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servinvenitha · Joined: 14 Aug 2009 Posts: 12

hi...

What is the difference between the Chinese and Western Calendar?

gowrimala · Joined: 18 Aug 2009 Posts: 9

hi....

The Western calendar (the Gregorian Calendar) is a Solar calendar based on the earth turning around the sun.

Chinese calendar is mostly a Lunar calendar based on the moon turning around the earth. It's actually a Lunisolar Calendar.

Unlike the Greek or Islamic Lunar calendar, the MONTHS in the Chinese calendar are based on the moon; but the YEAR in the Chinese calendar is based on the sun.

It uses Intercalary months -- add one more month in an Intercalary year, then there were 13 months in this year. There are always either 29 or 30 days per month, no matter if it's an Intercalary month or not in the Chinese Calendar. To adjust the difference -- add 1 Intercalary month every 3 years, add 2 Intercalary months every 5 years, and add 7 Intercalary months every 19 years.

It seems complicated but not if we remember that we also use Intercalary days in the Western calendar. That's the reason why in February there are 28 days but 29 days every fourth year. During a period of 400 years 97 (no 100) intercalary days would be added in total actually.

jenitharosy · Joined: 11 Aug 2009 Posts: 10

hi...

The Western calendar (the Gregorian Calendar) is a Solar calendar based on the earth turning around the sun.

Chinese calendar is primarily a Lunar calendar based on the moon turning around the earth. It's actually a Lunisolar Calendar. Unlike the Greek or Islamic Lunar calendar, the MONTHS in the Chinese calendar are based on the moon ; but the YEAR in the Chinese calendar is based on the sun. It uses Intercalary months -- add one more month in an Intercalary year, then there were 13 months in this year. There are always either 29 or 30 days per month, no matter if it's an Intercalary month or not in the Chinese Calendar. To adjust the difference -- add 1 Intercalary month every 3 years, add 2 Intercalary months every 5 years, and add 7 Intercalary months every 19 years. It seems complicated but not if we remember that we also use Intercalary days in the Western calendar. That's the reason why in February there are 28 days but 29 days every fourth year. During a period of 400 years 97 (no 100) intercalary days would actually be added in total.

Chinese calendar uses the terms of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, and the combinations of 10 Heavenly Stems and 12 Earthly Branches to present the years, days and hours, e.g. Jia-Wu Year, Jia-Wu Day, Zi Hour etc.