Changes

===general===

===general===

The ''shi'' characters, translated variously as "branches," "zodiacal characters," "horary characters," etc. are a series of twelve characters used for various "cyclic" purposes.  They were used for indicating direction, time, and, together with the ''kan'', for indicating years and days.  Often, though, days and years are referred to by the ''shi'' element only, without the ''kan''.  The ''shi'' early on became associated with animals, but the characters for the ''shi'' and the animals are completely distinct.

The ''shi'' characters, translated variously as "branches," "zodiacal characters," "horary characters," etc. are a series of twelve characters used for various "cyclic" purposes.  They were used for indicating direction, [[Telling Time|time]], and, together with the ''kan'', for indicating years and days.  Often, though, days and years are referred to by the ''shi'' element only, without the ''kan''.  The ''shi'' early on became associated with animals, but the characters for the ''shi'' and the animals are completely distinct.

===Table===

===Table===

==References==

==References==

<references/>

<references/>

*[[Kojien Dictionary|''Kôjien Dictionary'']]

*[[Japanese calendar]]

*[[Telling Time]]

[[Category:Resource Articles]]

[[Category:Resource Articles]]