时辰按照十二生肖来排列 The hours are arranged according to the twelve Chinese zodiac signs.

 十二生肖的真正意义 The true meaning of the Chinese zodiac signs

第1系列 The first series

时辰按照十二生肖来排列。

 

子时，又名「子夜」：十二时辰的第一个时辰。时间为23:00-01:00。夜间11点至次日凌晨1点，属于「子时」，「子为鼠」。正是老鼠趁夜深人静、频繁活动之时，老鼠在这个时候最活跃。

 

丑时：十二时辰的第二个时辰。时间为01:00-03:00。凌晨1点至3点，属「丑时」。「丑为牛」。牛习惯在夜间吃草，农家常在深夜起来点灯喂牛。

 

寅时：时间为03:00-05:00。凌晨3点至5点，属「寅时」，「寅为虎」。此时的老虎最凶猛，古人常在此时听到虎啸声。寅字看起来像是老虎的正面，不是吗？

 

卯时：清晨5点至7点，属「卯时」。「卯为兔」。天刚亮，兔子出窝，喜欢吃带有晨露的青草。

 

辰时：早晨7点至9点，属「辰时」，「辰为龙」。此时一般容易起雾，传说龙喜欢腾云驾雾，又值旭日东升，蒸蒸日上，早晨的晨就像是辰上面加个日（太阳），不是吗？

 

巳时：上午9点至11点，属「巳时」。大雾散去，艳阳高照，蛇类出洞觅食，故称「巳为蛇」。

 

午时：中午11点至午后1点，属「午时」。古时野马未被人类驯服，每当「午时」，四处奔跑嘶鸣，故称「午为马」。

 

未时：午后1点至3点，属「未时」。有的地方管此时为「羊出坡」，意思是放羊的好时候，故称「未为羊」。

 

申时：下午3点至5点，属「申时」。太阳偏西了，猴子喜在此时啼叫，故称「申为猴」。

 

酉时：下午5点至7点，属「酉时」。太阳落山了，鸡在窝前打转，故称「酉为鸡」。

 

戌时：傍晚7点至9点，属「戌时」。人劳碌一天，关门准备休息。狗卧门前守护，一有动静，就汪汪大叫，故称「戌为狗」。

 

亥时：夜间9点至11点，属「亥时」。夜深人静，能听见猪拱槽的声音，故称「亥为猪」。

The hours are arranged according to the twelve Chinese zodiac signs.

 

Zi Hour, also known as "Midnight Hour": The first hour of the twelve earthly branches. Time: 11:00 PM - 01:00 AM. During the night, from 11:00 PM to 1:00 AM, it belongs to the "Zi Hour", with "Zi" representing the Rat. It is when rats are most active, taking advantage of the quietness of the night.

 

Chou Hour: The second hour of the twelve earthly branches. Time: 01:00 AM - 03:00 AM. From 1:00 AM to 3:00 AM, it belongs to the "Chou Hour", with "Chou" representing the Ox. Oxen are known to graze at night, and farmers often wake up in the wee hours to feed them.

 

Yin Hour: Time: 03:00 AM - 05:00 AM. From 3:00 AM to 5:00 AM, it is the "Yin Hour", with "Yin" representing the Tiger. Tigers are most ferocious during this time, and ancient people would often hear their roars.

 

Mao Hour: Early morning from 05:00 AM to 07:00 AM. It belongs to the "Mao Hour", with "Mao" representing the Rabbit. At dawn, rabbits come out of their burrows and enjoy eating grass with dew.

 

Chen Hour: Morning from 07:00 AM to 09:00 AM. It belongs to the "Chen Hour", with "Chen" representing the Dragon. Mist often occurs during this time, and dragons are believed to enjoy riding the clouds and fog. Moreover, the sun rises in the morning, forming the word "Chen" (morning) with the addition of the sun.

 

Si Hour: From 09:00 AM to 11:00 AM, it is the "Si Hour". With the fog cleared and the sun shining brightly, snakes come out of their holes to search for food, hence "Si" represents the Snake.

 

Wu Hour: From 11:00 AM to 01:00 PM, it is the "Wu Hour". Wild horses, not yet tamed by humans, gallop around and neigh during this time, thus "Wu" represents the Horse.

 

Wei Hour: From 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM, it is the "Wei Hour". Some areas call this time "Sheep Coming Down the Hill," indicating it's a good time for grazing sheep, hence "Wei" represents the Sheep.

 

Shen Hour: From 03:00 PM to 05:00 PM, it is the "Shen Hour". With the sun beginning to set, monkeys are often heard calling at this time, thus "Shen" represents the Monkey.

 

You Hour: From 05:00 PM to 07:00 PM, it is the "You Hour". With the sun setting, chickens are seen moving around their coops, hence "You" represents the Chicken.

 

Xu Hour: From 07:00 PM to 09:00 PM, it is the "Xu Hour". After a day of hard work, people close their doors to rest. Dogs lie at the door to guard, barking loudly at any movement, hence "Xu" represents the Dog.

 

Hai Hour: From 09:00 PM to 11:00 PM, it is the "Hai Hour". In the quiet night, one can hear the sound of pigs rooting in their troughs, hence "Hai" represents the Pig.