The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-01-25
HOW THE CHINESE MARK TIME.
Some Very Curious Excerpts from th'
Latest Official Almanac.
American Journal Of Scicnc,

[lWt'tWH "V'Nut " ''''t''''
The Chinese Official Almanac is is
sued annually in December. and is care.
fully prepared by the Board of Astron-
omy, an important body, imperially
appointed, presided over by prince of
the royal blood, and equal in dignity
to any other government body in the
empire. The Almanac is bestowed as
a special act of grace by the Emperor
on the Coreans, Loochooans, Annamites
and other tributary States. AS this
publication is so highly respected by
the Chinese it may fairly be considered
as the representative of the highest
state of astronomical science reached
by them. A large part of the astrolog-
; ical portion of the Almanac is intended
for practical guide in the common
affairs of life." A translation is given
of the admonitions for the first days of
the current year, as follows !:
The first day is favorable for sacrifice
and for entering school; at noon it is
allowable to bathe 1t is uufavorable
for starting on journey or changing
residence.
The second day is favorable for sac
rifice and bathing. It is unfavorable
for starting on journey, removing or
practicing acupuncture.
The third day; there are no indica
tions.
The fourth day; may receive or make
visits and cut out clothes; at A. NJ,
may draw up contracts, barter and
make presents. May not go on a jour
ney nor break ground.
The fifth day ; may visit, bathe,
shave and clean up. May not plant
and SOW.
The sixth day is favorable for sacri-
flee, conjugal union, visiting, taking on |
IA new servant, starting on Il journey,
removing, marrying, repairing, build
ing, breaking ground at 3 A NJ. may
draw up contracts, open shop, barter,
send presents, seal, test the soil and
bury.
The seventh day may level roads,
but must not start on journey
The eighth may sacrifice, memorial
lze, enter office, assume ceremonial
clothes /; at A. NJ may sit toward the
southeast; also favorable for conjugal
union, visits, weddings, taking a new
servant. starting on journey, erecting
lprights and putting on crossbeams,
building, removing soil and burying.
The writer gives Il few more items
ind comments as follows
And so it goes on for nearly every
lay in the year. Enough has been
translated to show the excessive child
essness and absurdity of this, the prin-
,ipal part of the Imperial Almanac.
On the 18th one may be treated for i'll
less and open caches of provisions.
On the 22d it is allowable to pull down
I'D houses and walls, but drains must
lot be opened or wells dug until the
Nth. Arrests should be made on the I
18th; this is the only favorable day in {
he month"; very satisfactory arrange !
nent for criminals. There are four :
lays in 30 ON which one may cut out q
lothes, and the same number on which c
ne may sweep and clean up. 1t is
dvised to shave on the 9TH, Odd, and :
9th. and to bathe seven times in the 9
lonth. Unfortunately, the intervals :
etween the bath-days are unequal, and n
he believer in the Almanac must wait b
.om the 9TH to the 18th and from the f
4th to the 23l. Besides on the 1st 81
athing is favorable at an inconvenient lie
our, viz: noon the hour on the 29th as
o'clock is much better. 10
These indications seem too silly to tt
feet sensible men, yet while the China m
an is not only sensible, but actually o.
lrewd and keen, he guides most of his 81 81
ore important affairs by the almanac. %r Sr
be poorer classes watch the almanac ot
refully, and marry, bury and do other
ings only when it advises, and it is to
, feared that the better educated do
1t start on journey nor enter office
cept on favorable days, though it is
be hoped they bathe, shave and clean OF
uch oftener. fiji