Unlocking the Secrets: Mastering the Art of Timekeeping through Zodiac Animals

If you've ever heard someone mention the 'hour of the Tiger' or 'hour of the Dragon' without grasping the specific time, you're not alone. Questions like what time is the 'Suu' hour or identifying 5 a.m. or 3:15 a.m. can leave you puzzled. Find swift answers to all your queries by learning the technique of calculating time based on the 12 zodiac animals, aligning with the ancient traditions of our ancestors.

Cracking the Code: Ancient Methods of Calculating Daily Time in Zodiac Hours

1. Decoding Time with the Zodiac: A Fascinating Journey

In ancient Vietnam, people referred to the 12 zodiac signs to measure time throughout the day, month, and even the year (known as the Hệ chi system). Similar to naming years, hours, and days, the sequence was Tý, Sửu, Dần, Mão, Thìn, Tỵ, Ngọ, Mùi, Dê, Dậu, Tuất, Hợi. Calculating hours in the day based on the 12 zodiac signs is intricately connected to the traits of animals closely associated with the lives of farmers.

Cracking the Code: Telling Time with the 12 Zodiac Animals

How many 'canh' hours in a day? The method of telling time based on the 12 zodiac signs is as follows:

- The Hour of Rat (From 23 - 1h): This is when the mouse is most active.
- The Hour of Ox (From 1 - 3h): This is the time when the ox chews cud, preparing for plowing.
- The Hour of Tiger (From 3 - 5h): This is the period when tigers are most ferocious.
- The Hour of Cat (From 5 - 7h): In other places, the 'Mão' is not called a cat but a jade rabbit. And this is the time when the moon still shines brightly, likened to a jade rabbit.
- The Hour of Dragon (From 7 - 9h): The time when dragons swirl in the clouds.
- The Hour of Snake (From 9 - 11h): The time when snakes do not harm humans.
- The Hour of Horse (From 11 - 13h): The time when horses have a high positive energy.
- The Hour of Goat (From 13 - 15h): This is the time when goats graze without affecting the regrowth of grass.
- The Hour of Monkey (From 15 - 17h): This is the time when monkeys enjoy howling.
- The Hour of Rooster (From 17 - 19h): This is the time when chickens return to the coop.
- The Hour of Dog (From 19 - 21h): This is the time when dogs diligently guard the house.
- The Hour of Pig (From 21 - 23h): The time when pigs sleep most soundly.

Therefore, one 'can chi' hour (lunar hour) equals 2 solar hours. Ancients used to refer to time in 'can chi' hours by dividing it into early, mid, and late hours. To accurately determine the 'Can chi' hour, you should consider the 'gio' hour. For instance, the main hour of 'Ngọ' is at 12 o'clock, and the main hour of 'Tý' is at 0 o'clock.

2. How many hours is one 'canh' hour? The standard method of calculating time in 'canh'

How many hours is one 'canh' hour? How many hours in 'canh ba'? Similar to the method of calculating time based on the 12 zodiac signs, ancients also divided hours into 'canh' hours for reference. Typically, 'canh' hours were used to indicate nighttime, and as the night is 10 hours long, the ancients divided it into 5 'canh.' Therefore, 1 'canh' hour equals 2 hours.

Table for Calculating Time in 'Canh' Hours

Specifically:

- 'Canh 1': From 19h - 21h (meaning the hour of Dog)
- 'Canh 2': From 21h - 23h (meaning the hour of Pig)
- 'Canh 3': From 23h - 1h (meaning the hour of Rat)
- 'Canh 4': From 1h - 3h (meaning the hour of Ox)
- 'Canh 5': From 3h - 5h (meaning the hour of Tiger)

3. How many hours is one moment?

'Canh' represents nighttime, while 'khắc' signifies daytime. However, since daytime lasts for 14 hours, it is divided into 6 'khắc':

Calculating Time in 'Canh' and 'Khắc' Increments

Specifically: 
- 'Khắc 1': From 5h - 7h20 in the morning
- 'Khắc 2': From 7h20 - 9h40 in the morning
- 'Khắc 3': From 9h40 - 12h noon
- 'Khắc 4': From 12h - 2h20 in the afternoon
- 'Khắc 5': From 2h20 - 4h40 in the afternoon
- 'Khắc 6': From 4h40 - 7h in the evening

4. Calculating Months Based on the 12 Zodiac Signs

In addition to calculating time based on the 12 zodiac signs, months are also calculated according to the zodiac. According to ancient traditions:

Table for Calculating Months Based on Zodiac Signs

Specifically:

- Month 1: Month of Tiger
- Month 2: Month of Rabbit
- Month 3: Month of Dragon
- Month 4: Month of Snake
- Month 5: Month of Horse
- Month 6: Month of Goat
- Month 7: Month of Monkey
- Month 8: Month of Rooster
- Month 9: Month of Dog
- Month 10: Month of Pig
- Month 11: Month of Rat
- Month 12: Month of Ox

Through the method of calculating time using 'canh' and the technique of calculating time based on the 12 zodiac signs mentioned above, you can quickly determine the hours of 'Suu,' 'Thân,' 'Ngọ,' and more without the need to search online or spend time researching.