Double Hours十二時辰

What it is

Each double hour takes one earthly branch and an old everyday name, such as Cockcrow or Dusk.

Gu Yanwu’s Ri Zhi Lu notes that the Zuo Zhuan speaks of only ten times of day, and that Du Yu’s commentary is where the twelve first appear as a set. Most of the names can already be found in the Shi Ji and the Su Wen.

In a chart

The hour of birth sets the branch of the hour pillar. The day stem then sets its stem. On this site 23:00 counts as the start of the next day.

The twelve hours

Each branch with its old name and clock hours.

1. 子時夜半・23–01Midnight, 23:00 to 01:00
2. 丑時雞鳴・01–03Cockcrow, 01:00 to 03:00
3. 寅時平旦・03–05Dawn, 03:00 to 05:00
4. 卯時日出・05–07Sunrise, 05:00 to 07:00
5. 辰時食時・07–09Breakfast time, 07:00 to 09:00
6. 巳時隅中・09–11Mid-morning, 09:00 to 11:00
7. 午時日中・11–13Noon, 11:00 to 13:00
8. 未時日昳・13–15Sun past noon, 13:00 to 15:00
9. 申時晡時・15–17Late afternoon, 15:00 to 17:00
10. 酉時日入・17–19Sunset, 17:00 to 19:00
11. 戌時黃昏・19–21Dusk, 19:00 to 21:00
12. 亥時人定・21–23Bedtime, 21:00 to 23:00