Page 382 - A Dictionary of Chinese Symbols BIG Book

A-Z 375

The mythical Emperor Shun

Two cycles, one based on ten and the other based on twelve, can be discerned in even
the earliest strata of Chinese thought. Together, the two generate the cycle based on
sixty. The duodecimal series is correlated with the zodiac with its twelve signs. The
old Chinese day had twelve double hours. The Chinese astronomers were also aware of
Jupiter’s twelve-year orbit round the sun. There were twelve imperial insignia, and
the mythical Emperor Shun is supposed to have appointed twelve high officials. In
terms of the old doctrine of correspondences Chinese medicine recognised twelve
viscera: lungs, heart, pericardium, liver, spleen, kidneys, gall-bladder, stomach, greater
intestine, lesser intestine and a hollow organ.

The pentatonic scales of ancient Chinese music were later supplemented by twelve-
tone scales.

Twenty-four

Twenty-four

er-shi-si

For the Chinese peasant who wanted to know when he should plant and harvest his staple
crops, the old lunar calendar was not sufficiently accurate. For example, before the