earthly branch
English
[edit]
Etymology
[edit]Noun
[edit]earthly branch (plural earthly branches)
- One of the twelve terms used in East Asian cultures to represent
- (historical astronomy) The (approximately) twelve years of Jupiter's orbital period, forming the Chinese zodiac and personified as twelve or sixty gods known as Tai Sui.
- (astrology) The twelve animals representing the Chinese zodiac, (particularly) as a birthyear.
- (obsolete) The twelve months of the Chinese lunar year.
- (historical navigation) The twelve bearings of traditional Chinese navigation, comprising 30° divisions of the compass beginning with due north.
- (historical astronomy) The duodecimal divisions of the Chinese seasons, beginning with the second of the three divisions of winter.
- (historical chronometry) The duodecimal divisions of the day into "Chinese" or "double hours", beginning with 11 pm.
- (historical chronometry) The exact time at the middle of a "Chinese" or "double hour", beginning with midnight.
Synonyms
[edit]Hyponyms
[edit]- (zodiac, in order): rat; ox and cow; tiger; rabbit (cat in Vietnam); dragon (i.e., Chinese dragon); snake; horse; goat; monkey; rooster and chicken; dog; pig
- (months, in order): 11th, 12th, and 1st–10th lunar months
- (directions, in order): north; 30° east of north; 60° east of north; east; 60° east of south; 30° east of south; south; 30° west of south; 60° west of south; west; 60° west of north; 30° west of north
Translations
[edit]set of twelve terms in East Asian cultures
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