Shoushi Calendar
Shoushi Calendarappeared in the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368) thanks to the efforts of Guo Shoujing and his co-workers.
Guo employed several methods of calculation, including interpolation, spherical trigonometry to solve four main problems in the previous calendars, such as the arrangement for the intercalary month, the prediction of solar and lunar eclipse.
The calendar had 365.2425 days in a year and 29.530593 days in a month, figures that were the same as those in theGregorian Calendarpublished in 1582 by the Roman Pope Gregory XIII. But the calendar was 301 years earlier than theGregorian Calendar.
Tibetan Wuhou Calendar -- a Unique Ethnic Minority Calendar
Living on the highest plateau -- Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau -- in the world, the Tibetan people have created a unique culture, of which theWuhou Calendaris an important part.
After hundreds of years of observations, the Tibetans realized that the rise and set of the sun, the moon, the stars, the growth of the plants, the snow, rain, frost, hail and the immigration of the animals all have a mysterious relationship with the movement of the celestial bodies and summed up some rules.
After years of observations of the stars through the eyes during night, the Tibetans developed a unique way of naming the 12 months in a year on the basis of the positions of the full moon.
In agricultural regions, the Tibetans learnt to predict the weather according to the conditions of the mountains, lakes and the cattle. The people living around the Yamdrok Yumtso (or Yamdrok-tso), one of the three holiest lakes in Tibet, still observe the icing and melting of the lake. Records showed that if the icing or melting of the lake took place one week ahead of schedule or behind schedule, the climate of the year would be abnormal.
With the passing of time, the TibetanWuhou Calendar, drawing merits from other calendars in ancient China and India, became more and more complete. In 1318, it was compiled into the almanac. In the 17th Century, the birth ofBai Liulisignaled that theWuhou Calendarhad become a systematic one.
Ten-month Solar Calendar of Yi Ethnic Minority
Ten-month Solar Calendaris a traditional calendar of Yi ethnic group, one of the ethnic minorities inChina. It is one important part of the fascinating Chinese culture.
According to this calendar, one year was divided into ten months, with 36 days in each month. So each year has 360 days and the rest 5 or 6 days were defined as annual festival. Each month starts with the rat day and ends with the pig day.
The calendar is not only a treasure with great scientific and humanistic value in Yi's culture, but also the intellectual crystallization of Chinese people, as well as the cultural heritage of the whole world.
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