Xia Li (Chinese 夏历, xiàlì — "calendar of the Xia [dynasty]"; also 农历, nónglì — "agricultural calendar") is the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar.

Structure

• 60-year Ganzhi cycles (T065): combination of the 10 Heavenly Stems (T013) and the 12 Earthly Branches (T014)
• 12-year animal cycles (Rat, Ox, Tiger... Pig)
• 24 solar periods (節氣, jiéqì) — division of the year into 24 climatic segments of 15° solar movement along the ecliptic

A Mandatory Tool of Chinese Methods

Without Xia Li, no calculations. Xia Li is the mandatory computational tool for most Chinese methods:

• Ba Zi (#10) — the four pillars of destiny are written in Ganzhi
• Zi Wei Dou Shu (#37) — the palaces are built by lunar month and hour
• Qi Men Dun Jia (#38) — the temporal model is based on solar periods
• Feng Shui (#39, #51) — spatial orientation by lunisolar time
• Nine Star Ki (#40) — the Japanese adaptation of Lo Shu + lunar calendar

A Tool, Not a Method

Xia Li is a tool, not a method of analysis. It is a time-reckoning system on which other methods operate. Analog: the Gregorian calendar in Western astrology, Panchanga (पञ्चाङ्ग) in Jyotish.