kunyomi of animal zodiac | ||||||||||||
| 1 | 子 | ㄗˇ | zǐ | zi2 | chú | tsiX | *[ts]əʔ | し (shi) | ね (ne) | し (shi) | にー (nii) | えんちゅ (enchu) | 자 (ja) | ᠬᠤᠯᠤᠭᠠᠨᠠ | ᠰᡳᠩᡤᡝᡵᡳ | tí (SV: tử) | 鼠 Rat |
鼠 Rat |
0° (north) | winter | Month 11 | 11pm to 1am (midnight) |
| 2 | 丑 | ㄔㄡˇ | chǒu | cau2 | thiú | trhjuwX | *[n̥]ruʔ | ちゅう (chū) | うし (ushi) | ちゅー (chuu) | うし (ushi) | うし (ushi) | 축 (chuk) | ᠦᠬᠡᠷ | ᡳᡥᠠᠨ | sửu | 牛 Ox |
牛 Cow |
30° | Month 12 | 1am to 3am | |
| 3 | 寅 | ㄧㄣˊ | yín | jan4 | în | yin | *[ɢ](r)ər | いん (in) | とら (tora) | いん (in) | とぅら (tura) | とぅら (tura) | 인 (in) | ᠪᠠᠷᠰ | ᡨᠠᠰᡥᠠ | dần | 虎 Tiger |
虎 Tiger |
60° | spring | Month 1 | 3am to 5am |
| 4 | 卯 | ㄇㄠˇ | mǎo | maau5 | báu | maewX | *mˤruʔ | ぼう (bō) | う (u) | ぼー (boo) | うー (uu) | うさじ (usaji) | 묘 (myo) | ᠲᠠᠤᠯᠠᠢ | ᡤᡡᠯᠮᠠᡥᡡᠨ | mão (non-SV: mẹo) | 兔 Rabbit |
兎 Rabbit |
90° (east) | Month 2 | 5am to 7am | |
| 5 | 辰 | ㄔㄣˊ | chén | san4 | sîn | dzyin | *[d]ər | しん (shin) | たつ (tatsu) | しん (shin) | たち (tachi) | りゅー (ryuu) | 진 (jin) | ᠯᠤᠤ | ᠮᡠᡩᡠᡵᡳ | thìn (SV: thần) | 龙（龍） Dragon |
竜 (龍) Dragon |
120° | Month 3 | 7am to 9 am | |
| 6 | 巳 | ㄙˋ | sì | zi6 | sū | ziX | *s-[ɢ]əʔ | し (shi) | み (mi) | し (shi) | みー (mii) | はぶ (habu) | 사 (sa) | ᠮᠣᠭᠠᠢ | ᠮᡝᡳᡥᡝ | tị | 蛇 Snake |
蛇 Snake |
150° | summer | Month 4 | 9am to 11am |
| 7 | 午 | ㄨˇ | wǔ | ng5 | ngó͘ | nguX | *[m].qʰˤaʔ | ご (go) | うま (uma) | ぐ (gu) | うま (uma) | んま ('nma) | 오 (o) | ᠮᠣᠷᠢ | ᠮᠣᡵᡳᠨ | ngọ | 马（馬） Horse |
馬 Horse |
180° (south) | Month 5 | 11am to 1pm (noon) | |
| 8 | 未 | ㄨㄟˋ | wèi | mei6 | bī | mjɨjH | *m[ə]t-s | び (bi) | ひつじ (hitsuji) | び (bi) | ふぃちじ (fichiji) | ふぃーじゃー (fiijaa) | 미 (mi) | ᠬᠣᠨᠢ | ᡥᠣᠨᡳᠨ | mùi (SV: vị) | 羊 Goat |
羊 Sheep |
210° | Month 6 | 1pm to 3pm | |
| 9 | 申 | ㄕㄣ | shēn | san1 | sin | syin | *l̥i[n] | しん (shin) | さる (saru) | しん (shin) | さーるー (saaruu) | さーるー (saaruu) | 신 (sin) | ᠪᠡᠴᠢᠨ | ᠪᠣᠨᡳᠣ | thân | 猴 Monkey |
猿 Monkey |
240° | autumn | Month 7 | 3pm to 5pm |
| 10 | 酉 | ㄧㄡˇ | yǒu | jau5 | iú | yuwX | *N-ruʔ | ゆう (yū) | とり (tori) | ゆー (yuu) | とぅい (tu'i) | とぅい (tu'i) | 유 (yu) | ᠲᠠᠬᠢᠶᠠ | ᠴᠣᡴᠣ | dậu | 鸡（雞） Rooster |
鶏 (鳥) Chicken |
270° (west) | Month 8 | 5pm to 7pm | |
| 11 | 戌 | ㄒㄩ | xū | seot1 | sut | swit | *s.mi[t] | じゅつ (jutsu) | いぬ (inu) | じゅつ (jutsu) | いん ('in) | いん ('in) | 술 (sul) | ᠨᠣᠬᠠᠢ | ᡳᠨᡩᠠᡥᡡᠨ | tuất | 狗 Dog |
犬 Dog |
300° | Month 9 | 7pm to 9pm | |
| 12 | 亥 | ㄏㄞˋ | hài | hoi6 | hāi | hojX | *[ɡ]ˤəʔ | がい (gai) | い (i) | げー (gee) | いー (yii) | やましし (yamashishi) | 해 (hae) | ᠭᠠᠬᠠᠢ | ᡠᠯᡤᡳᠶᠠᠨ | hợi | 猪（豬） Pig |
猪 Wild boar |
330° | winter | Month 10 | 9pm to 11pm |
Some cultures assign different animals:
Kazakh version of the 12 year animal cycle (Kazakh: мүшел, müşel), the Dragon is substituted by a snail (Kazakh: ұлу, ulw), and the Tiger appears as a leopard (Kazakh: барыс, barıs).[3]
Directions
Though Chinese has words for the four
astrologers
preferred using the 12 directions of the Earthly Branches, which is somewhat similar to the modern-day practice of English-speaking pilots using o'clock for directions. Since 12 points were not enough for sailing, 12 midpoints were added. Instead of combining two adjacent direction names, they assigned new names:
- For the four diagonal directions, appropriate trigram names of I Ching were used.
- For the rest, the Heavenly Stems (1–4, 7–10) were used. According to the Five Elements theory, east is assigned to wood, and the Stems of wood are 甲 (jiǎ) and 乙 (yǐ). Thus, they were assigned clockwise to the two adjacent points of the east.
The 24 directions are:
| Character | Mandarin name | Cantonese name | Hokkien name | Korean name | Japanese name | Ryukyuan (Okinawan) | Vietnamese name | Direction | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 子 | ㄗˇ zǐ | zi2 | chú | 자 (ja) | ね (ne) | にー (nii) | tí (SV: tử) | 0° (north) |
| 2 | 癸 | ㄍㄨㄟˇ guǐ | gwai3 | kúi | 계 (gye) (SK: 규 (gyu)) | みずのと (mizunoto) | みんぬとぅ (minnutu) | quý | 15° |
| 3 | 丑 | ㄔㄡˇ chǒu | cau2 | thiú | 축 (chuk) (SK: 추 (chu)) | うし (ushi) | うし (ushi) | sửu | 30° |
| 4 | 艮 | ㄍㄣˋ gèn | gan3 | kùn | 간 (gan) | うしとら (ushitora) | うしとぅら (ushitura) | cấn | 45° (northeast) |
| 5 | 寅 | ㄧㄣˊ yín | jan4 | în | 인 (in) | とら (tora) | とぅら (tura) | dần | 60° |
| 6 | 甲 | ㄐㄧㄚˇ jiǎ | gaap3 | kap / kah | 갑 (gap) | きのえ (kinoe) | ちにー (chinii) | giáp | 75° |
| 7 | 卯 | ㄇㄠˇ mǎo | maau5 | báu | 묘 (myo) | う (u) | う (u) | mão (non-SV: mẹo) | 90° (east) |
| 8 | 乙 | ㄧˇ yǐ | jyut3 | it | 을 (eul) | きのと (kinoto) | ちぬとぅ(chinutu) | ất | 105° |
| 9 | 辰 | ㄔㄣˊ chén | san4 | sîn | 진 (jin) (SK: 신 (sin)) | たつ (tatsu) | たち (tachi) | thìn (SV: thần) | 120° |
| 10 | 巽 | ㄒㄩㄣˋ xùn | seon3 | sùn | 손 (son) | たつみ (tatsumi) | たちみー (tachimii) | tốn | 135° (southeast) |
| 11 | 巳 | ㄙˋ sì | zi6 | sū | 사 (sa) | み (mi) | みー (mii) | tị | 150° |
| 12 | 丙 | ㄅㄧㄥˇ bǐng | bing2 | péng | 병 (byeong) | ひのえ (hinoe) | ふぃにー (finii) | bính | 165° |
| 13 | 午 | ㄨˇ wǔ | ng5 | ngó͘ | 오 (o) | うま (uma) | うま (uma) | ngọ | 180° (south) |
| 14 | 丁 | ㄉㄧㄥ dīng | ding1 | teng | 정 (jeong) | ひのと (hinoto) | ふぃぬとぅ (finutu) | đinh | 195° |
| 15 | 未 | ㄨㄟˋ wèi | mei6 | bī | 미 (mi) | ひつじ (hitsuji) | ふぃちじ (fichiji) | mùi (SV: vị) | 210° |
| 16 | 坤 | ㄎㄨㄣ kūn | kwan1 | khun | 곤 (gon) | ひつじさる (hitsujisaru) | ふぃちじさーるー (fichijisaaruu) | khôn | 225° (southwest) |
| 17 | 申 | ㄕㄣ shēn | san1 | sin | 신 (sin) | さる (saru) | さーるー (saaruu) | thân | 240° |
| 18 | 庚 | ㄍㄥ gēng | gang1 | keng | 경 (gyeong) | かのえ (kanoe) | かにー (kanii) | canh | 255° |
| 19 | 酉 | ㄧㄡˇ yǒu | yau5 | iú | 유 (yu) | とり (tori) | とぅい (tu'i) | dậu | 270° (west) |
| 20 | 辛 | ㄒㄧㄣ xīn | san1 | sin | 신 (sin) | かのと (kanoto) | かぬとぅ (kanutu) | tân | 285° |
| 21 | 戌 | ㄒㄩ xū | seot | sut | 술 (sul) | いぬ (inu) | いん (in) | tuất | 300° |
| 22 | 乾 | ㄑㄧㄢˊ qián | kin4 | khiân | 건 (geon) | いぬい (inui) | いんいー (in'yii) | càn (SV: kiền) | 315° (northwest) |
| 23 | 亥 | ㄏㄞˋ hài | hoi6 | hāi | 해 (hae) | い (i) | いー (yii) | hợi | 330° |
| 24 | 壬 | ㄖㄣˊ rén | jam4 | jîm | 임 (im) | みずのえ (mizunoe) | みんにい (minnii) | nhâm | 345° |
Advanced mariners such as Zheng He used 48-point compasses. An additional midpoint was called by a combination of its two closest basic directions, such as 丙午 (bǐngwǔ) for the direction of 172.5°, the midpoint between 丙 (bǐng), 165°, and 午 (wǔ), 180°.
Current usage
The terrestrial branches are still commonly used nowadays in Chinese counting systems similar to the way the alphabet is used in English. For example, names in legal documents and contracts where English speakers would use K, L, M, etc. Korea and Japan also use terrestrial branches on legal documents in this way.
Since the
celestial stems and terrestrial branches combined only consist of 22 characters, the four final letters – W, X, Y, and Z – cannot be represented by any of the celestial stems and terrestrial branches, and those four letters are represented by '物', '天', '地', and '人', respectively, instead.[4]
In case of upper-case letters, the
radical of '口' (the 'mouth' radical) may be added to the corresponding terrestrial branch or any of '物', '天', '地', and '人' to denote an upper-case letter.[4]
See also
- Heavenly Stems (天干)
- Sexagesimal cycle(干支)
- Sheng Xiao
- Chinese calendar
References
- ^ Yuval Blum (22 February 2011). "Introduction to the "STEMS AND BRANCHES" theory". Mahaya Forest Hill Integrative Health Clinic, Toronto. Archived from the original on 2018-08-27. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
- S2CID 132200641. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
- ^ А. Мухамбетова (A. Mukhambetova), Казахский традиционный календарь The traditional Kazakh calendar (in Russian)
- ^ a b [1] (pages 147 and 148)
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Earthly Branches.
- "Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches". Hong Kong Observatory. Archived from the original on 2018-11-04. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
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