The "Chen" hour is the seventh to ninth hour of the day, known as the "Shi" (meal) time, hence called the Chen hour. The term "Shi" appeared as early as in the "Book of Rites," which says, "Therefore, a gentleman who serves as an official does not farm, and one who farms does not fish; he does not exert himself to obtain rare delicacies at mealtime; a minister does not sit with a sheep, and a scholar does not sit with a dog." (From "The Record of the Pavilion" in the Book of Rites)
The "Shi" time (Chen hour) is the time for breakfast. At the same time, the Chen hour is also the time when the mythological dragons are raining, so it corresponds to the zodiac sign of the Dragon.
During the Chen hour, the Stomach Meridian is active. After a night of sleep, the energy stored in the body has been completely used up, and this is the time when the body most needs to replenish heat and nutrition to meet the energy demands of all internal organs.
It is a rather old belief that it is not advisable to bury someone during the Chen hour. Now, there are also auspicious times for burial, and it ultimately depends on local customs.
According to traditional Chinese customs, the best time for burying a deceased person is at 11 p.m. and 1 a.m., because in ancient times, these times fell into the "Zi" hour, which represented Yin in ancient times, meaning tranquility and stillness. This is considered the most suitable time for the burial of the deceased.
In modern times, apart from the Zhi hour, the Chen hour (7:00-9:00 a.m.) or the Wu hour (11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.) are also acceptable. These times are all appropriate, and it is recommended to consult a professional or follow local customs when burying a deceased person to make the right choice.
