Chapter 189: Choosing a date, a lunar calendar, and wisdom passed down through the ages

Yang Xuan and Lina knew that although a wedding is a ceremony for two people, it is more of a union of two families, so they decided to arrange an important family gathering to formally introduce each other’s families.

There is no time to prepare for the wedding for now, but we can still prepare for a meeting between the elders of both sides.

According to Yang Xuan, they needed to choose an auspicious day for the two families to have their first formal meeting.

But there are many considerations in choosing this day.

Most people usually refer to the lunar calendar to choose a good day for getting married or meeting guests, and avoid unlucky dates to ensure that everything goes smoothly.

There are also those who take into account factors such as the birth dates of both parties, the five elements, and auspicious days in the lunar calendar.

Some people even invited experts who are familiar with the Book of Changes and Feng Shui to provide them with several suggested dates.

“It sounds like so much fun, like we’re trying to find the perfect cosmic moment to celebrate our meeting and union.”

Lina was full of curiosity about this, especially the lunar calendar, as she had never heard of this kind of calendar before.

“The Yellow Calendar, also known as the ‘Imperial Calendar’ or ‘Lunar Calendar’, is an ancient calendar appendage of the Rabbit Country. It combines elements such as the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, solar terms, and the phases of the moon to guide various activities in daily life, including farming, weddings and funerals, moving and traveling, etc.”

“Each day in the lunar calendar is marked as suitable for certain activities, such as “suitable for marriage”, “suitable for opening a business”, “suitable for breaking ground”, etc. These are based on the ancient Chinese theory of yin and yang and the five elements and astronomical observations.”

“In particular, the 24 solar terms are a supplementary calendar established by the ancient Rabbit Kingdom to guide agricultural production activities. It accurately reflects the annual apparent motion of the sun, that is, the seasonal changes caused by the earth’s revolution around the sun.”

“This system was formed around the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, and was gradually improved during the Qin and Han Dynasties and is still in use today. It is a unique contribution of the Rabbit Civilization to the cognition of time and has been included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.”

“The 24 solar terms are in order: Beginning of Spring, Rain Water, Waking of Insects, Spring Equinox, Pure Brightness, Grain Rain, Beginning of Summer, Grain Full, Grain in Ear, Summer Solstice, Lesser Heat, Greater Heat, Beginning of Autumn, End of Heat, White Dew, Autumnal Equinox, Cold Dew, Frost Descent, Beginning of Winter, Light Snow, Heavy Snow, Winter Solstice, Lesser Cold, Greater Cold.”

“Each solar term is about 15 days apart, and they divide the year into 24 nodes, which not only mark the transition of the four seasons, but also correspond to the key stages of agricultural production.”

“The spring solar terms (Lichun to Guyu) mark the beginning of sowing and growth;”

“During the summer solar terms (from Beginning of Summer to Great Heat), crops enter their peak growth period;”

“The autumn solar terms (from the beginning of autumn to the frost) are the season of harvest;”

“The winter solar terms (Lidong to Dahan) are a time to rest and recuperate and prepare for the coming year.”

“The 24 solar terms are not only closely related to agricultural production, but are also deeply integrated into Chinese people’s living customs, food culture, and even poetry and songs, reflecting the philosophical idea of ​​harmonious coexistence between man and nature.”

“In modern society, although its direct agricultural guidance role has weakened, it is still an important part of Chinese traditional culture and still has a profound impact on people’s daily life, festivals and celebrations, and climate observation.”

“In short, the almanac is widely used among the Chinese people. When planning important events, people often refer to the tips on the almanac to choose auspicious days in order to gain psychological comfort and respect the laws of nature.”

“Even in modern society, despite the increasing popularity of scientific rationality, many people still maintain the habit of checking the almanac, viewing it as a cultural tradition and a hobby in life.”

Seeing that Lina was interested, Yang Xuan gave a detailed and easy-to-understand introduction to the lunar calendar.

For the Rabbit Country and its people, there is a very deep affection for the lunar calendar, which is an indispensable part of the Rabbit people’s lives. It is not just a calendar, but more like a guide to life.

Lina listened with great interest and was full of curiosity and interest in this magical almanac. She never thought that a small almanac could have such a great origin and even be passed down for thousands of years, and still be useful and accurate!
“Then how is the almanac formulated?”

she asked curiously.

Yang Xuan smiled and explained: “The production of the almanac is a very complicated process, which requires comprehensive consideration of astronomy, geography, climate and other factors.”

“Generally speaking, the lunar calendar is formulated based on the movement of the sun and moon and the rotation cycle of the earth to ensure that the dates and solar terms of each year are accurate.”

“In addition, the almanac will also predict weather changes and natural disasters of the year based on historical data and experience, providing a reference for people’s production and life.”

Lina was even more surprised after hearing this. She didn’t expect that making the almanac required such precise calculations and predictions.

She couldn’t help but marvel at the wisdom and talent of the ancient Chinese people, who were able to create such a magical book.

“Not only that, the lunar calendar also contains rich cultural connotations and folk traditions.”

“For example, the solar term songs and agricultural proverbs in the almanac are the crystallization of the wisdom of the ancient people. They not only guide people’s agricultural production, but also reflect people’s awe and understanding of nature and life.”

Lina was fascinated by what she heard and she developed a strong interest and respect for the almanac.

“It’s amazing. The lunar calendar is like a bridge that connects the past and the present, nature and humanity, and everyone’s life.”

“It made me see the depth and breadth of Rabbit Country culture, and made me look forward to our wedding that combines Eastern and Western elements. It will definitely be a cultural feast.”

Lina decided to study the almanac carefully in the future to learn more about cultural traditions and folk customs.

“Yes, our wedding will be a beautiful start, not only for the union of the two of us, but also a symbol of mutual understanding and respect between the two cultures.”

“I believe that through our efforts, more relatives and friends will understand and appreciate the beauty of this cultural fusion.”

Yang Xuan smiled and nodded.

In addition to sending their blessings, foreign audiences were also deeply attracted and shocked by the exquisite design of the Rabbit Country’s lunar calendar.

[It is incredible that time can be given meaning and guidance in this way. The lunar calendar is simply the crystallization of the wisdom of life! ]

[This way of thinking that combines astronomy, climate and human activities is so fascinating. It feels like every activity is closely related to nature, and I am full of awe. ]

【It is heartwarming to see how Yang Xuan and Lina respect and integrate each other’s culture. Their story makes me believe that love can transcend any boundaries and cultural differences are also a wonderful complement.】

[Now I begin to imagine how wonderful the world would be if the whole world could learn from this philosophy of living in harmony with nature.]

[If the wedding can integrate the essence of the lunar calendar and be held on a “lucky” day, it is not only a tribute to tradition, but also a beautiful wish for a happy life in the future. ]

[The wisdom and philosophy behind the almanac have given me a deeper understanding and yearning for Eastern culture. I look forward to Yang Xuan and Lina’s wedding, which will surely be a great stage to showcase the beauty of cultural integration.]

(End of this chapter)