Changes

The Chinese calendar is a lunar, actually a luni-solar, calendar. The start of the month is determined by the new moon, but the position of the month in the year is determined by the solar year, that is, course of the seasons. One should note that although in the the West seasons are considered to begin on the equinoxes and solistices, in the Chinese calendar, the start of spring (立春) is exactly half-way between the winter solistice and the spring equinox, and similarly for other seasons.

The Chinese calendar is a lunar, actually a luni-solar, calendar. The start of the month is determined by the new moon, but the position of the month in the year is determined by the solar year, that is, course of the seasons. One should note that although in the the West seasons are considered to begin on the equinoxes and solistices, in the Chinese calendar, the start of spring (立春) is exactly half-way between the winter solistice and the spring equinox, and similarly for other seasons.

Among the characteristics of the Chinese-type calender are the following: <ref Dates below are given in the modern calendar. Also, as Japan is 9 hours east of Greenwich, some years the seasonal date is one day later than that given below.  </ref>

Among the characteristics of the Chinese-type calender are the following: <ref> Dates below are given in the modern calendar. Also, as Japan is 9 hours east of Greenwich, some years the seasonal date is one day later than that given below.  </ref>

Months start on the day of the new moon.  

Months start on the day of the new moon.