Lunar calendar 2021 – Moon Phases 2021 – Chinese Calendar in Full Detail
Photo: LoveToKnow

What is the Chinese Calendar?

Chinese calendar, Lunar calendar, Yin calendar, Xia calendar or the old Chinese calendar has a zodiac sign, 12 or 13 months and each month have 29 or 30 days. If there are 12 months, there will be 354 or 355 days in a year; if 13 months, there will be 383 or 384 days.

Each time the moon moves into a line with the earth and the sun, a new month begins and this is called 'Chu Yi' or 'Shuo Ri', meaning the first day of a lunar month. When the full moon appears, it is the middle of the month. The time of a full moon circle is a little more than 29 days, so one month has 29 days or 30 days. There are 12 – 13months in a lunar year. The month with its first day nearest the Beginning of Spring (the first solar term) is the first lunar month, and on that day the Spring Festival is held and this varies between January 20th and February 20th.

Just as the Gregorian calendar has a leap year in order to compensate for the fact that the earth does not travel around the sun in exactly 365 days, the Chinese calendar is adjusted so as to ensure that it bears a proper relationship with the apparent movement of the sun between the northern and southern tropics. People in ancient times concluded that there is a 19-year cycle. And within this cycle, certain days will equate with the lunar day. For example, in 1963, 1982, and 2001, May 28th coincided with the sixth day of the fourth month in the lunar year.

Lunar calendar 2021 – Moon Phases 2021 – Chinese Calendar in Full Detail
Photo: Stottilien

Why the Chinese Calendar is important?

Although China uses the Gregorian (global) calendar for most official and business purposes, the Chinese calendar is still used to determine the days of traditional festivals, such as Chinese New Year and Mid-Autumn. It is used by some for celebrating birthdays, and even for agriculture (when to plow, plant, harvest, etc.) and how the Chinese view the four seasons. The Chinese calendar is still popular among the Chinese people for Chinese zodiac horoscopes and choosing auspicious days for weddings, funerals, relocation, etc. It is also used by other East Asian countries including Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, and Japan, according to China Highlights.

All traditional Chinese festivals are decided according to the lunar calendar. For example, Spring Festival is the first day of a lunar year, Dragon Boat Festival is on May 5th, and Mid-Autumn Festival is on August 15th in the lunar calendar. In daily life, Chinese people usually choose a lucky day in the Chinese calendar before important activities such as marriage proposal, wedding, praying for pregnancy, and traveling.

Based on the Chinese lunar calendar, Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches are developed which is used to calculate years. The 10 heavenly stems are Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren, Gui and the 12 earthly branches are Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, Hai. Every lunar year has a name combined by 1 heavenly stem and 1 earthly branch. For example, 2020 is Geng Zi year and 2021 is Xin Chou year. When every lunar new year comes, the heavenly stems and earthly branches turn to the next one and combine a new name. And it has a 60-year cycle.

Ancient Chinese believed the universe was composed of five elements, namely metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Chinese like to find out their element using their birth date in the lunar calendar and predict their life horoscope, like what career they are suitable for and what kind of people they are supposed to marry, said Travel China Guide.

Lunar calendar 2021 – Moon Phases 2021 – Chinese Calendar in Full Detail
Photo: Readers' Digest

History of Chinese Lunar Calendar

The lunar calendar has a very long history going back to the Xia (21st century BC - 16th century BC) and Shang Dynasty (16th century BC - 11th century BC). Roughly speaking, it has existed for more than 4,000 years. It is based on a unique combination of astronomy and geography through observation and exploration.

Following its creation in the Xia Dynasty, succeeding reigns continued to use the calendar but modified it from time to time. The Han Dynasty (202 BC - 220 AD) rulers instituted the Taichu calendar, while during Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 AD) the Huangji calendar was introduced and it was adopted by Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.

The Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar that is calculated according to the movement of the moon and the sun. The gregorian calendar is calculated by the movement of the sun; when the earth goes around the sun for one circle, it is one year. Generally speaking, the lunar calendar is 20 – 50 days later than the Gregorian calendar.

Lunar Calendar for 2021

2021 is the Year of the Ox according to the Chinese zodiac. This is a Year of Metal Ox, starting from Feb. 12, 2021 (Chinese New Year) and lasting to Jan. 31, 2022.

Oxen used to be a capable farming tool in an agricultural society, which attaches to the symbol of diligence, persistence, and honesty. In Chinese culture, Ox is a faithful friend that made great contributions to the development of society. Like the ox, people born in the Year of the Ox are industrious, cautious, hold their faith firmly, and always glad to offer help.

Below is the full lunar calendar of 2021.

Lunar calendar 2021 – Moon Phases 2021 – Chinese Calendar in Full Detail
Photo: Vector Stock

Phases of the moon

The Chinese calendar can seem very foreign and complicated if you are new to it, but basically, it just counts the moon cycles from one "spring" (Chinese New Year) to the next. The Chinese calendar is based on lunar cycles or phases of the moon. Chinese months begin with the new moon and have a full moon on day 15. As a new moon comes roughly every 29½ days, Chinese calendar months always have 29 or 30 days.

The moon, like Earth, is a sphere, and it is always half-illuminated by the sun. As the moon travels around Earth, we see more or less of the illuminated half. The moon's phases describe how much of the moon's disk is illuminated from our perspective.

New moon: The moon is between Earth and the sun, and the side of the moon facing toward us receives no direct sunlight; it is lit only by dim sunlight reflected from Earth.

Waxing crescent: As the moon moves around Earth, the side we can see gradually becomes more illuminated by direct sunlight.

First quarter: The moon is 90 degrees away from the sun in the sky and is half-illuminated from our point of view. We call it "first quarter" because the moon has traveled about a quarter of the way around Earth since the new moon.

Waxing gibbous: The area of illumination continues to increase. More than half of the moon's face appears to be getting sunlight.

Full moon: The moon is 180 degrees away from the sun and is as close as it can be to being fully illuminated by the sun from our perspective. The sun, Earth and the moon are aligned, but because the moon’s orbit is not exactly in the same plane as Earth’s orbit around the sun, they rarely form a perfect line. When they do, we have a lunar eclipse as Earth's shadow crosses the moon's face.

Waning gibbous: More than half of the moon's face appears to be getting sunlight, but the amount is decreasing.

Last quarter: The moon has moved another quarter of the way around Earth, to the third quarter position. The sun's light is now shining on the other half of the visible face of the moon.

Waning crescent: Less than half of the moon's face appears to be getting sunlight, and the amount is decreasing.

Finally, the moon is back to its new moon starting position. Now, the moon is between Earth and the sun. Usually, the moon passes above or below the sun from our vantage point, but occasionally it passes right in front of the sun, and we get a solar eclipse.

Lunar calendar 2021 – Moon Phases 2021 – Chinese Calendar in Full Detail
Photo: Time and Date

Moon Phases 2021

January

Moon phase

Date

Time

Distance to earth

Last quarter January 6, 2021 02:38:35 AM 226,614 miles
New moon January 12, 2021 10:02:37 PM 234,586 miles
First quarter January 20, 2021 02:03:35 PM 251,781 miles
Full moon January 28, 2021 12:18:35 PM 238,592 miles

February

Last quarter February 4, 2021 10:38:42 AM 225,771 miles
New moon February 11, 2021 12:08:11 PM 240,601 miles
First quarter February 19, 2021 11:49:06 AM 251,290 miles
Full moon February 27, 2021 01:19:36 AM 232,832 miles

March

Last quarter March 5, 2021 06:32:00 PM 227,337 miles
New moon March 13, 2021 03:23:32 AM 246,297 miles
First quarter March 21, 2021 07:41:46 AM 247,918 miles
Full moon March 28, 2021 11:50:04 AM 228,465 miles

April

Last quarter April 4, 2021 03:04:12 AM 231,039 miles
New moon April 11, 2021 07:32:56 PM 250,386 miles
First quarter April 20, 2021 12:00:01 AM 242,669 miles
Full moon April 26, 2021 08:33:04 PM 226,098 miles

May

Last quarter May 3, 2021 12:51:43 PM 236,242 miles
New moon May 11, 2021 12:01:33 PM 251,964 miles
First quarter May 19, 2021 12:13:13 PM 236,868 miles
Full moon May 26, 2021 04:14:51 AM 225,959 miles

June

Last quarter June 2, 2021 12:26:04 AM 242,011 miles
New moon June 10, 2021 03:54:05 AM 250,735 miles
First quarter June 17, 2021 08:54:44 PM 231,660 miles
Full moon June 24, 2021 11:40:14 AM 228,003 miles

July

Last quarter July 1, 2021 02:12:39 PM 247,243 miles
New moon July 9, 2021 06:17:43 PM 247,051 miles
First quarter July 17, 2021 03:11:37 AM 227,841 miles
Full moon July 23, 2021 07:37:27 PM 231,943 miles
Last quarter July 31, 2021 06:18:16 AM 250,842 miles

August

New moon August 8, 2021 06:50:46 AM 241,780 miles
First quarter August 15, 2021 08:21:04 AM 225,915 miles
Full moon August 22, 2021 05:02:15 AM 237,230 miles
Last quarter August 30, 2021 12:15:02 AM 251,953 miles

September

New moon September 6, 2021 05:52:01 PM 236,031 miles
First quarter September 13, 2021 01:41:20 PM 226,155 miles
Full moon September 20, 2021 04:54:44 PM 243,024 miles
Last quarter September 28, 2021 06:58:24 PM 250,220 miles

October

New moon October 6, 2021 04:05:44 AM 230,883 miles
First quarter October 12, 2021 08:27:35 PM 228,609 miles
Full moon October 20, 2021 07:57:41 AM 248,172 miles
Last quarter October 28, 2021 01:06:44 PM 245,969 miles

November

New moon November 4, 2021 02:15:26 PM 227,240 miles
First quarter November 11, 2021 05:48:22 AM 233,039 miles
Full moon November 19, 2021 01:59:41 AM 251,391 miles
Last quarter November 27, 2021 05:29:51 AM 240,185 miles

December

New moon December 4, 2021 12:44:30 AM 225,757 miles
First quarter December 10, 2021 06:37:32 PM 238,815 miles
Full moon December 18, 2021 09:37:58 PM 251,726 miles
Last quarter December 26, 2021 07:26:00 PM 234,215 miles

In 2021, we’ll experience a total lunar eclipse on May 26 and an almost-total one on Nov. 19, with the second eclipse especially being viewable in the U.S. and Canada. On June 10, a “ring of fire” annular eclipse takes place. The moon passes in front of the sun but doesn’t cover its entire disk, causing a ring of sunlight to be viewable from parts of North America. A total eclipse of the sun occurs on Dec. 4, but will only be seen in full from Antarctica.

We’ll have four supermoons on March 28, April 27, May 26 and June 24. Supermoons occur when the full moon happens during a point in the moon’s orbit when it’s closer to earth than it is on average. It isn’t a scientific term but it’s exciting to see because the moon looks brighter and larger than usual.

In 2021, we’ll experience a total lunar eclipse on May 26 and an almost-total one on Nov. 19, with the second eclipse especially being viewable in the U.S. and Canada. On June 10, a “ring of fire” annular eclipse takes place. The moon passes in front of the sun but doesn’t cover its entire disk, causing a ring of sunlight to be viewable from parts of North America. A total eclipse of the sun occurs on Dec. 4, but will only be seen in full from Antarctica.

We’ll have four supermoons on March 28, April 27, May 26 and June 24. Supermoons occur when the full moon happens during a point in the moon’s orbit when it’s closer to earth than it is on average. It isn’t a scientific term but it’s exciting to see because the moon looks brighter and larger than usual.

Chinese Lunar New Year 2021: Facts about the year of OX, Traditions, Customs Chinese Lunar New Year 2021: Facts about the year of OX, Traditions, Customs

Chinese New Year is annually celebrated between January and February and the occasion is commonly found in Asia with many ways to celebrate according to ...

Chinese Lunar New Year 2021: Red Costumes, Tips to Wear For a Lucky Year Chinese Lunar New Year 2021: Red Costumes, Tips to Wear For a Lucky Year

Chinese New Year, Lunar New Year, is around the corner! Wishing you a lucky 2021 and a full-of-happiness year with those recommended clothes and ...

Chinese Lunar New Year 2021: How to Say Happy New Year in 35 Languages, Best Wishes, Quotes and Greetings Chinese Lunar New Year 2021: How to Say Happy New Year in 35 Languages, Best Wishes, Quotes and Greetings

Chinese Lunar New Year 2021: ALL around the world, New Year's Day is celebrated - but how we wish each other a Happy New Year ...