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March 8, 2014
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Sexagenary cycle

Wikipedia

 		 
The China|Chinese sexagenary cycle (干支 pinyin: gānzhī) is a cyclic numeral system of 60 (number)|60 combinations of the two basic cycles, the 10 (number)|ten Heavenly Stems (十干; shígān) and the 12 (number)|twelve Earthly Branches (十二支; sh????rzhī). It is used not only in China but also in other East Asian nations like Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.
Ten Heavenly Stems


<table border="1">

<tr>
<th></th>
<th>Heavenly<br>Stem</th>
<th>Chinese<br>name</th>
<th>Japanese<br>name</th>
<th>Korean<br>name</th>
<th>Yin Yang</th>
<th>Element</th>
</tr>

<tr align="center">
<td>1</td>
<td>甲</td><td>jiǎ</td><td>kinoe (木の兄)</td><td>gap</td>
<td>yang</td>
<td rowspan=2>wood (classical element)|wood</td>
</tr>

<tr align="center">
<td>2</td>
<td>乙</td><td>yǐ</td><td>kinoto (木の弟)</td><td>eul</td>
<td>yin</td>
</tr>

<tr align="center">
<td>3</td>
<td>丙</td><td>bǐng</td><td>hinoe (火の兄)</td><td>byeong</td>
<td>yang</td>
<td rowspan=2>fire (classical element)|fire</td>
</tr>

<tr align="center">
<td>4</td>
<td>丁</td><td>dīng</td><td>hinoto (火の弟)</td><td>jeong</td>
<td>yin</td>
</tr>

<tr align="center">
<td>5</td>
<td>戊</td><td>w&ugrave;</td><td>tsuchinoe (土の兄)</td><td>mu</td>
<td>yang</td>
<td rowspan=2>earth (classical element)|earth</td>
</tr>

<tr align="center">
<td>6</td>
<td>己</td><td>jǐ</td><td>tsuchinoto (土の弟)</td><td>gi</td>
<td>yin</td>
</tr>

<tr align="center">
<td>7</td>
<td>庚</td><td>gēng</td><td>kanoe (金の兄)</td><td>gyeong</td>
<td>yang</td>
<td rowspan=2>metal (classical element)|metal</td>
</tr>

<tr align="center">
<td>8</td>
<td>辛</td><td>xīn</td><td>kanoto (金の弟)</td><td>sin</td>
<td>yin</td>
</tr>

<tr align="center">
<td>9</td>
<td>壬</td><td>r&eacute;n</td><td>mizunoe (水の兄)</td><td>im</td>
<td>yang</td>
<td rowspan=2>water (classical element)|water</td>
</tr>

<tr align="center">
<td>10</td>
<td>癸</td><td>guǐ</td><td>mizunoto (水の弟)</td><td>gye</td>
<td>yin</td>
</tr>

</table>
Twelve Earthly Branches


<table border="1">

<tr>
<th></th>
<th>Earthly<br>Branch</th>
<th>Chinese<br>name</th>
<th>Japanese<br>name</th>
<th>Korean<br>name</th>
<th>Chinese<br>zodiac</th>
</tr>

<tr align="center">
<td>1</td>
<td>子</td><td>zǐ</td><td>ne</td><td>ja</td>
<td>Rat (zodiac)|Rat (鼠)</td>
</tr>

<tr align="center">
<td>2</td>
<td>丑</td><td>chǒu</td><td>ushi</td><td>chuk</td>
<td>Ox (zodiac)|Ox (牛)</td>
</tr>

<tr align="center">
<td>3</td>
<td>寅</td><td>y??n</td><td>tora</td><td>in</td>
<td>Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger (虎)</td>
</tr>

<tr align="center">
<td>4</td>
<td>卯</td><td>mǎo</td><td>u</td><td>myo</td>
<td>Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit (兔)</td>
</tr>

<tr align="center">
<td>5</td>
<td>辰</td><td>ch??n</td><td>tatsu</td><td>jin</td>
<td>Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon (龍)</td>
</tr>

<tr align="center">
<td>6</td>
<td>巳</td><td>s??</td><td>mi</td><td>sa</td>
<td>Snake (zodiac)|Snake (蛇)</td>
</tr>

<tr align="center">
<td>7</td>
<td>午</td><td>wǔ</td><td>uma</td><td>o</td>
<td>Horse (zodiac)|Horse (馬)</td>
</tr>

<tr align="center">
<td>8</td>
<td>未</td><td>w??i</td><td>hitsuji</td><td>mi</td>
<td>Sheep (zodiac)|Sheep (羊)</td>
</tr>

<tr align="center">
<td>9</td>
<td>申</td><td>shēn</td><td>saru</td><td>sin</td>
<td>Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey (猴)</td>
</tr>

<tr align="center">
<td>10</td>
<td>酉</td><td>yǒu</td><td>tori</td><td>yu</td>
<td>Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster (雞)</td>
</tr>

<tr align="center">
<td>11</td>
<td>戌</td><td>xū</td><td>inu</td><td>sul</td>
<td>Dog (zodiac)|Dog (狗)</td>
</tr>

<tr align="center">
<td>12</td>
<td>亥</td><td>h??i</td><td>i</td><td>hae</td>
<td>Pig (zodiac)|Pig (豬)</td>
</tr>
</table>
The Sexagenary Cycle


<table border="1">
<tr align="center"><th></th><th>Stem-Branch</th><th>Chinese<br>name</th><th>Japanese<br>name</th><th>Associations</th></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>1</td><td>甲子</td><td>jiǎ-zǐ</td><td>kinoe-ne</td><td>Yang Wood Rat</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>2</td><td>乙丑</td><td>yǐ-chǒu</td><td>kinoto-ushi</td><td>Yin Wood Ox</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>3</td><td>丙寅</td><td>bǐng-y&iacute;n</td><td>hinoe-tora</td><td>Yang Fire Tiger</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>4</td><td>丁卯</td><td>dīng-mǎo</td><td>hinoto-u</td><td>Yin Fire Rabbit</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>5</td><td>戊辰</td><td>w&ugrave;-ch&eacute;n</td><td>tsuchinoe-tatsu</td><td>Yang Earth Dragon</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>6</td><td>己巳</td><td>jǐ-s&igrave;</td><td>tsuchinoto-mi</td><td>Yin Earth Snake</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>7</td><td>庚午</td><td>gēng-wǔ</td><td>kanoe-uma</td><td>Yang Metal Horse</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>8</td><td>辛未</td><td>xīn-w&egrave;i</td><td>kanoto-hitsuji</td><td>Yin Metal Sheep</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>9</td><td>壬申</td><td>r&eacute;n-shēn</td><td>mizunoe-saru</td><td>Yang Water Monkey</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>10</td><td>癸酉</td><td>guǐ-yǒu</td><td>mizunoto-tori</td><td>Yin Water Rooster</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>11</td><td>甲戌</td><td>jiǎ-xū</td><td>kinoe-inu</td><td>Yang Wood Dog</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>12</td><td>乙亥</td><td>yǐ-h&agrave;i</td><td>kinoto-i</td><td>Yin Wood Pig</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>13</td><td>丙子</td><td>bǐng-zǐ</td><td>hinoe-ne</td><td>Yang Fire Rat</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>14</td><td>丁丑</td><td>dīng-chǒu</td><td>hinoto-ushi</td><td>Yin Fire Ox</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>15</td><td>戊寅</td><td>w&ugrave;-y&iacute;n</td><td>tsuchinoe-tora</td><td>Yang Earth Tiger</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>16</td><td>己卯</td><td>jǐ-mǎo</td><td>tsuchinoto-u</td><td>Yin Earth Rabbit</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>17</td><td>庚辰</td><td>gēng-ch&eacute;n</td><td>kanoe-tatsu</td><td>Yang Metal Dragon</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>18</td><td>辛巳</td><td>xīn-s&igrave;</td><td>kanoto-mi</td><td>Yin Metal Snake</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>19</td><td>壬午</td><td>r&eacute;n-wǔ</td><td>mizunoe-uma</td><td>Yang Water Horse</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>20</td><td>癸未</td><td>guǐ-w&egrave;i</td><td>mizunoto-hitsuji</td><td>Yin Water Sheep</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>21</td><td>甲申</td><td>jiǎ-shēn</td><td>kinoe-saru</td><td>Yang Wood Monkey</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>22</td><td>乙酉</td><td>yǐ-yǒu</td><td>kinoto-tori</td><td>Yin Wood Rooster</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>23</td><td>丙戌</td><td>bǐng-xū</td><td>hinoe-inu</td><td>Yang Fire Dog</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>24</td><td>丁亥</td><td>dīng-h&agrave;i</td><td>hinoto-i</td><td>Yin Fire Pig</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>25</td><td>戊子</td><td>w&ugrave;-zǐ</td><td>tsuchinoe-ne</td><td>Yang Earth Rat</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>26</td><td>己丑</td><td>jǐ-chǒu</td><td>tsuchinoto-ushi</td><td>Yin Earth Ox</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>27</td><td>庚寅</td><td>gēng-y&iacute;n</td><td>kanoe-tora</td><td>Yang Metal Tiger</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>28</td><td>辛卯</td><td>xīn-mǎo</td><td>kanoto-u</td><td>Yin Metal Rabbit</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>29</td><td>壬辰</td><td>r&eacute;n-ch&eacute;n</td><td>mizunoe-tatsu</td><td>Yang Water Dragon</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>30</td><td>癸巳</td><td>guǐ-s&igrave;</td><td>mizunoto-mi</td><td>Yin Water Snake</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>31</td><td>甲午</td><td>jiǎ-wǔ</td><td>kinoe-uma</td><td>Yang Wood Horse</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>32</td><td>乙未</td><td>yǐ-w&egrave;i</td><td>kinoto-hitsuji</td><td>Yin Wood Sheep</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>33</td><td>丙申</td><td>bǐng-shēn</td><td>hinoe-saru</td><td>Yang Fire Monkey</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>34</td><td>丁酉</td><td>dīng-yǒu</td><td>hinoto-tori</td><td>Yin Fire Rooster</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>35</td><td>戊戌</td><td>w&ugrave;-xū</td><td>tsuchinoe-inu</td><td>Yang Earth Dog</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>36</td><td>己亥</td><td>jǐ-h&agrave;i</td><td>tsuchinoto-i</td><td>Yin Earth Pig</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>37</td><td>庚子</td><td>gēng-zǐ</td><td>kanoe-ne</td><td>Yang Metal Rat</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>38</td><td>辛丑</td><td>xīn-chǒu</td><td>kanoto-ushi</td><td>Yin Metal Ox</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>39</td><td>壬寅</td><td>r&eacute;n-y&iacute;n</td><td>mizunoe-tora</td><td>Yang Water Tiger</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>40</td><td>癸卯</td><td>guǐ-mǎo</td><td>mizunoto-u</td><td>Yin Water Rabbit</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>41</td><td>甲辰</td><td>jiǎ-ch&eacute;n</td><td>kinoe-tatsu</td><td>Yang Wood Dragon</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>42</td><td>乙巳</td><td>yǐ-s&igrave;</td><td>kinoto-mi</td><td>Yin Wood Snake</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>43</td><td>丙午</td><td>bǐng-wǔ</td><td>hinoe-uma</td><td>Yang Fire Horse</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>44</td><td>丁未</td><td>dīng-w&egrave;i</td><td>hinoto-hitsuji</td><td>Yin Fire Sheep</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>45</td><td>戊申</td><td>w&ugrave;-shēn</td><td>tsuchinoe-saru</td><td>Yang Earth Monkey</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>46</td><td>己酉</td><td>jǐ-yǒu</td><td>tsuchinoto-tori</td><td>Yin Earth Rooster</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>47</td><td>庚戌</td><td>gēng-xū</td><td>kanoe-inu</td><td>Yang Metal Dog</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>48</td><td>辛亥</td><td>xīn-h&agrave;i</td><td>kanoto-i</td><td>Yin Metal Pig</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>49</td><td>壬子</td><td>r&eacute;n-zǐ</td><td>mizunoe-ne</td><td>Yang Water Rat</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>50</td><td>癸丑</td><td>guǐ-chǒu</td><td>mizunoto-ushi</td><td>Yin Water Ox</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>51</td><td>甲寅</td><td>jiǎ-y&iacute;n</td><td>kinoe-tora</td><td>Yang Wood Tiger</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>52</td><td>乙卯</td><td>yǐ-mǎo</td><td>kinoto-u</td><td>Yin Wood Rabbit</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>53</td><td>丙辰</td><td>bǐng-ch&eacute;n</td><td>hinoe-tatsu</td><td>Yang Fire Dragon</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>54</td><td>丁巳</td><td>dīng-s&igrave;</td><td>hinoto-mi</td><td>Yin Fire Snake</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>55</td><td>戊午</td><td>w&ugrave;-wǔ</td><td>tsuchinoe-uma</td><td>Yang Earth Horse</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>56</td><td>己未</td><td>jǐ-w&egrave;i</td><td>tsuchinoto-hitsuji</td><td>Yin Earth Sheep</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>57</td><td>庚申</td><td>gēng-shēn</td><td>kanoe-saru</td><td>Yang Metal Monkey</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>58</td><td>辛酉</td><td>xīn-yǒu</td><td>kanoto-tori</td><td>Yin Metal Rooster</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>59</td><td>壬戌</td><td>r&eacute;n-xū</td><td>mizunoe-inu</td><td>Yang Water Dog</td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td>60</td><td>癸亥</td><td>guǐ-h&agrave;i</td><td>mizunoto-i</td><td>Yin Water Pig</td></tr>
</table>

The sexagenary cycle was first used for dates in the Shang Dynasty, and later also used for years and less commonly for months.

For example, the year 2000 was 17th year of the 78th sexagenary cycle, a gēng-ch??n year (庚辰年), a year of the Yang Metal Dragon. Therefore, 2004 is four years after, the 21st year of the 78th sexagenary cycle, called a jiǎ-shēn year (甲申年), a year of the Yang Wood Monkey.

The naming of the months and days is not common now, although they will be shown on Chinese calendars and almanacs.
See also

Chinese calendar

Category:Chinese astronomy

ko:육십간지
ja:干支
vi:Can Chi
zh:干支
Copyright & Resource Links
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Sexagenary cycle".


Last Modified:   2005-11-07


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