Leap Lunar Month in Chinese Calendar 2001

US Eastern Standard Time Zone


There is a leap 4th lunar month in the Chinese Civil Calendar year 2001. The Chinese Civil Calendar is the official calendar announced by the China, Taiwan and Hong Hong governments using the time zone of east longitude 120th degree.

When calculating the Chinese Civil Calendar for the time zone of west longitude 75th degree Eastern Standard Time(EST), the leap month of year 2001 is the 4th leap lunar month, which is same as the China time zone. However, when calculating the Chinese Astronomical Calendar for EST, the leap month of year 2001 is the 5th leap lunar month.

The following explanation can help you to know why. There are three basic rules for the Chinese Calendar.

Please read the Essence of the Chinese Calendar for detail about Solar Center Point.

The following is the listing of dates and times about new moon days and the Solar Center points. A lunar month not comtaining a Center Point is a Leap month.

2001 US EST Civil Calendar

Month Name New Moon Date/Time Zodiac Date/Time Zodiac Month
3rd Lunar Month 03-24  20:21    
    04-04  12:24  Clear and Bright (Dragon Month)
    04-19  19:36 Grain Rains (Taurus) - Center Point
4th Lunar Month 04-23  10:26    
    05-05  05:45 Start of Summer (Snake month)
    05-20  18:44 Grain Fills (Gemini) - Center Point
Leap 4th Month 05-22  21:46   No Center point
    06-05  09:54 Grain in Ear (Horse Month)
5th Lunar Month 06-21  06:58 06-21  02:58 Summer Solstice (Cancer) - Center Point
    07-06  20:07 Slight Heat (Sheep Month)
6th Lunar Month 07-20  14:44    
    07-22  13:26 Great Heat (Leo) - Center Point
    08-07  05:52 Start of Autumn (Monkey Month)
7th Lunar Month 08-18  21:55    

The first day of the leap 4th month is on 5-22-01 and the last day of this month is on 06-20-01. There is no Center Point in this month. Therefore this month is a Leap Month. The name of the leap month uses the previous month name.

The first day of the 5th lunar month is on 6-21-01, which is the same day as the Summer Solstice (Center Point). In the rule of the Chinese Civil Calendar, the 5th lunar month includes the Center Point. Therefore, the 5th lunar month is not a leap month.

2001 US EST Astronomical Calendar

Month Name New Moon Date/Time Zodiac Date/Time Zodiac Month
4th Lunar Month 04-23  10:26    
    05-05  05:45 Start of Summer (Snake month)
    05-20  18:44 Grain Fills (Gemini) - Center Point
5th Lunar Month 05-22  21:46    
    06-05  09:54 Grain in Ear (Horse Month)
    06-21  02:58 Summer Solstice (Cancer) - Center Point
Leap 5th Month 06-21  06:58   No Center point
    07-06  20:07 Slight Heat (Sheep Month)
6th Lunar Month 07-20  14:44    
    07-22  13:26 Great Heat (Leo) - Center Point
    08-07  05:52 Start of Autumn (Monkey Month)
7th Lunar Month 08-18  21:55    

In the theory of the Astronomical Calendar, the 5th lunar month, from 5-22-01 21:46 to 06-21-01 06:57, includes the Center Point of Summer Solstice time 06-21 02:58. Therefore the 5th lunar month from 5-22-01 21:46 to 06-21-01 06:57 is not a leap month. The leap 5th month from 06-21-01 06:58 to 07-20-01 14:43 is a leap month because it contains no Center Point.

The Astronomical Calendar compares the dates and times of the new moon day and the Center Point. The Civil Calendar compares only the dates of the new moon day and the Center Point.

 The Chinese Fortune Calendar Online web site uses the Astronomical Calendar for non-China time zones.

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