earthly branch (English, noun)
expansion: earthly branch (plural earthly branches)
Senses:
topics: astronomy
natural-sciences
glosses: One of the twelve terms used in East Asian cultures to represent
The (approximately) twelve years of Jupiter's orbital period, forming the Chinese zodiac and personified as twelve or sixty gods known as Tai Sui.
tags: historical
topics: astrology
human-sciences
mysticism
philosophy
sciences
glosses: One of the twelve terms used in East Asian cultures to represent
The twelve animals representing the Chinese zodiac, (particularly) as a birthyear.
glosses: One of the twelve terms used in East Asian cultures to represent
The twelve months of the Chinese lunar year.
tags: obsolete
glosses: One of the twelve terms used in East Asian cultures to represent
The twelve bearings of traditional Chinese navigation, comprising 30° divisions of the compass beginning with due north.
qualifier: historical navigation
topics: astronomy
natural-sciences
glosses: One of the twelve terms used in East Asian cultures to represent
The duodecimal divisions of the Chinese seasons, beginning with the second of the three divisions of winter.
tags: historical
glosses: One of the twelve terms used in East Asian cultures to represent
The duodecimal divisions of the day into "Chinese" or "double hours", beginning with 11 pm.
qualifier: historical chronometry
glosses: One of the twelve terms used in East Asian cultures to represent
The exact time at the middle of a "Chinese" or "double hour", beginning with midnight.
qualifier: historical chronometry
Forms:
form: earthly branches
tags: plural