chinese almanac

万事通

an imprint of NTU schoolof Arts, Design and Mediaon Fading Tradition of Singapore- Chinese Almanac

Design & Illustrationsby Quek Teng Wan, April.www.wandesign.webs.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publicationmay be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system,without permission from the publisher.

Printed in Singapore

Wan Design is in no way responsible for the contents of individual web sites [i.e. the accuracy, completeness or quality of the information provided], or for its contents and the direction of the Internet addresses lies with each website owner.

Copyright (c) 2010The moral right of the author has be asserted.

Project Title

Know-it-all

Published in 2010 by

DESIGN

This book is an abstract example of a redesigned Chinese Almanac in the modern context of Singapore.

Contents are determined according to the questions of the game, Know-it-all.

YEAR OF TIGER 2010

春牛图是中国古时一种用来预知当年天气、降雨量、干支、五行、农作收成等资料的图鉴。

炎热，农田干旱

尾巴向左属阴年

穿鞋，无穿戴草帽代表干旱。

日

牧童

庚寅年春

牛

Spring Ox Chart is used to predict the a year’s weather, rain amount, the sun, 5 elements and period for harvesting.

Sorching, dry and arid

Tail point left, Yin year

With shoes andwithout hat: Hot weather

SUN

SHEPHERD BOY

OX

01 INTRODUCTION中国宋代理学家周敦颐的著作。据朱熹说,《通书》本名《易通》，后改名为《通书》。 通胜是从黄历改编, 记载每日公历、夏历日期，干支，节气、宜忌、节日，日月食，五行等。

除了有中国的天文与科学以外，通胜也流传着古文及民间流传的各种知识。比如， 介绍各种算命方法，收录《三字经》、《增广贤文》、《千字文》 、 《 百家姓 》 儒家思想等旧时的启蒙教材，认知做人的哲学和道理。

因此， 包罗万象的内容，是家喻户晓必备的书。也象征着中华民族智慧的中心。所以顾名思义，“通胜”是一本万事通的古代简明天文历书和启蒙读物。

02介绍INTRODUCTIONChinese Almanac is written by Zhou Duiyi

during the Song Dynasty. It was originated from the Yellow Calendar, recording daily

solar calendar, the lunar calendar date, the Heavenly Stems and the Earthly

Branches, the 24 Solar terms, the suitable death anniversary,

the holiday, the Sun and Lunar eclipse, 5 Elements of universe etc.

Besides the calendars which are based on astronomy and science, the almanac is also consist of Classical Chinese literature and the folk stories. For instance, it introduces

different self-thought fortunes method or even

basic knowledge materials such as “3-character classic”,

“Thousand-character classic”, “Book of Hundred Surnames” and

Confucian thoughts. Through these, we learn to understand life and

being a good man.

Therefore, because of its comprehensive content, it is known to be a necessary book in every home. It also symbolizes the Chinese wisdom accumulation. Therefore, the book is a know-it-all’s ancient concise almanac and a source for curiosity.

03

中国的十二生肖，在科学上是作为记年、记时之用。十二生肖为何会与此挂钩呢？农历用天干、地支编排年号和日期，天干共十个字，因此又称为「十干」，地支则共十二个字。所以十二生肖也代表了十二个年份。

十二生肖与十二地支

子: 鼠 Mouse　　丑: 牛 Cow寅: 虎 Tiger卯: 兔 Rabbit　　辰: 龙 Dragon

已: 蛇 Snake午: 马 Horse　未: 羊 Sheep申: 猴 Monkey酉: 鸡 Chicken戍: 狗 Dog亥: 猪 Pig

04

12 Zodiac Signs and 12 Earthly Branches

The purpose of 12 Zodiac signs is to record the time and the year. In lunar calendar, the arrangement are according to the 10 celestial stems and 12 earthly branches. And therefore, 12 animals represents 12 years respectively.

05

阴yin

06

阳yang

07

NEGATIVE

08源自古代中国人民的自然观。古人观察到自然界中各种对立又相联的大自然现象，如天地、日月、昼夜、寒暑、男女、上下等，以哲学的思想方式，归纳出“阴阳”的概念。 阴阳理论已经渗透到中国传统文化的方方面面，包括宗教，哲学，历法，中医，书法，建筑堪舆，占卜等。

阴阳的概念

POSITIVE

MAN

WARM

LIGHT

FRONT

Positive & Negative Concept

Our ancestors view the nature in oppose yet pairing concepts. Such as sky and ground, moon and sun, man and woman, winter and summer, black and white etc. Thus deriving the philosophy of “Yin & Yang”.

09

五行是中国古代的一种物质观。多用于哲学、中医学和占卜方面。五行指：金、木、水、火、土。认为大自然由五种要素所构成，随着这五个要素的盛衰，而使得大自然产生变化。五行学说认为宇宙万物，都由木火土金水五种基本物质的运行（运动）和变化所构成。

五行

5 Elements

5 elements are the Chinese’s view on materials in the

universe. The philosophy are use in Traditional Chinese

Medicine and the divine aspect. The 5 elements refer to Metal, Wood, Water, Fire

and Earth. The theory of 5 elements reveal the cosmic

inventory and the change constitutes by the five basic material’s movements.

10

长 GROW

WOOD ;trees

木的特性：日出东方,与木相似。古人称“木曰曲直”。“曲直”，实际是指树木的生长形态，为枝干曲直，向上向外周舒展。因而引申为具有生长、升发、条达舒畅等作用或性质的事物，均归属于木。

11

木生火 木克土Wood feeds Fire Wood parts Earth

12

升UPRISE

FIRE ;warm and uprising

火的特性：南方炎热,与火相似。古人称“火曰炎上”。“炎上”，是指火具有温热、上升的特性。因而引申为具有温热、升腾作用的事物，均归属于火

13

火生土 火克金Fire creates Earth Fire melts Metal

14

种PLANT

EARTH ;contain minerals for growth

土的特性：中原肥沃,与土相似。古人称“土爰稼穑”，是指土有种植和收获农作物的作用。因而引申为具有生化、承载、受纳作用的事物，均归属于土。故有“土载四行”和“土为万物之母”之说。

15

土生金 土克火Earth bears Metal Earth smothers Fire

16

沉SINK

METAL ;includes minerals.

金的特性；日落于西,与金相似。古人称“金曰从革”。“从革”是指“变革”的意思。引申为具有清洁、肃降、收敛等作用的事物，均归属于金。

17

金生水 金克土Metal carries water Metal breaks up Earth

18

润MOISTURE

WATER ;liquid

水的特性：北方寒冷,与水相似。古人称“水曰润下”。是指水具有滋润和向下的特性。引申为具有寒凉、滋润、向下运行的事物，均归属于水。

19

水生木 水克火Water nourishes Wood Water quenches Fire

23

立春/雨水/

蛰/

春分/清明/水水

谷雨/立夏/

谷雨谷雨

夏

小暑/

大暑/小小

立秋/

大雪/

冬冬大寒

立冬///

大寒大寒小满/

24

清明/

夏至/

处暑/

白露/

小雪/ 大雪/

冬至/冬小寒/ 大寒/

秋分/寒露/

霜降/立冬///

大寒大寒二十四节气是中国古代订立的

一种用来指导农事的补充历法。二十四节气能反映季节的变化，

指导农事活动，影响着千家万户的衣食住行。二十四节气是根据

太阳在黄道上的位置来划分的。每前进15度为一个节气；运行

一周又回到春分点 。

二十四节气

25

春 夏立春 / start of spring雨水 / rain water

春分 / vernal equinox清明 / clear and bright谷雨 / grain rain

立夏/ start of summer小满 / grain full

夏至 / summer solstice小暑 / minor heat大暑 / major heat

SPRING SUMMER

24 SOLAR TERMS IN 4 SEASONS

26

秋 冬立秋 / start of autumn处暑 / limit of heat白露 / white dew秋分 / autumnal equinox寒露 / cold dew霜降 / frost descent

立冬 / start of winter小雪 / minor snow大雪 / major snow冬至 / winter solstice小寒 / minor cold大寒 / major cold

AUTUMN WINTER

27

做人的原则

自然界的元素

The five virtues to become a gentlemen are benevolence, duty,propriety, wisdom and being true.

The Chinese believe thateverything in the universe is made of the basic five elements; metal, wood, water, fire and earth.

28

3 word classic

三字经

29

人类种植的食物

人类饲养的家畜

Six types of grains that man eats.Rice, fine millet, beans, wheat, broomcorn, millet.

Horse, ox, sheep, chicken, dog, pig are six animals people raise at home.

30

人类的情感

做乐器的材料

Humans have 7 main emotions. Happiness, anger, grief and fear,love, hatred and desire.

The materials which musical instruments are made from. Gourds, pottery, leather,wood, stone, metal, silk and bamboo.

31

32

33

34

35

18

22

23 19

17

118

235

6

722

23

4

20

89

1021

1216

14

151515

1319

1711

118 18

235

6

722 22

2323

7

6

5

4

20

89

1021 21

121216

14

151515

11 131319

17 17

1911

1, 2, 3

欠缺思考力Lack of imagination

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

容易生病Fall sick easily

11

12 22

23

13

14

15

16

17

旅行要注意 Beware of travelling

18

19

短命Short life

20

21

36

118 18

235

6

7 22

23

7

6

5

4

20

89

1021 21

121216

14

151515

11 131317

1911

18

22

23

7

6

5

21

12

11 1317

19

MoleReading

三字经