The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1879-01-16
HOW THE CHINESE MARK TIME.

HOW THE CHINESE MARK TIME
Some Worry Curious Excerpts from tb
Latest Ofhcial Almanac.
The Chinese Official almanac is is
sued annually in December, and is care
fully prepared by the board of astrono
my, an important body, imperially ap
pointed, presided over by prince o
the royal blood, and equal in dignity {.
any other government body in the en-
pire. The almanac is bestowed as
special act Of grace by the emperor o,
the Coreans, Loochooans, sAnnamite
and other tributary states. As thi
publication is SO highly respected b,
the Chinese, it may fairly be considered
as the representative Of the highss
state OF astronomical science reached b,
them. A large part of the astrological
portion OF the almsuac is intended for {
iTpracticsI guide X the common affair
OF Iife." A translation is given of th,
adhionitions for the first days of th,
current year, as follows !: -
The first day is favorable FOR sacrif3c.
and for entering school ; at noon it il
allowable 10 bathe. It is unfavorabl.
for starting on journey or exchanging
residence.
The second day III favorable for sacri
fee and bathing. 1t is unfavorable fol
starting on q journey, removing OF
practicing acupuncture.
The third dsy: there are no indica
tions. ..'.. ...-
The fourth day may receive or make
visits and cut out clothes; at sever
A. N. may draw up contracts, barter
and make presents. May NOT go on 6
journey or break ground.
The fifth day: m1y visit, bathe, shave
and clean up may not plant and SOW,
The sixth is favorable for sacrifice,
visiting, taking on new servant, start.
ing on ajourney, removing, marrying, re.
pairing, breaking ground at three A. NJ.
may draw up contracts, open shop, barter,
send presents, SEAL test the soil and
bury. ..- ..rI ,..f.. ......s.
The seventh days may level roads,
but must not start ON q journey. .,,t
The eighth may sacrifice, memorial.
ize, enter Office, assume ceremonial
clothes at five A. II. may sit toward the
southeast also favorable for coniugal
union, visits, weddings, taking, on a new
servlnt, starting on1a journey, erecting
uprights and. putting on crossbeams,
building, removing soil and burying.
The writer gives few more items and
oopnoanfo ou fo11nua.
And so il goes on for nearly every day
in the year. Enough has been trans.
lated to show the excessive childishness
and absurdity of this, the principal part
of the imperial almanac. On The seven.
teenth one may be treated for illness
and open caches OF provision On the
twenEy-third it Is alIessble TO pull down
old houses and walls but drains must
not beeopensd or 3shs dig until the
twenty-sevemth. Arrests should be made
on the fifteenth .thili is the only favor.
able dav in the monGhEa very sstisfac-
tory arrangement for criminals. There
are four days in thirty on which one
may cut out clothes, and the same mum.
ber on which one may sweep and clean
LII ID UuNlbC0 W pIk0rV SkA 49, AAAsA~
twenth.third and twsnty-ninth, and to
bathe seven times in the month. Un-
fortunately, the intervals between the
bath days are unequal, and the believer
in the almanac must visit from the fifth
to the thirteenth and from the fourteenth
to the twenty. third. Besides, ON the
arst, bathing is favorable at an incon'
venient hour--viz,, noon ; the hour on
the tventy.ninth (aye o'clook) Is much
better. - .
These indications seem too silly to af.
feet sensible men, yet while the China.
man is not only sensible, but actually
shrewd and keen, he guides most OF his
more important affairs by the almanac
The poorer. Glasses watch the almanac
carefully, and marry, bury and do other
things only when it advises, and it is to
be feared that the better educated dc
not start on journey nor enter office
except on favorable days. though it is to
be hoped they bathe, shave and clean
much oftener.--Anaericd,a Journal