Sexagenary cycle

The sexagenary cycle (六十花甲 liùshí huājiǎ), also known as the "stems-and-branches" or "trunks-and-branches" (干支 gānzhī), is a traditional Chinese calendar system.  It is a list of sixty terms which are used for identifying days or years.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Jikkan-jūnishi" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 420.   

History
The oldest Chinese system for recording and organizing time uses repeated periods of 60 days.Latham, Lance. (1998). Standard C Date/Time Library: Programming the World's Calendars and Clocks, p. 378. 

Ancient records show that the sexagenary cycle was used to count years in the 3rd century B.C.  

The repeating series of 60 terms has been an important part of historical calendar systems in East Asia, including China, Japan, Korea, Tibet and Vietnam.

 Overview 
Each term in the sexagenary cycle is made up of two Chinese characters: 
 One character is taken from a list of "heavenly stems" or "trunks" (天干 tiāngān), including wood, fire, earth, metal and water.Nussbaum, "Calendar" at pp. 98-99.  
The other character is taken from a list of "earthly branches" (地支  dìzhī) or animal signs, including Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.Nussbaum, "Jūnishi" at pp. 436-437.   
 The combinations make up a total of 60 different names for a period of time.

Heavenly stems
No.HeavenlyStemChinesenameJapanesenameKoreannameVietnamesenameYin yangWu xingMandarin(Pinyin)Cantonese(Jyutping)OnyomiKunyomi withcorresponding kanjiRomanizedHangul1jiǎgaap3kō ()kinoe ()gap갑giápyangwood2yǐjyut3otsu ()kinoto ()eul을ấtyin3bǐngbing2hei ()hinoe ()byeong병bínhyangfire4dīngding1tei ()hinoto ()jeong정đinhyin5wùmou6bo ()tsuchinoe ()mu무mậuyangearth</td>6jǐgei2ki ()tsuchinoto ()gi기kỷyin7gēnggang1kō ()kanoe ()gyeong경canhyangmetal8xīnsan1shin ()kanoto ()shin신tânyin9rénjam4jin ()mizunoe ()im임nhâmyangwater10guǐgwai3ki ()mizunoto ()gye계quýyin

Earthly branches
No.EarthlyBranchChinesenameJapanesenameKoreannameVietnamesenameVietnamesezodiacChinesezodiacCorrespondinghoursMandarin(pinyin)Cantonese(Jyutping)OnyomiKunyomiRomanizedHangul1zǐzi2shineja자týRat (chuột)Rat ()11 p.m. to 1 a.m.2chǒucau2chūushichuk축sửuWater Buffalo (trâu)Cow ()1 to 3 a.m.3yínjan4intorain인dầnTiger (hổ/cọp)Tiger ()3 to 5 a.m.4mǎomaau5bōumyo묘mẹo/mãoCat (mèo)RabbitSexagenary animal names may be translated into English in many ways. For example, the Vietnamese use cat instead of Rabbit. ()5 to 7 a.m.5chénsan4shintatsujin진thìnDragon (thuồng luồng)Dragon ()7 to 9 a.m.6sìzi6shimisa사tỵSnake (rắn)Snake ()9 to 11 a.m.7wǔng5goumao오ngọHorse (ngựa)Horse ()11 a.m. to 1 p.m.8wèimei6mi or bihitsujimi미mùiGoat (dê)Goat ()1 to 3 p.m.9shēnsan1shinsarushin신thânMonkey (khỉ)Monkey ()3 to 5 p.m.10yǒujau5yūtoriyu유dậuChicken (gà)Chicken ()5 to 7 p.m.11xūseot1jutsuinusul술tuấtDog (chó)Dog ()7 to 9 p.m.12hàihoi6gaiihae해hợiPig (lợn/heo)Pig ()9 to 11 p.m.

Conversion tables
Tables show specific years in the context of a repeating sexagenary cycle.

1804–1923
No.1804–1863Heavenly stemEarthly branch1864–1923 Year (Elements)(Animals)Year1~~ 1804 – ~~ 1805甲 Yang Wood 子 RatFeb 8 1864 – Jan 26 18652~~ 1805 – ~~ 1806乙 Yin Wood 丑 OxJan 27 1865 – ~~ 18663~~ 1806 – ~~ 1807丙 Yang Fire 寅 Tiger~~ 1866 – ~~ 18674~~ 1807 – ~~ 1808丁 Yin Fire 卯 Rabbit~~ 1867 – ~~ 18685~~ 1808 – ~~ 1809戊 Yang Earth 辰 Dragon~~ 1868 – ~~ 18696~~ 1809 – ~~ 1810己 Yin Earth 巳 Snake~~ 1869 – Jan 30 18707~~ 1810 – ~~ 1811庚 Yang Metal 午 HorseJan 31 1870 – Feb 18 18718~~ 1811 – ~~ 1812辛 Yin Metal 未 GoatFeb 19 1871 – ~~ 18729~~ 1812 – ~~ 1813壬 Yang Water 申 Monkey~~ 1872 – ~~ 187310~~ 1813 – ~~ 1814癸 Yin Water 酉 Rooster~~ 1873 – ~~ 187411~~ 1814 – ~~ 1815甲 Yang Wood 戌 Dog~~ 1874 – ~~ 187512~~ 1815 – ~~ 1816 乙 Yin Wood 亥 Pig~~ 1875 – ~~ 187613~~ 1816 – ~~ 1817丙 Yang Fire 子 Rat~~ 1876 – ~~ 187714~~ 1817 – ~~ 1818丁 Yin Fire 丑 Ox~~ 1877 – ~~ 187815~~ 1818 – ~~ 1819戊 Yang Earth 寅 Tiger~~ 1878 – ~~ 187916~~ 1819 – ~~ 1820己 Yin Earth 卯 Rabbit~~ 1879 – ~~ 188017~~ 1820 – ~~ 1821庚 Yang Metal 辰 Dragon~~ 1880 – ~~ 188118~~ 1821 – ~~ 1822辛 Yin Metal 巳 Snake~~ 1881 – ~~ 188219~~ 1822 – ~~ 1823壬 Yang Water 午 Horse~~ 1882 – ~~ 188320~~ 1823 – ~~ 1824癸 Yin Water 未 Goat~~ 1883 – ~~ 188421~~ 1824 – ~~ 1825甲 Yang Wood 申 Monkey~~ 1884 – ~~ 188522~~ 1825 – ~~ 1826乙 Yin Wood 酉 Rooster~~ 1885 – ~~ 188623~~ 1826 – ~~ 1827丙 Yang Fire 戌 Dog~~ 1886 – ~~ 188724~~ 1827 – ~~ 1828丁 Yin Fire 亥 Pig~~ 1887 – ~~ 188825~~ 1828 – ~~ 1829戊 Yang Earth 子 Rat~~ 1888 – Jan 30 188926~~ 1829 – ~~ 1830己 Yin Earth 丑 OxJan 31 1889 – Jan 20 189027~~ 1830 – ~~ 1831庚 Yang Metal 寅 TigerJan 21 1890 – Feb 08 189128~~ 1831 – ~~ 1832辛 Yin Metal 卯 RabbitFeb 09 1891 – ~~ 189229~~ 1832 – ~~ 1833壬 Yang Water 辰 Dragon~~ 1892 – ~~ 189330~~ 1833 – ~~ 1834癸 Yin Water 巳 Snake~~ 1893 – ~~ 189431~~ 1834 – ~~ 1835甲 Yang Wood 午 Horse~~ 1894 – ~~ 189532~~ 1835 – ~~ 1836乙 Yin Wood 未 Goat~~ 1895 – Feb 12 189633~~ 1836 – ~~ 1837丙 Yang Fire 申 MonkeyFeb 13 1896 – Feb 01 189734~~ 1837 – ~~ 1838丁 Yin Fire 酉 RoosterFeb 02 1897 – Jan 21 189835~~ 1838 – ~~ 1839戊 Yang Earth 戌 DogJan 22 1898 – Feb 09 189936~~ 1839 – ~~ 1840己 Yin Earth 亥 PigFeb 10 1899 – Jan 30 190037~~ 1840 – ~~ 1841庚 Yang Metal 子 RatJan 31 1900 – Feb 18 190138~~ 1841 – ~~ 1842辛 Yin Metal 丑 Ox Feb 19 1901 – Feb 07 190239~~ 1842 – ~~ 1843壬 Yang Water 寅 Tiger Feb 08 1902 – Jan 28 190340~~ 1843 – ~~ 1844癸 Yin Water 卯 Rabbit Jan 29 1903 – Feb 15 190441~~ 1844 – ~~ 1845甲 Yang Wood 辰 Dragon Feb 16 1904 – Feb 03 190542~~ 1845 – ~~ 1846乙 Yin Wood 巳 Snake Feb 04 1905 – Jan 24 190643~~ 1846 – ~~ 1847丙 Yang Fire 午 Horse Jan 25 1906 – Feb 12 190744~~ 1847 – ~~ 1848丁 Yin Fire 未 Goat Feb 13 1907 – Feb 01 190845~~ 1848 – ~~ 1849戊 Yang Earth 申 Monkey Feb 02 1908 – Jan 21 190946~~ 1849 – ~~ 1850己 Yin Earth 酉 Rooster Jan 22 1909 – Feb 09 191047~~ 1850 – ~~ 1851庚 Yang Metal 戌 Dog Feb 10 1910 – Jan 29 191148~~ 1851 – ~~ 1852辛 Yin Metal 亥 Pig Jan 30 1911 – Feb 17 191249~~ 1852 – ~~ 1853壬 Yang Water 子 Rat Feb 18 1912 – Feb 05 191350~~ 1853 – ~~ 1854癸 Yin Water 丑 Ox Feb 06 1913 – Jan 25 191451~~ 1854 – ~~ 1855甲 Yang Wood 寅 Tiger Jan 26 1914 – Feb 13 191552~~ 1855 – ~~ 1856乙 Yin Wood 卯 Rabbit Feb 14 1915 – Feb 02 191653~~ 1856 – ~~ 1857丙 Yang Fire 辰 Dragon Feb 03 1916 – Jan 22 191754~~ 1857 – ~~ 1858丁 Yin Fire 巳 Snake Jan 23 1917 – Feb 10 191855~~ 1858 – ~~ 1859戊 Yang Earth 午 Horse Feb 11 1918 – Jan 31 191956~~ 1859 – ~~ 1860己 Yin Earth 未 Goat Feb 01 1919 – Feb 19 192057~~ 1860 – ~~ 1861庚 Yang Metal 申 Monkey Feb 20 1920 – Feb 07 192158~~ 1861 – ~~ 1862辛 Yin Metal 酉 Rooster Feb 08 1921 – Jan 27 192259~~ 1862 – ~~ 1863壬 Yang Water 戌 Dog Jan 28 1922 – Feb 15 192360~~ 1863 – Feb 7 1864癸 Yin Water 亥 Pig Feb 16 1923 – Feb 04 1924

1924–2043
No.1924–1983Heavenly stemEarthly branch1984–2043 Year (Elements)(Animals)Year1Feb 05 1924 – Jan 23 1925甲 Yang Wood 子 RatFeb 02 1984 – Feb 19 19852Jan 24 1925 – Feb 12 1926乙 Yin Wood 丑 OxFeb 20 1985 – Feb 08 19863Feb 13 1926 – Feb 01 1927丙 Yang Fire 寅 TigerFeb 09 1986 – Jan 28 19874Feb 02 1927 – Jan 21 1928丁 Yin Fire 卯 RabbitJan 29 1987 – Feb 16 19885Jan 22 1928 – Feb 08 1929戊 Yang Earth 辰 DragonFeb 17 1988 – Feb 05 19896Feb 09 1929 – Jan 28 1930己 Yin Earth 巳 SnakeFeb 06 1989 – Jan 26 19907Jan 29 1930 – Feb 16 1931庚 Yang Metal 午 HorseJan 27 1990 – Feb 14 19918Feb 17 1931 – Feb 05 1932辛 Yin Metal 未 GoatFeb 14 1991 – Feb 03 19929Feb 06 1932 – Jan 24 1933壬 Yang Water 申 MonkeyFeb 04 1992 – Jan 22 199310Jan 25 1933 – Feb 13 1934癸 Yin Water 酉 RoosterJan 23 1993 – Feb 09 199411Feb 14 1934 – Feb 02 1935甲 Yang Wood 戌 DogFeb 10 1994 – Jan 30 199512Feb 03 1935 – Jan 23 1936 乙 Yin Wood 亥 PigJan 31 1995 – Feb 18 199613Jan 24 1936 – Feb 10 1937丙 Yang Fire 子 RatFeb 19 1996 – Feb 06 199714Feb 11 1937 – Jan 30 1938丁 Yin Fire 丑 OxFeb 07 1997 – Jan 27 199815Jan 31 1938 – Feb 18 1939戊 Yang Earth 寅 TigerJan 28 1998 – Feb 15 199916Feb 19 1939 – Feb 07 1940己 Yin Earth 卯 RabbitFeb 16 1999 – Feb 04 200017Feb 08 1940 – Jan 26 1941庚 Yang Metal 辰 DragonFeb 05 2000 – Jan 23 200118Jan 27 1941 – Feb 14 1942辛 Yin Metal 巳 SnakeJan 24 2001 – Feb 11 200219Feb 15 1942 – Feb 04 1943壬 Yang Water 午 HorseFeb 12 2002 – Jan 31 200320Feb 05 1943 – Jan 24 1944癸 Yin Water 未 GoatFeb 01 2003 – Jan 21 200421Jan 25 1944 – Feb 12 1945甲 Yang Wood 申 MonkeyJan 22 2004 – Feb 08 200522Feb 13 1945 – Feb 01 1946乙 Yin Wood 酉 RoosterFeb 09 2005 – Jan 28 200623Feb 02 1946 – Jan 21 1947丙 Yang Fire 戌 DogJan 29 2006 – Feb 17 200724Jan 22 1947 – Feb 09 1948丁 Yin Fire 亥 PigFeb 18 2007 – Feb 03 200825Feb 10 1948 – Jan 28 1949戊 Yang Earth 子 RatFeb 07 2008 – Jan 25 200926Jan 29 1949 – Feb 16 1950己 Yin Earth 丑 OxJan 26 2009 – Feb 13 201027Feb 17 1950 – Feb 05 1951庚 Yang Metal 寅 TigerFeb 14 2010 – Feb 02 201128Feb 06 1951 – Jan 26 1952辛 Yin Metal 卯 RabbitFeb 03 2011 – Jan 22 201229Jan 27 1952 – Feb 13 1953壬 Yang Water 辰 DragonJan 23 2012 – Feb 09 201330Feb 14 1953 – Feb 02 1954癸 Yin Water 巳 SnakeFeb 10 2013 – Jan 30 201431Feb 03 1954 – Jan 23 1955甲 Yang Wood 午 HorseJan 31 2014 – Feb 18 201532Jan 24 1955 – Feb 11 1956乙 Yin Wood 未 GoatFeb 19 2015 – Feb 07 201633Feb 12 1956 – Jan 30 1957丙 Yang Fire 申 MonkeyFeb 08 2016 – Jan 27 201734Jan 30 1957 – Feb 17 1958丁 Yin Fire 酉 RoosterJan 28 2017 – Feb 15 201835Feb 18 1958 – Feb 07 1959戊 Yang Earth 戌 DogFeb 16 2018 – Feb 04 201936Feb 08 1959 – Jan 27 1960己 Yin Earth 亥 PigFeb 05 2019 – Jan 24 202037Jan 28 1960 – Feb 14 1961庚 Yang Metal 子 RatJan 25 2020 – Feb 11  202138Feb 15 1961 – Feb 04 1962辛 Yin Metal 丑 OxFeb 12 2021 – Jan 31 202239Feb 05 1962 – Jan 24 1963壬 Yang Water 寅 TigerFeb 01 2022 – Jan 21 202340Jan 25 1963 – Feb 12 1964癸 Yin Water 卯 RabbitJan 22 2023 – Feb 09 202441Feb 13 1964 – Feb 01 1965甲 Yang Wood 辰 DragonFeb 10 2024 – Jan 28 202542Feb 02 1965 – Jan 20 1966乙 Yin Wood 巳 SnakeJan 29 2025 – Feb 16 202643Jan 21 1966 – Feb 08 1967丙 Yang Fire 午 HorseFeb 17 2026 – Feb 05 202744Feb 09 1967 – Jan 29 1968丁 Yin Fire 未 GoatFeb 06 2027 – Jan 25 202845Jan 30 1968 – Feb 16 1969戊 Yang Earth 申 MonkeyJan 26 2028 – Feb 12 202946Feb 17 1969 – Feb 05 1970己 Yin Earth 酉 RoosterFeb 13 2029 – Feb 02 203047Feb 06 1970 – Jan 26 1971庚 Yang Metal 戌 Dog Feb 03 2030 – Jan 22 203148Jan 27 1971 – Feb 14 1972辛 Yin Metal 亥 PigJan 23 2031 – Feb 10 203249Feb 15 1972 – Feb 02 1973壬 Yang Water 子 RatFeb 11 2032 – Jan 30 203350Feb 03 1973 – Jan 24 1974癸 Yin Water 丑 OxJan 31 2033 – Feb 18 203451Jan 23 1974 – Feb 10 1975甲 Yang Wood 寅 TigerFeb 19 2034 – Feb 07 203552Feb 11 1975 – Jan 30 1976乙 Yin Wood 卯 RabbitFeb 08 2035 – Jan 27 203653Jan 31 1976 – Feb 17 1977丙 Yang Fire 辰 DragonJan 28 2036 – Feb 14 203754Feb 18 1977 – Feb 06 1978丁 Yin Fire 巳 SnakeFeb 15 2037 – Feb 03 203855Feb 07 1978 – Jan 27 1979戊 Yang Earth 午 HorseFeb 04 2038 – Jan 23 203956Jan 28 1979 – Feb 15 1980己 Yin Earth 未 GoatJan 24 2039 – Feb 11 204057Feb 16 1980 – Feb 04 1981庚 Yang Metal 申 MonkeyFeb 12 2040 – Jan 31 204158Feb 05 1981 – Jan 24 1982辛 Yin Metal 酉 RoosterFeb 01 2041 – Jan 21 204259Jan 25 1982 – Feb 12 1983壬 Yang Water 戌 DogJan 22 2042 – Feb 09 204360Feb 13 1983 – Feb 01 1984癸 Yin Water 亥 PigFeb 10 2043 – Jan 29 2044

Related pages
 Chinese Zodiac

References

Other websites
  "The Chinese sexagenary cycle and the ritual origins of the calendar" 
 "The Mathematics of the Chinese Calendar"

Category:Calendars
Category:Units of time