Chinese New Year (Imlek): History and Mythology
the origin of the word
the origin of the word
The Chinese New Year is the most important holiday in Chinese society. Chinese New Year Celebration is also known as 春節 Chūnjié (Spring Festival), 農曆 新年 Nónglì Xīnnián (New Year), or 過年 Guònián or sin tjia.
Outside of mainland China, Chinese New Year is better known as Lunar New Year. Imlek (阴历: Im = Moon, Lek = calendar) comes from the Hokkian dialect or mandarin yin li which means the lunar calendar. Lunar New Year Celebration is celebrated on the 1st through the 15th day of the 1st month of the Chinese calendar which combines the calculations of the sun, moon, 2 yin-yang energy, the constellation of stars or astrological zodiac, 24 seasons, and 5 elements. (Spring Festival).
Because 1/5 of the inhabitants of this earth are Chinese, the Chinese New Year is almost celebrated by all corners of the world where there are Chinese, Chinese or Chinatowns. Many neighbors of China celebrate Chinese New Year such as Taiwan, Korea, Mongolia, Vietnam, Nepal, Mongolia, Bhutan, and Japan.
Especially in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and countries that have ethnic Chinese population, Chinese New Year is celebrated and partially has been acculturated with local culture.
Calendar China
The influence of the cultural progress of Huang Ho River (Yellow) and Yang Tze in mainland China past, gave a big influence on the aspect of life of the neighboring nations of China. Korean, Japanese and Vietnamese countries adopted China's calendar system, culture and country script.
In 1 Year China consists of 12 months or 13 months if a Leap Year. In 1 month consists of 29 or 30 days. So in a year consists of 355 days or 385 days (Leap Year). In the Gregorian system, the Chinese New Year must fall between January 21 (earliest) to February 20 (most recently) each year. This means the holiday usually falls in the second month after winter.
The Sun Elements on Chinese Calendars
Like the Gregorian dating system, the Chinese Calendar uses the reference of the earth's revolution to the sun that is 1 year consisting of 12 months or 13 months if a leap year. Officially, the Chinese year has been 2560 years old in 2009.
Elements of the Moon on the Chinese Calendar
Like the dating system in India past, the Chinese Calendar used the revolution reference of the moon to the earth. In 1 month China consists of 29 or 30 days. Where the 1st day falls on the dead month (tilem) and the 15th day falls on the full moon. This month's element is very important, because it affects the psychological aspects of human beings as well as the influence of nature (the ups and downs).
The Chinese believe that the 1st and 15th lunar dates are 'sacred' when at that time, human emotions and energy on earth again rise. Lust, emotion, will be easier to appear in the moon and full moon. So if someone practices to do and think well, then it will bring blessing. Similar phenomenon but not the same can be found in the behavior of many animals that tend to marry during that period (28,29,30,1,2,3 and 13,14,15,15,17 lunar).
Elements of Shio (Rasi Bintang) on Chinese Calendar
The principle of human and natural harmony taught by Chinese philosophers thousands of years ago inspired the Chinese calendar system. Chinese science in prehistoric times has been able to see the symptom of the relationship between events in galaxies (stars) and life on earth (butterfly effect). Therefore, there are 12 periods which have a special period affecting life on earth known as zodiac.
Here are 12 zodiacs known to the people of China (often made predictions) namely:
Rats (鼠): 19 Feb1996, 7 Feb 2008
Buffalo (牛): 7 Feb1997, 26 Jan 2009
Tiger (虎): 28 Jan 1998, 14 Feb 2010
Rabbit (兔): 16 Feb 1999, 3 Feb 2011
Dragon (龍): 5 Feb 2000, 23 Jan 2012
Snake (蛇): January 24, 2001, February 10, 2013
Horse (馬): Feb 12, 2002, Jan 31, 2014
Kambing (羊): 1 Feb 2003, Feb 19, 2015
Monkeys (猴): 22 Jan 2004, Feb 8, 2016
Chicken (雞): 9 Feb 2005, 28 Jan 2017
Dog (狗): 29 Jan 2006, 16 February 2018
Pig (豬): Feb 18, 2007, Feb 5, 2019
Google Terjemahan untuk Bisnis:Perangkat PenerjemahPenerjemah Situs Web
Elements of the Season on the Chinese Calendar
The Chinese calendar is not only beneficial to the wage or salary calculation system. The Chinese calendar system is also beneficial to almost all business actors, whether fishermen, farmers (when planting and harvesting), or miners.
In the Chinese calendar is known division of 24 seasons, including:
- The beginning of spring: the first day of the season is the first day of the Lunar New Year Celebration
- Rainy season: rain starts to fall.
- Insect season: Insects begin to look after their long sleep during the winter.
Elements of Energy and Natural Characteristics on the Chinese Calendar
The Chinese calendar system takes into account the dominance of the natural elements as well as the yin / yang energy. Each of these elements has a 2-year period of yin and period. For example: yin yarn, wood, yin fire, fire, etc.
The five characteristics of polar elements are:
wood,
fire,
land / earth,
metal and
water.
The Realities of the Lunar New Year
Regardless of whether the myth is true or not, certainly the Chinese New Year celebration is a celebration by farmers in China after a stormy winter past and grateful for the start of a hopeful new season that spring every year.
This celebration begins on the 30th of the 12th month and ends on the first 15th of the month (Cap Go Meh). The event includes Lunar prayer, prayer to Thian, and Cap Go Meh celebration. The purpose of this prayer is as a form of gratitude and prayer of hope that in the next year to get more sustenance, to entertain the ancestors, and as a means of hospitality with relatives and neighbors.
To be sure, the Lunar New Year is a moment of meeting all family members once a year. Family members will be welcoming, sharing and giving experience for a year. This celebration becomes very meaningful when every member of the family and neighbors intertwine love, care for each other, and start a new page (with new clothes).
China Art Imlek
China Art Imlek
Right on the Chinese New Year, everyone is dressed up and neat. Family members will give each other congratulations and new hope that in the new year, all goes well (health, finance, work, relations, business).
In addition, the hallmark of Chinese New Year celebrations are red ornaments, basketcakes, angpao, lanterns, firecrackers, sugar cane, lionfish,
Symbolic Meaning
- The color red: happiness and spirit of life
- The symbol of the fish: the symbol of abundance thanks to the living love. By putting up pictures of fish or eating fish, they expect the abundance.
- Harmony and love: family members get together, share and encourage
Comments