Published in 2010 by an imprint of NTU school
Project Title
on Fading Tradition of Singapore- Chinese Almanac
万事通
DESIGN of Arts, Design and Media
Know-it-all
Design & Illustrations by Quek Teng Wan, April. www.wandesign.webs.com
Copyright (c) 2010 The moral right of the author has be asserted.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the publisher.
Wan Design is in no way responsible for the contents of individual web sites [i.e. the accuracy, completeness or quality of the information provided], or for its contents and the direction of the Internet addresses lies with each website owner.
Printed in Singapore
This book is an abstract example of a redesigned Chinese Almanac in the modern context of Singapore. Contents are determined according to the questions of the game, Know-it-all.
YEAR OF TIGER 2010
庚寅年春
春牛图是中国古时一种 用来预知当年天气、降 雨量、干支、五行、农 作收成等资料的图鉴。
Spring Ox Chart is used to predict the a year’s weather, rain amount, the sun, 5 elements and period for harvesting.
日
SUN Sorching, dry and arid
炎热，农田干旱
牧童 牛
穿鞋，无穿 戴草帽代表 干旱。
尾巴向左属阴年
SHEPHERD BOY OX
With shoes and without hat: Hot weather
Tail point left, Yin year
01
INTRODUC 中国宋代理学家周敦颐的著作。据朱 熹说,《通书》本名《易通》，后改名 为《通书》。 通胜是从黄历改编, 记载 每日公历、夏历日期，干支，节气、 宜忌、节日，日月食，五行等。
除了有中国的天文与科学以 外，通胜也流传着古文及民 间流传的各种知识。比如， 介绍各种算命方法，收录 《三字经》、《增广贤文》 、《千字文》 、 《 百家 姓 》 儒家思想等旧时的启 蒙教材，认知做人的哲学 和道理。
因此， 包罗万象的内容，是 家喻户晓必备的书。也象征 着中华民族智慧的中心。所 以顾名思义，“通胜”是一 本万事通的古代简明天文历 书和启蒙读物。
CTION介绍 Chinese Almanac is written by Zhou Duiyi during the Song Dynasty. It was originated from the Yellow Calendar, recording daily solar calendar, the lunar calendar date, the Heavenly Stems and the Earthly Branches, the 24 Solar terms, the suitable death anniversary, the holiday, the Sun and Lunar eclipse, 5 Elements of universe etc. Besides the calendars which are based on astronomy and science, the almanac is also consist of Classical Chinese literature and the folk stories. For instance, it introduces different self-thought fortunes method or even basic knowledge materials such as “3-character classic”, “Thousand-character classic”, “Book of Hundred Surnames” and Confucian thoughts. Through these, we learn to understand life and being a good man. Therefore, because of its comprehensive content, it is known to be a necessary book in every home. It also symbolizes the Chinese wisdom accumulation. Therefore, the book is a know-it-all’s ancient concise almanac and a source for curiosity.
02
十二生肖与十二地支 03
中国的十二生肖，在科学上是作为 记年、记时之用。十二生肖为何会 与此挂钩呢？农历用天干、地支编 排年号和日期，天干共十个字，因 此又称为「十干」，地支则共十二 个字。所以十二生肖也代表了十二 个年份。
子: 鼠 丑: 牛 寅: 虎 卯: 兔 辰: 龙
Mouse Cow Tiger Rabbit Dragon
已: 蛇 午: 马 未: 羊 申: 猴 酉: 鸡 戍: 狗 亥: 猪
Snake Horse Sheep Monkey Chicken Dog Pig
04
12 Zodiac Signs and 12 Earthly Branches The purpose of 12 Zodiac signs is to record the time and the year. In lunar calendar, the arrangement are according to the 10 celestial stems and 12 earthly branches. And therefore, 12 animals represents 12 years respectively.
05
阴 yin
06
é˜ł
yang
07
NEGATIVE
阴阳的概念 源自古代中国人民的自然观。古人观察到自然界 中各种对立又相联的大自然现象，如天地、日 月、昼夜、寒暑、男女、上下等，以哲学的思想 方式，归纳出“阴阳”的概念。 阴阳理论已经 渗透到中国传统文化的方方面面，包括宗教，哲 学，历法，中医，书法，建筑堪舆，占卜等。
Positive & Negative Concept Our ancestors view the nature in oppose yet pairing concepts. Such as sky and ground, moon and sun, man and woman, winter and summer, black and white etc. Thus deriving the philosophy of “Yin & Yang”.
WARM
FRONT
LIGHT
MAN
POSITIVE
08
09
五行 五行是中国古代的一种物质观。 多用于哲学、中医学和占卜方 面。五行指：金、木、水、火、 土。认为大自然由五种要素所构 成，随着这五个要素的盛衰，而 使得大自然产生变化。五行学说 认为宇宙万物，都由木火土金水 五种基本物质的运行（运动）和 变化所构成。
5 Elements 5 elements are the Chinese’s view on materials in the universe. The philosophy are use in Traditional Chinese Medicine and the divine aspect. The 5 elements refer to Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth. The theory of 5 elements reveal the cosmic inventory and the change constitutes by the five basic material’s movements.
WOOD
;trees
10
长 GROW
木的特性：日出东方,与木相似。古人称“木曰 曲直”。“曲直”，实际是指树木的生长形态， 为枝干曲直，向上向外周舒展。因而引申为具有 生长、升发、条达舒畅等作用或性质的事物， 均归属于木。
11
木生火 木克土 Wood feeds Fire
Wood parts Earth
FIRE
;warm and uprising
12
升 UPRISE
火的特性：南方炎热,与火相似。古人称“火曰 炎上”。“炎上”，是指火具有温热、上升的特 性。因而引申为具有温热、升腾作用的事物， 均归属于火
13
火生土 火克金 Fire creates Earth
Fire melts Metal
EARTH
;contain minerals for growth
14
种 PLANT
土的特性：中原肥沃,与土相似。古人称“土爰 稼穑”，是指土有种植和收获农作物的作用。因 而引申为具有生化、承载、受纳作用的事物， 均归属于土。故有“土载四行”和“土为万物 之母”之说。
15
土生金 土克火 Earth bears Metal
Earth smothers Fire
METAL
;includes minerals.
16
沉 SINK
金的特性；日落于西,与金相似。古人称“金曰 从革”。“从革”是指“变革”的意思。引申 为具有清洁、肃降、收敛等作用的事物，均归 属于金。
17
金生水 金克土 Metal carries water
Metal breaks up Earth
WATER
;liquid
18
润 MOISTURE
水的特性：北方寒冷,与水相似。古人称“水曰 润下”。是指水具有滋润和向下的特性。引申 为具有寒凉、滋润、向下运行的事物，均归属 于水。
19
水生木 水克火 Water nourishes Wood Water quenches Fire
23
立春/
蛰/
夏
雨水/ 水 大 春分/
小满/
清明/ /立
谷雨/ 谷雨
大 大暑/
立夏/ 立秋/
小暑/ 小
冬
处暑/
24
白露/
夏至/
寒露/
秋分/
大雪/
小雪/
/立冬/ 霜降/
大寒/ 大寒
小寒/
冬 冬至/
二十四节气 二十四节气是中国古代订立的 一种用来指导农事的补充历法。 二十四节气能反映季节的变化， 指导农事活动，影响着千家万户 的衣食住行。二十四节气是根据 太阳在黄道上的位置来划分的。 每前进15度为一个节气；运行 一周又回到春分点 。
25
24 SOLAR TERMS IN 4 SEASONS
春 夏 SPRING
SUMMER
立春 / start of spring 雨水 / rain water
立夏/ start of summer 小满 / grain full
春分 / vernal equinox 清明 / clear and bright 谷雨 / grain rain
夏至 / summer solstice 小暑 / minor heat 大暑 / major heat
26
秋 冬 AUTUMN
立秋 处暑 白露 秋分 寒露 霜降
/ start of autumn / limit of heat / white dew / autumnal equinox / cold dew / frost descent
WINTER
立冬 小雪 大雪 冬至 小寒 大寒
/ start of winter / minor snow / major snow / winter solstice / minor cold / major cold
自然界的元素 The Chinese believe that everything in the universe is made of the basic five elements; metal, wood, water, fire and earth. 27
做人的原则 The five virtues to become a gentlemen are benevolence, duty, propriety, wisdom and being true.
28
三 字 经 3 word classic
人类种植的食物 Six types of grains that man eats.Rice, fine millet, beans, wheat, broomcorn, millet.
29
人类饲养的家畜 Horse, ox, sheep, chicken, dog, pig are six animals people raise at home.
人类的情感 Humans have 7 main emotions. Happiness, anger, grief and fear, love, hatred and desire.
做乐器的材料 The materials which musical instruments are made from. Gourds, pottery, leather,wood, stone, metal, silk and bamboo.
30
31
32
33
34
18
1 2 3
5
4
6 22 23
7 20
19
13
18
35
23
7
11
8 9
12
15
欠缺思考力
Lack of imagination
22
16
7
17
8
18
9
19
10
20 容易生病
Fall sick easily
23
14
6
12
1
15
15
11
23
12
5
21 22 23
15
17
13
1, 2, 3
15
21
16 14 15
19
13
11
10
21
16 14 15
22
20 13 17
4
12
6
7
19
10
21
5
4
6 22
18
1 2 3
5
8 9
11
17
19 17
旅行要注意
Beware of travelling
短命
Short life
18 5 6 7
22 19
13
11
23
17
21
36
12
18
18
1 2 3
5
5
4
6
6
7
7
22
20 13
11
8 9
10
21 12
15
23
17
21 12
16 14 15
19
13
11
15
三 字 经 Mole Reading