Time measurement: SMTH 论时刻 Discuss Hour Quarter (Ke)

This entry is my study about how old system of Time measurement. There are a lot of things that I don't understand.

论时刻

Discuss Hour Ke

The red line is the Equator, the yellow line is the sun's ecliptic movement across the year.

Ke (quarter) is a unit for time measurement. 1 Hour (Sichen) is made of 10 Ke - (8 Big Ke and 2 Small Ke).

夫昼夜十二时，均分百刻，一时有八大刻、二小刻，大刻总九十六，小刻总二十四，小刻六，凖大刻一，故共为百刻也。

That day and night with 12 hours are divided equally into 100 ke (quarter), one hour is made of 8 Big ke and 2 Small ke, there's 96 Big ke and 24 Small ke in a day, 6 Small ke is equal to 1 Big ke, thus a day has a total of 100 ke.

上半时之大刻四，始曰初初，次初一，次初二，次初三，最后小刻为初四。

The earlier half hour (SiChen) has four Big ke, they are named Early Early, continued by Early One, Early Two, Early Three and the last is Small Ke named Early 4.

下半时之大刻亦四，始曰正初，次正一，次正二，次正三，最后小刻为正四。

The later half hour (SiChen) also has four Big ke, they are called True Early, True One, True Two, True Three and the final small ke is True four.

Trey: The hour is divided into Early (which represent the upper part of the hour) and True (the lower part)

若子时，则上半时在夜半前，属昨日，下半时在夜半后，属今日。

If it is Zi hour, the earlier hour before midnight is regarded as the previous day, the half hour after midnight is today.

亦犹冬至，得十一月中气，一阳来复，为天道之初耳。

And as for Winter Solstice, getting the middle Qi of the eleventh month, One Yang comes to resume, that is the beginning of Heavenly way.

古历每时以二小刻为始，乃各继以四大刻，然不若今历之便於筹策也。

The ancient calendar begins with 2 small ke and followed by 4 big ke, that is not as convenient as today's calculation.

世谓子午卯酉各九刻，余皆八刻，非是。

People say Zi Wu Mao and You have 9 ke, while the rest have 8 ke, that is not true.


Trey: the texts below talk about the sun ecliptic movement as its position in the sky relative to the stars moves throughout the year according to the seasons (solar terms). Also it tells the time for sunrise and sunset and the lengths of day and night that differ accordingly.  

冬至日，日在箕五度，今在箕六三度，日出辰初一刻，日入申正四刻，后八日，躔星纪之次。
The day of Winter Solstice, the sun is at Ji (constellation name, literally winnow casket) 5 degree, now at Ji 63 degree, the sun rises at Chen hour on the Early 1 ke, the sun sets at Shen hour at True 4 Ke, after eight days, it follow the course of XinJi (a place at equator that correspond to Chou EB)

小寒日，日在斗十二度，今在斗八度，日入酉初二刻，后六日，日出卯正四刻，昼四十二刻，夜五十八刻。
The day of Lesser Cold, the sun is at Dou (constellation name, literally: is a unit of measurement for weight) 12 degree, now at Dou 8 degree, after six days, the sun rises at Mao at True 4 Ke, the length of day is 42 Ke, the length of night is 58 Ke.

大寒日，日在牛四度，今在牛初度。日入酉初一刻，后十二日，日出卯正二刻，后四日，躔玄枵之次，入子，女二度，昼四十三刻，夜一十七刻，十三后日，昼四十四刻，夜五十六刻。
The day of Greater Cold, the sun is a Niu (literally - 'cow') 4 degree, now at Niu early degree. Sun sets at You Early 1 Ke, after 12 days, the sun rises at Mao True 2 Ke, after 4 days, it follows the course of XuanXiao (correspond to EB Zi), enter Zi, Nv (Girl) 2 degree, the length of day is 43 Ke, the length of night is 57 Ke, thirteen days later, the length of day is 44 Ke, night 56 Ke.

立春日，日在危三度，今在女六度，后十二日，日入酉初三刻，后十三日，日出卯正二刻，昼四十五刻，夜五十五刻。
The day of Beginning of Spring,  sun is at Wei (literally 'danger') 3 degree, now at Nv 6 degree, for 20 days afterwards, sun sets at You Early 3 Ke, the rises at Mao True 2 Ke,  day time is 45 Ke, night time is 55 Ke.

雨水日，日在危六度，今在尾初度，后十二日，日入酉初三刻，十三日，日出卯正一刻，昼四十七刻，夜五十三刻，后四日，躔娵訾之次，入亥，危十三度，昼四十八刻，夜五十二刻。
The day of Rain Water, sun is at Wei (danger) 6 degree, now at Wei (Tail, different from the previous Wei) early degree, for 12 days afterwards, sun sets at You early 3 Ke, thirteen days later, sun rises at Mao True 1 Ke, day time is 47 Ke, night time is 53 Ke, after 4 days, it follow the course of  JuZi, enter Hai, Wei 13 degree, day time is 48 Ke, night time 52 Ke.

惊蛰日，日在室八度，今在危十五度，后十二日，日入酉初四刻，十三日，日出寅正初刻，昼四十九刻，夜五十一刻。
The day of Awakening Insects, sun is at Shi (room) 8 degree, now at Wei (danger) 15 degree, for 20 days afterwards, sun sets at You Early 4 Ke, 13 days, sun rises at Yin True Early Ke, day 49 Ke, night 51 Ke.

春分日，日在壁五度，今在室十度，后六日，日躔降娄之次，入戌，奎三度，后十三日，日入酉正一刻，十四日，日出卯初三刻，昼五十一刻，夜四十九刻。
The day of Spring Equinox, Sun is at Bi (wall) 5 degree, now at Shi 10 degree, for 6 days afterwards, the sun follow the course of JiangLou, enter Xu, Kui (constellation name) at 3 degree, for 13 days afterwards, the sun sets at You True 1 Ke, 14 days, sun rises at Mao Early 3 Ke, day 51 Ke, night 49 Ke.

清明日，日在奎十二度，今在壁十度，昼五十三刻，夜四十七刻，其日出入皆在春分后。
The day of Bright and Clear, sun is at Kui 12 degree, now at Bi 10 degree, day is 53 Ke, night is 47 Ke, that the sun rises and sets as after Spring Equinox.

榖雨日，日在娄十度，今在娄初度，本日，日出卯二刻，后八日，日躔大梁之次，入酉，胃四度，昼五十五刻，夜四十五刻。
The day of Grain Rain, Sun is at Lou (constellation name) 10 degree, now at Lou early degree, this day, sun rises at Mao 2 Ke, after 8 days, the sun follows the course of DaLiang, enter You, Wei (stomach) 4 degree, day time 55 Ke, night time 45 Ke.

立夏日，日在胃十三度，今在胃一度，日入酉正三刻，后三日，日在卯初一刻，昼五十六刻，夜四十四刻。
The day of Beginning of Summer, Sun is at Wei (stomach) 13 degree, now at Wei (stomach) 1 degree, sun sets at You True 3 Ke, for 3 days after, sun (rises) at Mao Early 1 Ke, day is 56 Ke, night is 44 Ke.

小满日，日在毕初度，今在昴四度，后十日，日入酉正四刻，日出卯初初刻，后九日，日躔实沈之次，入申，毕七度，昼五十八刻，夜四十二刻。
The day of Little Full, sun is at Bi (finish) early degree, now is at Mao (constellation) 4 degree, for 10 days after, sun sets at You True 4 Ke, sun rises at Mao Early Early Ke, for 9 days after, the sun follows the course of ShiShen, enter shen, Bi (finish) 7 degree, day is 58 Ke, night is 42 Ke.

芒种日，日在毕十四度，今在毕十一度，日出卯初初刻，日入酉正四刻，其昼夜本无节。
The day of Awn Grow, the sun is at Bi (finish) 14 degree, now at Bi (finish) 11 degree, sun rises at Mao Early Early Ke, sun sets at You True 4 Ke, that the length of day and night is not noticeably different (from the previous solar term)

夏至日，日在井一度，今在觜十一度，日出寅正四刻，日入戌初初刻，后八日，日躔鹑首之次，入未，井九度，昼五十九刻，夜四十一刻。
On the day of Summer extreme (Summer solstice), the sun is at Jing (Well) 1 degree, now at Zi (constellation) 11 degree, sun rises at Yin True 4 Ke, sun sets at Xu Early Early Ke, for 8 days after, the sun follows the course of ChunShou, enters Wei, Jing (Well) 9 degree, day is 59 Ke, night is 41 Ke.

小暑日，日在井十六度，今在井十三度，日出卯初初刻，后八日，日入酉正四刻，昼五十八刻，夜四十二刻。
The day of Lesser Heat, sun is at Jing (Well) 16 degree, now at Jing 13 degree, sun rises at Mao Early Early Ke, sun sets at You True 4 Ke, day is 58 degree, night is 42 degree.

大暑日，日在鬼一度，今在井二十八度，后七日，躔鹑火之次，入午，柳四度，日出卯初一刻，入酉初三刻，昼五十七刻，夜四十三刻。
The day of Greater Heat, sun is at Gui (ghost) 1 degree, now at Jing (well) 28 degree, for 7 days after, it follows the course of ChunHuo, enters Wu, Liu (willow) 4 degree, sun rises at Mao Early 1 Ke, sets at You Early 3 Ke, day is 57 Ke, night is 43 Ke.

立秋日，日在星一度，今在柳九度，日出卯初一刻，入酉正四刻，昼五十六刻，夜四十四刻。
The day of Autumn Begins, sun is at Xing (star) 1 degree, now at Liu (willow) 9 degree, sun rises at Mao Early 1 Ke, sets at You True 4 Ke, day 56 ke, night 44 Ke.

处暑日，日在张八度，今在星七度，日出卯初二刻，入酉正二刻，后九日，躔鹑尾之次，入巳，张十六度，昼五十四刻，夜四十六刻。
The day of Dwelling Heat, sun is at Zhang (piece), now at Star 7 degree, Sun rises at Mao Early 2 Ke, sets at You True 2 Ke, for 9 days after, it follows the course of ChunWei, enters Si, Zhang (piece) 16 degree, day 54 Ke, night 46 Ke.

白露日，日在翼五度，今在张十三度，日出卯初三刻，日入酉正一刻，昼五十二刻，夜四十八刻。
The day of White Dew, sun at Yi (wing) 5 degree, now at Zhang 13 degree, sun rises at Mao Early 3 Ke, sets at You True 1 Ke, day 52 Ke, night 48 Ke.

秋分日，日在轸一度，今在翼十度，日出卯初四刻，日入酉正初刻，后十一日，日躔寿星之次，入辰轸十二度，昼五十刻，夜五十刻。
The day of Autumn Equinox, the sun at Zhen (carriage) 1 degree, now at Yi 10 degree, sun rises at Mao early 4 ke, sets at You True Early Ke, for 11 days after, the sun follows the course of ShouXing, enters Chen at Zhen 12 degree, day is 50 ke, night is 50ke.

寒露日，日在轸十六度，今在轸八度，日出卯正一刻，日入酉初三刻，昼四十八刻，夜五十二刻。
The day of Chilly Dew, sun is at Zhen 16 degree, now at Zhen 8 degree, sun rises at Mao True 1 Ke, sets at You Early 3 Ke, day 48 Ke, night 52 Ke.

霜降日，日在角初十度，今在角十度五分，日出卯正二刻，日入酉初二刻，后十二日，日躔大火之次，而入卯，氐三度，昼四十六刻，夜五十四刻。
The day of Frost Descent, sun is at Jiao (horn) early 10 degree, now at Jiao 10 degree, 5 minute, the sun rises at Mao True 2 Ke, sets at You Early 2 Ke, for 12 days after, the sun follows the course of DaHuo, enters Mao, Di (low) 3 degree, day is 46 Ke, night is 54 Ke.

立冬日，日在氐五度，今在氐三度，日出卯正三刻，日入酉初一刻，昼四十四刻，夜五十六刻。
The day of Winter Begins, the sun is at Di (low) 5 degree, now at Di 3 degree, the sun rises at Mao True 3 Ke, sets at You Early 1 Ke, day is 44 Ke, night is 56 Ke.

小雪日，日在房三度，今在房一度，日出卯正四刻，日入酉初初刻，昼四十二刻，夜五十八刻，后十一日，日躔析木之次，入寅，尾四度。
The day of Little Snow, the sun is at Fang (house) 3 degree, now at Fang 1 degree, sun rises at Mao True 3 Ke, sets at You Early Early Ke, day 42 Ke, night 58 Ke, for 11 days after, the sun follows the course of XiMu, enters Yin, Wei (tail) 4 degree.

大雪日，日在尾八度，今在尾四度，日出卯初一刻，日入酉初初刻。
The day of Great Snow, the sun is at Wei (tail) 8 degree, now at Wei (tail) 4 degree, the sun rises atMao Early 1 Ke, sets at You Early Early Ke.

论曰：
Discussion says:

看命之法，以时为低昂，时有八刻，初正之气不同，初者，其朔气也，正者，其中气也，故用时之法，每用其正，若癸为子下四刻，艮为丑下四刻，以其得天干之正气焉。
The method of analyzing chart, take the hour as the high and low, the hour has 8 quarters (ke), the Qi of Early and True are different, Early has the beginning Qi, while True has middle Qi, when using the time, use it properly, as Gui represents the lower 4 quarters of Zi, Gen as the lower 4 quarters of Chou, and that gets the true Qi from the Heavenly stem.

若初则带先时之气，未占后时之气，况夜半不分，其日顿差，子亥中间，厥时难定，除初初正四刻，余六刻之间，或阴晴倏忽，寒暖迥别，人之生时果得其当也耶。
Trey: This verse more or less says that for the Early Ke, the Qi remains the Qi from the previous hour, while the Qi of this hour only comes after the middle of the hour. Furthermore, it is very difficult to determine the right time for the change of hour and day, thus it is difficult to know correct Qi.

余姑就授时历分之，要在智者密察而详问之，庶无误矣。
For the rest, at the time being, use the ShouShi Calendar to determine, it has to be done carefully by a person who is proficient, then it is almost unmistakable.