M. Harrington—Chinese Official Almanac. 475 
The Chinese year is divided into twenty-four seasons, about 
fifteen days apart and depending on the sun’s right ascension. 
The most of these, such as “little cold,” “oreat eld,” “rain- 
water,” “excited insects,” ete., are not recognized by western 
science, but four of them, viz., the equinoxes and solstices are 
common to astronomy universal, and can fairly be criticised 
by foreigners. According to the Chinese the sun is at the 
vernal equinox at 7 h. 483 m. Pp. M. According to foreign 
calculation the Peking time for the same phenomenon is 7 h. 
m. P. M..—making the Chinese 17 m. slow. Their summer 
solstice is 29 m. slow; autumn equinox 49 m. slow; winter 
solstice 85 m. slow. 
The preceding quotations are for Peking; the accompanying 
foreign times are computed from the British Nautical Almanac 
and reduced to Peking local time. The position taken for 
Peking was, longitude 116° 26’ east, latitude 39° 55’ north. 
The Imperial Almanac also gives predictions for several other 
points scattered over the empire, but the predictions are more 
complete and probably quite as accurate for Peking as for the 
other points. 
We come now to the part of the Almanac which the Chinese 
consult much oftener and consider much more important, viz. 
the astrological portion. Much of this is made intentionally 
obscure ; for the full comprehension of it a prolonged study o: 
Chinese philosophy and astrology would be necessary,—and a 
more barren field for scientific research could hardly be con- 
ceived. The remainder which makes up the body of the 
Almanac is intended to be a practical guide in the common 
affairs of life. The following is a translation of this part for 
the first few days of the current Chinese year. as 
The first day is favorable for sacrifice and for entering school ; - 
at noon it is allowable to bathe. It is unfavorable for starting 
on a journey or changing residence. : : 
second day is favorable for sacritice and bathing. It is 
unfavorable for starting on a journey, removing or practising 
acv puncture. . 
