earthly branch
In East Asian cultures, 'earthly branches' are part of an ancient system for marking time and events, closely linked to the Chinese zodiac and traditional timekeeping.
Definition
C1Traditional Calendar
(historical, cultural)One of twelve terms used to designate years, months, and hours in the traditional Chinese calendar, often associated with zodiac animals.
Example
- The year of the Rat corresponds to the first earthly branch, Zi.
C1Astrology
(technical, cultural)A component of Chinese astrology paired with the Heavenly Stems to form a 60-year cycle, influencing personality and fate.
Example
- In Chinese astrology, the combination of an earthly branch and a heavenly stem determines the characteristics of a year.
B2Timekeeping
(historical, technical)Used to divide the day into twelve two-hour periods, each named after an earthly branch.
Example
- The period from 11 PM to 1 AM is governed by the Rat earthly branch.
C1Navigation
(historical, technical)Used to represent twelve compass directions in traditional Chinese navigation.
Example
- Ancient mariners used earthly branches to navigate the seas.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "earthly branch":