Leap 4th Lunar Month in Chinese Calendar 2001


China Time Zone

There is a leap lunar month after the 4th month in the Chinese Civil Calendar year 2001, published by the Chinese government. The leap month is the 5th lunar month in the Chinese Astronomical Calendar. 

A lunar month not containing a Center Point is a Leap Month. The following is the listing of dates and times about new moon days and the Solar Center points for us to determine the location of the Leap Month. 

2001 China Civil Calendar

Month Name New Moon Date/Time Zodiac Date/Time Zodiac Month
3rd Lunar Month 03-25  09:21    
    04-05  01:24  Clear and Bright (Dragon Month)
    04-20  08:36 Grain Rains (Taurus) - Center Point
4th Lunar Month 04-23  23:26    
  05-05  18:45 Start of Summer (Snake month)
    05-21  07:44 Grain Fills (Gemini) - Center Point
Leap 4th Month 05-23  10:46   No Center point 
    06-05  22:54 Grain in Ear (Horse Month)
5th Lunar Month 06-21  19:58 06-21  15:58 Summer Solstice (Cancer) - Center Point
    07-07  09:07 Slight Heat (Sheep Month)
6th Lunar Month 07-21   03:44    
    07-23  02:26 Great Heat (Leo) - Center Point
    08-07  18:52 Start of Autumn (Monkey Month)
7th Lunar Month 08-19  10:55    

The first day of the leap 4th month is on 5-23-01 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 China Astronomical Calendar

Month Name New Moon Date/Time Zodiac Date/Time Zodiac Month
4th Lunar Month 04-23  23:26    
    05-05  18:45 Start of Summer (Snake month)
    05-21  07:44 Grain Fills (Gemini) - Center Point
5th Lunar Month 05-23  10:46    
    06-05  22:54 Grain in Ear (Horse Month)
    06-21  15:58 Summer Solstice (Cancer) - Center Point
Leap 5th Month 06-21  19:58   No Center point
    07-07  09:07 Slight Heat (Sheep Month)
6th Lunar Month 07-21   03:44    
    07-23  02:26 Great Heat (Leo) - Center Point
    08-07  18:52 Start of Autumn (Monkey Month)
7th Lunar Month 08-19  10:55    

In the theory of the Astronomical Calendar, the 5th lunar month, from 5-23-01 10:46 to 06-21-01 19:57, includes the Center Point of Summer Solstice because the next new moon time 06-21 19:58 is after the Summer Solstice time 06-21 15:58. Therefore the 5th lunar month from 5-23-01 10:46 to 06-21-01 19:57 is not a leap month. The leap 5th month is from 06-21-01 19:58 to 07-21-01 03:43, and 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.


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