{"id":960,"date":"2023-01-19T08:50:53","date_gmt":"2023-01-19T08:50:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/?p=960"},"modified":"2024-01-02T13:42:00","modified_gmt":"2024-01-02T13:42:00","slug":"happy-new-year-%e5%85%94-to-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2023\/01\/19\/happy-new-year-%e5%85%94-to-you\/","title":{"rendered":"Happy New Year \u5154 (to) You"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to the Year of the Water Rabbit!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>If you've ever wondered about Chinese New Year, here's some background information on the 'stems-and-branches' calendrical system and traditions celebrated throughout China at this special time of the year. <\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

On 22 January 2023, many people in the world will be welcoming the arrival of the Year of the Water Rabbit. If you\u2019re celebrating, Happy New Year <\/span>\u5154<\/span> (to) you, <\/span>\u5154<\/span> (too) (1)<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But why rabbit, and a water rabbit at that?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Traditional Chinese calendrical system<\/h2>\n

Like most countries in the world, China now adopts the <\/span>Gregorian calendar<\/span><\/a>, but the traditional Chinese calendrical system, known as <\/span>\u5e72\u652f<\/span> (g\u0101nzh\u012b, stems-and-branches), is used in parallel. <\/span><\/p>\n

This system informs us of traditional holidays like the Chinese New Year, now also known as <\/span>\u6625\u8282<\/span> (ch\u016bnji\u00e9, Spring Festival).\u00a0 In this system, the New Year will begin on 22 January 2023 and is known as <\/span>\u7678\u536f\u5e74<\/span> (gu\u01d0 m\u01ceo ni\u00e1n), i.e. the Year of the Water Rabbit. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHang on a minute\u201d, you might say if you speak some Chinese, \u201cI see neither <\/span>\u6c34<\/span> (shu\u01d0, water) nor (<\/span>\u5154<\/span> t\u00f9, rabbit) in <\/span>\u7678\u536f<\/span> (gu\u01d0 m\u01ceo). What\u2019s going on?\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s see how the <\/span>\u5e72\u652f<\/span> (g\u0101nzh\u012b) system works.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ten heavenly stems and twelve earthly branches<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

The <\/span>\u5e72\u652f<\/span> (g\u0101nzh\u012b) system adopts 10 <\/span>\u5929\u5e72<\/span> (ti\u0101ng\u0101n, heavenly stems) and 12 <\/span>\u5730\u652f<\/span> (d\u00eczh\u012b, earthly branches).\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The 10 stems were first recorded during the <\/span>\u5546 <\/span>(Sh\u0101ng) dynasty (c. 1250 BC). Ancient Chinese people divided each month into three 10-day cycles called <\/span>\u65ec<\/span> (x\u00fan), and the 10 stem terms were used to represent the different days in each cycle. <\/span><\/p>\n

Today people still use <\/span>\u65ec<\/span> (x\u00fan) to refer to the first, second or third 10-days of the month, alongside the more widely used seven-day week system. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The earthly stems are also linked with <\/span>\u4e94\u884c<\/span> (w\u01d4x\u00edng, five cosmic agents of change). (2)<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nHeavenly<\/p>\n

Stems<\/td>\n

Cosmic<\/p>\n

Agents<\/td>\n

<\/td>\nEarthly<\/p>\n

Branches<\/td>\n

Representative<\/p>\n

Animals<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

1<\/td>\n\u7532 ji\u01ce<\/td>\n\u6728 m\u00f9<\/p>\n

wood<\/td>\n

A<\/td>\n\u5b50 z\u01d0<\/td>\n\u9f20 sh\u01d4<\/p>\n

rat<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

2<\/td>\n\u4e59 y\u01d0<\/td>\n\u6728 m\u00f9<\/p>\n

wood<\/td>\n

B<\/td>\n\u4e11ch\u01d2u<\/td>\n\u725b ni\u00fa<\/p>\n

ox<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

3<\/td>\n\u4e19 b\u01d0ng<\/td>\n\u706b hu\u01d2<\/p>\n

fire<\/td>\n

C<\/td>\n\u5bc5 y\u00edn<\/td>\n\u864e h\u01d4<\/p>\n

tiger<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

4<\/td>\n\u4e01 d\u012bng<\/td>\n\u706b hu\u01d2<\/p>\n

fire<\/td>\n

D<\/td>\n\u536f m\u01ceo<\/td>\n\u5154 t\u00f9<\/p>\n

rabbit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

5<\/td>\n\u620a w\u00f9<\/td>\n\u571f t\u01d4<\/p>\n

earth<\/td>\n

E<\/td>\n\u8fb0 ch\u00e9n<\/td>\n\u9f99 l\u00f3ng<\/p>\n

dragon<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

6<\/td>\n\u5df1 j\u01d0<\/td>\n\u571f t\u01d4<\/p>\n

earth<\/td>\n

F<\/td>\n\u5df3 s\u00ec<\/td>\n\u86c7 sh\u00e9<\/p>\n

snake<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

7<\/td>\n\u5e9a g\u0113ng<\/td>\n\u91d1 j\u012bn<\/p>\n

metal<\/td>\n

G<\/td>\n\u5348 w\u01d4<\/td>\n\u9a6c m\u01ce<\/p>\n

horse<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

8<\/td>\n\u8f9b x\u012bn<\/td>\n\u91d1 j\u012bn<\/p>\n

metal<\/td>\n

H<\/td>\n\u672a w\u00e8i<\/td>\n\u7f8a y\u00e1ng<\/p>\n

goat<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

9<\/td>\n\u58ec r\u00e9n<\/td>\n\u6c34 shu\u01d0<\/p>\n

water<\/td>\n

I<\/td>\n\u7533 sh\u0113n<\/td>\n\u7334 h\u00f3u<\/p>\n

monkey<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

10<\/td>\n\u7678 gu\u01d0<\/td>\n\u6c34 shu\u01d0<\/p>\n

water<\/td>\n

J<\/td>\n\u9149y\u01d2u<\/td>\n\u9e21 j\u012b<\/p>\n

rooster<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nK<\/td>\n\u620c x\u016b<\/td>\n\u72d7 g\u01d2u<\/p>\n

dog<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\nL<\/td>\n\u4ea5 h\u00e0i<\/td>\n\u732a zh\u016b<\/p>\n

pig<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The 12-branch system was built from observations of Jupiter's duodecennial orbital cycle. The 12 branches are commonly represented by 12 animals, which are familiar to many of us.<\/p>\n

The 12 years of the Jupiter cycle also identify the 12 months of the year and the 12 traditional Chinese units of time in the form of two-hour periods. For example, the period of 11:00pm-1:00am is known as <\/span>\u5b50\u65f6<\/span> (z\u01d0 sh\u00ed, the hour of the rat).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The stems and branches are combined to represent years in this fashion: 1A, 2B, 3C, 4D \u2026 9I, 10J, 1K, 2L, 3A, 4B \u2026 and so on.<\/p>\n

Using the table above you will see that <\/span>\u7678\u536f<\/span> (gu\u01d0 m\u01ceo, 10D) represents \u201cwater rabbit\u201d in common parlance.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Some Chinese New Year traditions<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

China has many unique traditions, but some Chinese New Year customs are not that different from certain European ones.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u56de\u5bb6<\/span> (hu\u00ed ji\u0101) <\/span>Returning home<\/h3>\n

This custom is very similar to the UK tradition of travelling home for Christmas. <\/span><\/p>\n

China is a large country; it\u2019s almost as big as the whole of Europe or 39 UKs put together.\u00a0<\/span>For some people who work or study away from home, travelling back for Chinese New Year may be the only time they see their family in the entire year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Some commentators have described this annual home-bound journey as the largest internal migration in the world.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u5403\u5e74\u591c\u996d<\/span> (ch\u012b ni\u00e1n y\u00e8 f\u00e0n) <\/span>Family gatherings on New Year\u2019s Eve<\/h3>\n

Food plays an important role in many cultures on special occasions, and Chinese New Year is no exception. <\/span><\/p>\n

In northern China, the traditional food is <\/span>\u997a\u5b50<\/span> (ji\u01ceozi), which some say is so named because it signifies the change <\/span>\u4ea4<\/span> (ji\u0101o) of time at midnight <\/span>\u5b50\u65f6<\/span> (z\u01d0 sh\u00ed, the hour of the rat). <\/span><\/p>\n

In the south of China where I grew up, a whole fish <\/span>\u9c7c<\/span> (y\u00fa) is usually placed on the table on New Year\u2019s Eve <\/span>\u9664\u5915<\/span> (ch\u00fax\u00ec) and left untouched until New Year\u2019s Day to indicate \u201chaving surplus <\/span>\u4f59<\/span> (y\u00fa) year after year <\/span>\u5e74\u5e74\u6709\u4f59 <\/span>(ni\u00e1nni\u00e1n y\u01d2u y\u00fa)\u201d.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u62dc\u5e74<\/span> (b\u00e0i ni\u00e1n) <\/span>Visiting and paying respect to friends and extended family members<\/h3>\n

Traditionally, from the first day of the New Year <\/span>\u521d\u4e00<\/span> (ch\u016b y\u012b) until the Lantern Festival <\/span>\u5143\u5bb5\u8282<\/span> (yu\u00e1nxi\u0101o ji\u00e9) two weeks later, people would visit family and friends, exchange auspicious greetings and consume lots of delicious food. <\/span><\/p>\n

Nowadays, people tend to meet in restaurants rather than at home.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u538b\u5c81\u94b1<\/span> (y\u0101su\u00ec qi\u00e1n) <\/span>Giving or receiving lucky money<\/h3>\n

Chinese people tend not to exchange presents on New Year\u2019s Day as people do on Christmas Day in the UK. <\/span><\/p>\n

Instead, parents and older relatives give <\/span>\u7ea2\u5305<\/span> (h\u00f3ngb\u0101o, small red envelopes) containing cash to the young. These days, electronic <\/span>\u7ea2\u5305<\/span> (h\u00f3ngb\u0101o) are rapidly replacing traditional paper ones.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Final thoughts<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n