Calendar Differences in the Three Kingdoms Period (223 – 280)


The following table lists the Julian dates MM-DD of the first day of each month in the Chinese calendar. MM indicates the Julian month and DD indicates the Julian date. When MM is 13, it means January in the following Julian year. The — in the leap month column means that there is no leap month in that Chinese year. Otherwise, it has the form X: MM-DD. X indicates the month number before the leap month; MM-DD indicates the Julian date of the first day in the leap month. A blank cell means the date is the same as listed in the cell above.


Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
223Wei (魏)02-1803-2004-1805-1806-1607-1608-1409-1310-1211-1112-1113-09
Shu (蜀)
Wu (吳)03-1905-1707-1509-1211-1012-10

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
224Wei (魏)02-0803-0804-0705-0606-0507-0408-0309-0110-0110-3011-2912-28
Shu (蜀)
Wu (吳)02-0704-0606-0408-0209-3011-28

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
225Wei (魏)01-2702-2503-2705-2506-2407-2308-2209-2010-2011-1812-1813-163: 04-26
Shu (蜀)
Wu (吳)01-2604-2506-2308-2110-1912-174: 05-25

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
226Wei (魏)02-1503-1604-1505-1406-1307-1208-1109-1010-0911-0812-0713-06
Shu (蜀)
Wu (吳)02-1404-1406-1209-0911-0713-05

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
227Wei (魏)02-0403-0604-0405-0406-0207-0207-3108-3009-2810-2811-2712-2612: 13-25
Shu (蜀)
Wu (吳)03-0505-0307-0108-2910-2711-2612: 13-24

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
228Wei (魏)02-2303-2404-2205-2206-2007-2008-1809-1710-1611-1512-1413-13
Shu (蜀)
Wu (吳)03-2305-2107-1909-1611-1413-12

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
229Wei (魏)02-1103-1304-1205-1106-1007-0908-0809-0610-0611-0412-0413-02
Shu (蜀)
Wu (吳)03-1204-1106-0908-0710-0512-03

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
230Wei (魏)02-0103-0204-0104-3005-3006-2907-2808-2709-2511-2312-2313-219: 10-25
Shu (蜀)
Wu (吳)01-3103-3105-2906-2808-2610-2412-228: 09-25

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
231Wei (魏)02-2003-2104-2005-1906-1807-1708-1609-1410-1411-1312-1213-11
Shu (蜀)
Wu (吳)02-1904-1906-1708-1510-1311-1213-10

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
232Wei (魏)02-0903-1004-0805-0806-0607-0608-0409-0310-0211-0111-3012-30
Shu (蜀)
Wu (吳)03-0905-0707-0509-0210-3112-29

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
233Wei (魏)01-2802-2703-2904-2705-2707-2508-2309-2210-2111-2012-1913-185: 06-25
Shu (蜀)
Wu (吳)02-2603-2805-2607-2409-2111-1913-17

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
234Wei (魏)02-1603-1804-1605-1606-1507-1408-1309-1110-1111-0912-0913-07
Shu (蜀)
Wu (吳)03-1705-1506-1408-1210-1012-08

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
235Wei (魏)02-0603-0704-0605-0506-0407-0308-0208-3109-3010-3011-2812-28
Shu (蜀)
Wu (吳)02-0504-0506-0308-0109-2910-2912-27

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
236Wei (魏)01-2603-2504-2405-2306-2207-2108-2009-1810-1811-1612-1613-151: 02-25
Shu (蜀)
Wu (吳)02-2404-2306-2108-1910-1712-1513-142: 03-25

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
237Wei (魏)02-1203-1404-1205-1206-1107-1008-0909-0710-0711-0512-0513-03
Shu (蜀)02-1303-1504-1305-1307-1109-0811-0613-04
Wu (吳)02-1203-1404-1305-1207-1009-0711-0513-03

In 237, emperor Mingdi of the Wei dynasty declared that the chǒu month (present day month 12) would be the first month of a year; the yín month (present day month 1) became month 2 and so on. The Chinese month numbers were shifted by one. The new system was imposed after month 2 in the Chinese year in 237, in which month 4 was followed by month 2. When the emperor died in 239 CE., the month numbers were switched back with month 1 being the yín month again in the following year. As a result, the Chinese year in 239 had 13 months, where month 12 appeared twice. To prevent confusion, the month order is not changed here. Month 1 still refers to the yín month in 237-239. In addition, in the book 3500 Years of Calendars and Astronomical Phenomena, the main text uses a new calendar (based on the Jǐngchū astronomical system) beginning in month 1 in 237, but Appendix 2 of the book starts using the new calendar in month 5 in 237. Here I follow the main text and start using the new calendar in month 1 in 237. The conjunction days before month 5 were one day earlier than the old calendar (the same one used by the Shu dynasty).


Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
238Wei (魏)02-0203-0304-0205-0105-3106-2907-2908-2809-2610-2612-2413-2210: 11-24
Shu (蜀)03-0405-0206-0106-3007-3009-2713-2310: 11-25
Wu (吳)03-0305-0105-3106-3007-2909-2613-2210: 11-24

In Appendix 2 of the book 3500 Years of Calendars and Astronomical Phenomena, the sexagenary day of the leap month conjunction in the Wu state is listed as jǐ chǒu, corresponding to Nov. 25. This is at odds with my calculation. The result of my calculation is consistent with the data on the Chinese-Western calendar conversion website created by Academia Sinica in Taiwan. The preface of the book says that the calendar data in its appendices are based on the book 《歷代長術輯要》(Compilation of Historical Calendars) by Wāng Yuēzhēn (汪曰楨). I looked at the book and found that the date listed there was also the same as my calculation. I suspect that the date listed in 3500 Years of Calendars and Astronomical Phenomena is wrong. The book also lists the sexagenary day of the month 11 conjunction in the Wu state as jǐ chǒu, which is certainly wrong since this date was far away from the new moon close to the beginning of month 11.


Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
239Wei (魏)02-2103-2204-2105-2006-1907-1808-1709-1510-1511-1312-1313-12
Shu (蜀)03-2305-2107-1909-1610-1611-1412-14
Wu (吳)03-2205-2007-1809-1510-1511-1412-13

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
240Wei (魏)02-1003-1104-0905-0906-0707-0708-0509-0410-0311-0212-0112-31
Shu (蜀)02-1104-1006-0808-0610-0412-0213-01
Wu (吳)02-1004-0906-0708-0510-0312-0112-31

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
241Wei (魏)01-2902-2803-2904-2805-2806-2608-2409-2310-2211-2112-2013-196: 07-26
Shu (蜀)01-3003-0103-3004-2906-2707-2610-2312-217: 08-25
Wu (吳)01-2902-2803-3004-2806-2608-2410-2212-206: 07-26

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
242Wei (魏)02-1703-1904-1705-1706-1507-1508-1409-1210-1211-1012-1013-08
Shu (蜀)02-1804-1805-1806-1607-1609-1311-1113-09
Wu (吳)02-1704-1705-1706-1607-1509-1211-1013-08

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
243Wei (魏)02-0703-0804-0705-0606-0507-0408-0309-0110-0110-3011-2912-29
Shu (蜀)03-0905-0707-0508-0409-0210-0210-3111-30
Wu (吳)03-0805-0607-0408-0309-0110-0110-3111-29

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
244Wei (魏)01-2702-2603-2605-2406-2307-2208-2109-1910-1911-1712-1713-153: 04-25
Shu (蜀)01-2803-2705-2507-2309-2011-1812-1813-16
Wu (吳)01-2703-2605-2407-2209-1911-1712-1713-16

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
245Wei (魏)02-1403-1504-1405-1406-1207-1208-1009-0910-0811-0712-0613-05
Shu (蜀)02-1503-1604-1506-1308-1110-0912-07
Wu (吳)02-1403-1604-1406-1208-1010-0812-06

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
246Wei (魏)02-0303-0504-0305-0306-0107-0107-3108-2909-2810-2711-2612-2512: 13-24
Shu (蜀)02-0404-0405-0406-0207-0208-3010-2813-2411: 12-26
Wu (吳)02-0304-0305-0306-0207-0108-2910-2712-2512: 13-24

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
247Wei (魏)02-2203-2404-2205-2206-2007-2008-1809-1710-1611-1512-1513-13
Shu (蜀)02-2304-2306-2107-2108-1909-1810-1711-1613-14
Wu (吳)02-2204-2206-2007-2008-1809-1710-1611-1513-13

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
248Wei (魏)02-1203-1204-1105-1006-0907-0808-0709-0510-0511-0312-0313-01
Shu (蜀)03-1305-1107-0909-0611-0412-0413-02
Wu (吳)03-1205-1007-0809-0511-0312-0313-01

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
249Wei (魏)01-3103-0103-3104-3005-2906-2807-2708-2609-2411-2212-2213-209: 10-24
Shu (蜀)02-0103-0204-0105-3007-2810-2411-2313-218: 09-25
Wu (吳)01-3103-0203-3105-2907-2710-2411-2213-208: 09-24

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
250Wei (魏)02-1903-2004-1905-1806-1707-1608-1509-1410-1311-1212-1113-10
Shu (蜀)02-2003-2104-2005-1906-1807-1708-1610-1412-12
Wu (吳)02-1903-2004-1905-1906-1707-1708-1510-1312-11

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
251Wei (魏)02-0803-1004-0805-0806-0607-0608-0409-0310-0211-0112-0112-30
Shu (蜀)02-0904-0906-0707-0708-0509-0410-0311-0212-31
Wu (吳)02-0804-0806-0607-0608-0409-0310-0311-0112-30

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
252Wei (魏)01-2902-2703-2804-2605-2607-2408-2209-2110-2011-1912-1813-175: 06-24
Shu (蜀)02-2804-2708-2310-2111-2012-1913-185: 06-25
Wu (吳)02-2704-2606-2408-2210-2011-1912-1813-174: 05-26

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
253Wei (魏)02-1503-1704-1605-1506-1407-1308-1209-1010-1011-0812-0813-06
Shu (蜀)02-1603-1805-1607-1409-1111-0913-07
Wu (吳)02-1603-1705-1507-1309-1011-0813-06

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
254Wei (魏)02-0503-0604-0505-0406-0307-0208-0108-3109-2910-2911-2712-27
Shu (蜀)02-0603-0704-0605-0506-0407-0308-0209-3011-28
Wu (吳)02-0503-0604-0505-0406-0307-0308-0109-2911-27

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
255Wei (魏)01-2503-2504-2405-2306-2207-2108-2009-1810-1811-1712-1613-151: 02-24
Shu (蜀)01-2603-2605-2406-2307-2208-2109-1910-1912-17
Wu (吳)01-2503-2505-2306-2207-2108-2009-1910-1812-16

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
256Wei (魏)02-1303-1404-1205-1206-1007-1008-0809-0710-0611-0512-0413-03
Shu (蜀)02-1404-1306-1108-0909-0810-0711-0612-0513-04
Wu (吳)02-1304-1206-1008-0809-0710-0611-0512-0413-03

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
257Wei (魏)02-0103-0304-0205-0105-3106-2907-2908-2709-2610-2512-2313-2210: 11-24
Shu (蜀)02-0203-0405-0206-3008-2811-2412-2413-239: 10-26
Wu (吳)02-0203-0305-0106-2908-2710-2512-2313-2210: 11-24

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
258Wei (魏)02-2003-2204-2005-2006-1807-1808-1709-1510-1511-1312-1313-11
Shu (蜀)02-2103-2304-2105-2106-1907-1909-1611-1413-12
Wu (吳)02-2003-2204-2005-2006-1907-1809-1511-1313-11

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
259Wei (魏)02-1003-1104-1005-0906-0807-0708-0609-0410-0411-0312-0213-01
Shu (蜀)03-1205-1006-0907-0808-0709-0510-0512-03
Wu (吳)03-1105-0906-0807-0708-0609-0510-0412-02

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
260Wei (魏)01-3002-2903-2904-2805-2706-2607-2509-2210-2211-2012-2013-187: 08-24
Shu (蜀)01-3103-3005-2807-2609-2310-2311-2112-2113-197: 08-25
Wu (吳)01-3003-2905-2707-2509-2210-2211-2012-2013-197: 08-24

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
261Wei (魏)02-1703-1904-1705-1706-1507-1508-1309-1210-1111-1012-0913-08
Shu (蜀)02-1804-1806-1608-1410-1212-1013-09
Wu (吳)02-1704-1706-1508-1310-1112-0913-08

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
262Wei (魏)02-0603-0804-0605-0606-0407-0408-0309-0110-0110-3011-2912-28
Shu (蜀)02-0703-0904-0705-0706-0507-0509-0210-3112-29
Wu (吳)02-0603-0804-0605-0606-0507-0409-0110-3012-28

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
263Wei (魏)01-2702-2503-2705-2506-2307-2308-2109-2010-2011-1812-1813-163: 04-25
Shu (蜀)02-2603-2804-2606-2407-2408-2209-2111-1913-174: 05-26
Wu (吳)02-2503-2705-2506-2307-2308-2209-2011-1813-163: 04-25

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
264Wei (魏)02-1503-1504-1405-1306-1207-1108-1009-0810-0811-0612-0613-04
Wu (吳)13-05

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
265Wei (魏)02-0303-0504-0305-0306-0107-0107-3008-2909-2710-2711-2513-2311: 12-25
Wu (吳)

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
266Jin (晉)02-2203-2304-2205-2106-2007-2008-1809-1710-1611-1512-1413-13
Wu (吳)05-22

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
267Jin (晉)02-1103-1304-1105-1106-0907-0908-0709-0610-0611-0412-0413-02
Wu (吳)08-08

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
268Jin (晉)02-0103-0103-3104-2905-2906-2707-2708-2510-2311-2212-2113-208: 09-24
Wu (吳)12-22

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
269Jin (晉)02-1903-2004-1905-1806-1707-1608-1509-1310-1311-1112-1113-09
Wu (吳)

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
270Jin (晉)02-0803-0904-0805-0706-0607-0608-0409-0310-0211-0111-3012-30
Wu (吳)05-08

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
271Jin (晉)01-2802-2703-2804-2705-2607-2408-2309-2210-2111-2012-1913-185: 06-25
Wu (吳)07-25

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
272Jin (晉)02-1603-1704-1505-1506-1307-1308-1109-1010-0911-0812-0713-06
Wu (吳)12-08

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
273Jin (晉)02-0503-0604-0505-0406-0307-0208-0108-3009-2910-2811-2712-26
Wu (吳)

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
274Jin (晉)01-2503-2504-2305-2306-2207-2108-2009-1810-1811-1612-1613-141: 02-23
Wu (吳)04-24

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
275Jin (晉)02-1303-1404-1305-1206-1107-1008-0909-0810-0711-0612-0513-04
Wu (吳)

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
276Jin (晉)02-0203-0304-0105-0105-3006-2907-2808-2709-2511-2312-2313-229: 10-25
Wu (吳)10-2510: 11-24

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
277Jin (晉)02-2003-2204-2005-2006-1807-1808-1609-1510-1411-1312-1213-11
Wu (吳)

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
278Jin (晉)02-0903-1104-1005-0906-0807-0708-0609-0410-0411-0212-0212-31
Wu (吳)

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
279Jin (晉)01-3002-2803-3004-2805-2806-2607-2609-2310-2311-2112-2113-197: 08-25
Wu (吳)

Julian
Year
StateMonths in Chinese Calendar
123456789101112leap
280Jin (晉)02-1803-1804-1705-1606-1507-1408-1309-1110-1111-0912-0913-08
Wu (吳)11-10

Remark

At the beginning, the three states used the same calendar based on the Sìfēn astronomical system created around 85 CE. Wu state adopted a new calendar based on the Qiánxiàng system in 223. That's why the table begins in this year. Wu state used this calendar until it was conquered by the Jin dynasty in 280. Wei state adopted a new calendar based on the Jǐngchū system in 237, which was still in use after the Jin dynasty took over Wei in 265. The Shu state used the old calendar (based on the Sìfēn system) until it was conquered by the Wei state in 263.


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