Short Wave The Shared History Of The Chinese And Gregorian Calendars
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Feb 12, 2024 Celebrate the Lunar New Year by exploring the fascinating relationship between the Chinese lunisolar calendar and the Gregorian calendar. Discover how these timekeeping systems shaped agriculture, culture, and the rise and fall of empires. Delve into the role of Jesuit missionaries in introducing calendar reforms and influencing European leaders. Learn about the historical impacts of lunar and solar calendars and their significance in today's cultural practices. The intertwining stories reveal the essential role of calendars in human history.
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England's Lost Days
- In 1752, England switched to the Gregorian calendar, losing 11 days and causing public outrage.
- This highlights how calendars have been tied to cultural identity and historical controversies.
Types of Calendars
- The Gregorian calendar, used globally, tracks time by the sun's position (solar).
- Other calendars track the moon's phases (lunar) or combine both (lunisolar).
Chinese Calendar System
- The Chinese calendar is lunisolar, tracking months by moon phases and years by the sun's position.
- It also incorporates observations of five planets: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn.