What are the 12 Earthly Branches

The Twelve Earthly Branches are the 12 Earthly Branches of Zi, U, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, and Hai, which correspond to the twelve signs of the Chinese Zodiac, and are used to indicate time and date.

Each Earthly Branch represents two hours, and a day is divided into 12 Earthly Branches, and a year is also divided into 12 Earthly Branches. The 12 Earthly Branches is an ancient Chinese chronology and a timekeeping method in traditional Chinese culture. As a major manifestation of folk chronology, the 12 Earthly Branches, in addition to continuing the long historical and cultural lineage of Chinese civilization, have also accumulated many myths, legends, historical stories and moral norms.

The significance of the 12 Earthly Branches does not lie solely in timekeeping, but also carries symbols of change, fortune and discipline. In traditional Chinese culture, each Earthly Branch represents different meanings and symbols. For example, Zi represents new beginnings and is a symbol of the nourishment and growth of life. Ugly represents hard work and dedication, symbolizing harvest and accumulation. Yin represents courage and strength, symbolizing new beginnings and courage, and so on.

The twelve earthly branches are not only useful in timekeeping, but also have important symbolic meanings in folk culture. It is closely related to traditional Chinese festivals, festivals and customs, such as the "Lapa congee" that is eaten every day from the eighth day of the Lunar New Year. During the Spring Festival, various rituals and feasts are held on auspicious days according to the year's earthly branches. During the Spring Festival, folklore such as "welcoming spring flowers" and "catching up with the market" have been practiced for thousands of years.

The twelve Earthly Branches represent one of the important elements of traditional Chinese culture, with deep historical origins and cultural connotations, and the cultural system based on it plays an inseparable role in Chinese folk culture, which is an important link in the Chinese cultural lineage.

The Heavenly Stems

Ancient China's ancient time-keeping system of chronology, which is expressed in Chinese as "A, B, C, D, E, F, G, C, N, K," constitutes the core of the Ancient Chinese method of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches (天干地支). The Heavenly Stem has the meaning of "beginning, start", symbolizing new beginnings and the growth of life, and together with the twelve Earthly Branches, it constitutes the "Stem and Branch Chronology" of ancient China. The celestial stems are not only used for timekeeping, but also have important mythological and symbolic meanings.