Chinese calendar

High school (ages 12+)
Holidays & Celebrations

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Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/chinese-calendar

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the historical period of origin?Evidence suggests origins during the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600-1046 BCE)
2. What is the related astronomical concepts?Incorporates 24 solar terms (Jieqi) to mark seasonal changes and agricultural guidance
3. What is the Chinese calendar and why does it use animals?The Chinese calendar is a special system that mixes the moon and the sun to keep track of time. It uses a 12‑year cycle of animals, like the Rat, Ox, and Dragon, to help people remember which year it is and to connect the calendar with stories and traditions.
4. How does the Chinese calendar keep the months in sync with the seasons?Because a lunar month is about 29.5 days, 12 months make only 354 days, which is 11 days short of a solar year. To fix this, the calendar adds a leap month every few years—seven extra months in a 19‑year cycle—so the calendar stays close to the seasons.

Lunisolar Calendar: A calendar that tracks both the phases of the moon and the progression of the solar year.
Shengxiao (生肖): The Chinese zodiac, a 12-year cycle of animal signs associated with specific years.
Intercalary Month: An extra month added to the calendar periodically to synchronize lunar and solar cycles.
Jieqi (二十四节气): The 24 solar terms that divide the year into segments based on the sun's position, crucial for agriculture.