12 Periods of the Day Table
1. 23:00 to 1:00 — Zi period:
Nighttime, also known as Ziye or middle night, is the first of the twelve periods of the day. In a day, it is the end of the day and the beginning of the new day. In the twelve zodiac animals, it belongs to the Rat.
2. 1:00 to 3:00 — Chou period:
Dawn, also called the wild rooster, refers to the dark stage before dawn. It is said that this is the time when the ox begins to work in the morning. In the twelve zodiac animals, it belongs to the Ox.
3. 3:00 to 5:00 — Yin period:
Pingdan, also known as dawn, morning, or riqi dan, is the time when night turns into day. At this time, the sky is bright, and it is the time when tigers start to move. Therefore, in the twelve zodiac animals, it belongs to the Tiger.
4. 5:00 to 7:00 — Mao period:
Ri chu, also known as the beginning of the sun, breaking dawn, or sunrise, refers to the time when the sun just appears, rising slowly. This is the time when the sun has risen and is shining brightly. In the twelve zodiac animals, it belongs to the Rabbit.
5. 7:00 to 9:00 — Chen period:
Shi shi, also known as early meal, is the time for breakfast. During the Chen period, the sunlight becomes stronger. It is said that this is the time when the dragons are moving westward, so in the twelve zodiac animals, it belongs to the Dragon.
6. 9:00 to 11:00 — Si period:
Yuzhong, also known as riyu, is the time approaching noon. The sunlight becomes even stronger during the Si period. In the twelve zodiac animals, it belongs to the Snake.
7. 11:00 to 13:00 — Wu period:
Ri zhong, also known as the middle of the day or noon. In a day, it is the time when the sun is at its strongest. In the twelve zodiac animals, it belongs to the Horse.
8. 13:00 to 15:00 — Wei period:
Ri die, also known as ri die or ri yang, refers to the time when the sun is setting. In a day, the Wei period is the time when the heat starts to fade. In the twelve zodiac animals, it belongs to the Sheep.
9. 15:00 to 17:00 — Shen period:
Ren ding, also known as ding hun, means people have settled down. In a day, the heat from the Shen period is almost gone. In the twelve zodiac animals, it belongs to the Monkey.
10. 17:00 to 19:00 — You period:
Ri ru, also known as sunset, sun set, or dusk, refers to the time when the sun sets. In a day, the You period is the time when night is about to arrive. In the twelve zodiac animals, it belongs to the Rooster.
11. 19:00 to 21:00 — Xu period:
Huanghun, also known as rixi, rimu, or riran, is the time when the sun has already set, and the world is dim, making everything blurred, hence called dusk. In a day, the Xu period is the time when the night spreads and the lights are just turned on. In the twelve zodiac animals, it belongs to the Dog.
12. 21:00 to midnight 23:00 — Hai period:
At this time, the night is deep, and people have stopped their activities and are resting and sleeping. In a day, the Hai period is the time when the day is ending and about to move into the next day. In the twelve zodiac animals, it belongs to the Pig.
Nighttime, also known as Ziye or middle night, is the first of the twelve periods of the day. In a day, it is the end of the day and the beginning of the new day. In the twelve zodiac animals, it belongs to the Rat.
2. 1:00 to 3:00 — Chou period:
Dawn, also called the wild rooster, refers to the dark stage before dawn. It is said that this is the time when the ox begins to work in the morning. In the twelve zodiac animals, it belongs to the Ox.
3. 3:00 to 5:00 — Yin period:
Pingdan, also known as dawn, morning, or riqi dan, is the time when night turns into day. At this time, the sky is bright, and it is the time when tigers start to move. Therefore, in the twelve zodiac animals, it belongs to the Tiger.
4. 5:00 to 7:00 — Mao period:
Ri chu, also known as the beginning of the sun, breaking dawn, or sunrise, refers to the time when the sun just appears, rising slowly. This is the time when the sun has risen and is shining brightly. In the twelve zodiac animals, it belongs to the Rabbit.
5. 7:00 to 9:00 — Chen period:
Shi shi, also known as early meal, is the time for breakfast. During the Chen period, the sunlight becomes stronger. It is said that this is the time when the dragons are moving westward, so in the twelve zodiac animals, it belongs to the Dragon.
6. 9:00 to 11:00 — Si period:
Yuzhong, also known as riyu, is the time approaching noon. The sunlight becomes even stronger during the Si period. In the twelve zodiac animals, it belongs to the Snake.
7. 11:00 to 13:00 — Wu period:
Ri zhong, also known as the middle of the day or noon. In a day, it is the time when the sun is at its strongest. In the twelve zodiac animals, it belongs to the Horse.
8. 13:00 to 15:00 — Wei period:
Ri die, also known as ri die or ri yang, refers to the time when the sun is setting. In a day, the Wei period is the time when the heat starts to fade. In the twelve zodiac animals, it belongs to the Sheep.
9. 15:00 to 17:00 — Shen period:
Ren ding, also known as ding hun, means people have settled down. In a day, the heat from the Shen period is almost gone. In the twelve zodiac animals, it belongs to the Monkey.
10. 17:00 to 19:00 — You period:
Ri ru, also known as sunset, sun set, or dusk, refers to the time when the sun sets. In a day, the You period is the time when night is about to arrive. In the twelve zodiac animals, it belongs to the Rooster.
11. 19:00 to 21:00 — Xu period:
Huanghun, also known as rixi, rimu, or riran, is the time when the sun has already set, and the world is dim, making everything blurred, hence called dusk. In a day, the Xu period is the time when the night spreads and the lights are just turned on. In the twelve zodiac animals, it belongs to the Dog.
12. 21:00 to midnight 23:00 — Hai period:
At this time, the night is deep, and people have stopped their activities and are resting and sleeping. In a day, the Hai period is the time when the day is ending and about to move into the next day. In the twelve zodiac animals, it belongs to the Pig.
