Japan has been using the Gregorian calendar since 1874, but still refers to its KYUREKI, the old calendar, on many occasions. Let’s take a look at what Kyureki is and how it relates to us today.

    KYUREKI is an old calendar that specifically represents a revision of the Tenpo Calendar, a lunar-solar calendar, which was used until 1873.  One lunar month is 29.5 days, and one lunar year is 29.5×12 = 354 days, which is 11 days less than a solar year.  You might have noticed that Ramadan in the Islamic Calendar moves every year. This is because the Islamic Calendar is a lunar calendar, which may have been convenient in desert areas but was unfavorable in agricultural areas that experienced seasons.  In response, the lunar-solar calendar was introduced, adding some solar elements in a lunar calendar. In China, they sometimes added a leap month every 2 to 3 lunar years to meet solar years under some rules. They also added 24 seasonal points which are called 24 SEKKI in the calendar, dividing the solar year with 24 points based on the points of 2 solstices and 2 equinoxes, then they made 72 KOU (other seasonal points), all for the convenience of farmers. Japan introduced the Chinese lunar-solar calendars and modified them by adding 5 SEKKU (annual festivals), several ZASSETSU (more Japanese seasonal points) and lots of lots of further divinations!

    White bearded old men are standing at every street corner smiling and beckoning me. I approach them and hear them murmuring, “Spring breeze is thawing ice”, “Did you hear a wagtail sing?”, “Sparrows have transformed into clams”. I ask, “Whaaat?” Then, another one with louder voice says, “Look! Insects are coming out of the ground!”, and another, “Summer has come!!” These are some of the 72 KOU and 24 SEKKI. Listen to them and look around at nature to confirm their words. Imagine the old days in Japan and China. It must have been interesting!

   Dates in KYUREKI represented the ages of the moon. You saw the moon and you knew what date it was, and vice versa. If you saw a crescent, it was the 3^rd of a month. If it was the 15^th, there was a full moon in the sky. Now, when would you have seen a lunar eclipse? A lunar eclipse is an occasion when the sun and the moon are on the opposite sides of the Earth, so that the moon is hidden by the Earth’s shadow. Well, if the moon is in the Earth’s shadow, it is a lunar eclipse, otherwise it is full moon, so it also fell on the 15^th.  A solar eclipse is an occasion when the moon moves between the sun and the Earth, so it occurred on the 1^st day of a month.

   Festivals were held on certain dates in KYUREKI so people saw the same moon phase on those events. Bon Dance was held on July 15, so people danced in a full moon every year. TANABATA, the Star Festival is on July 7. The moon was always the 7^th moon which is like a boat in the sky and sets before midnight leaving stars shining brightly. It was a perfect day for a starry rendezvous.

  Small notes from KYUREKI in our calendars provide a treasury of information about nature and life, our tradition and customs. Take your time and examine them carefully! You say you don’t have time? So strange! Only the calendar has changed, but time must be the same.