Bayue

Bāyuè (Chinese: 八月) is the eighth month of the Chinese calendar and calendars based on it, such as the Japanese calendar, Korean calendar and Vietnamese calendar. It follows Qīyuè and precedes Jiǔyuè. It is known in Japanese as Hachigatsu (Japanese: 八月) or traditionally Hazuki (Japanese: 葉月), and in Korean as Parwol (Korean: 팔월; Hanja: 八月) or traditionally Dakdal (Korean: 닭달; Hanja: 酉月). All of these words can also refer to the month of August in the Gregorian calendar.

In the Tenpō calendar, the last official version of the Japanese calendar, the eighth month must always include the autumn equinox.

Names

In Mandarin Chinese, traditional names of the month include guìyuè (Chinese: 桂月) and zhòngqiū (Chinese: 仲秋).

In Japanese, the month is known as hachigatsu (Japanese: 八月) or traditionally hazuki (Japanese: 葉月). The most common etymology is that it is a shortening of haochizuki (Japanese: 葉落月), meaning "month of falling leaves". Another explanation derives it from hoharizuki (穂張月), from 稲穂 (inaho, "ear of rice") + 張り (hari, "stretch; spread") + 月 (tsuki, "month").

Observances

• The Mid-Autumn Festival is held on the 15th day of the 8th month.
• Chuseok is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month in Korea.
• The full moon on the 15th day of the 8th month is traditionally admired in Japan during autumn moon viewing.
• The Iwashimizu Festival [ja] was traditionally celebrated in Iwashimizu Hachimangū in Yawata, Kyoto on the 15th day of the 8th month.
• Sadashinō [ja] is celebrated on the 24th and 25th days of the 8th month in the Sada Shrine in Matsue, Shimane.
• Higan is celebrated twice a year, during the week centered around the spring equinox and the autumn equinox.

Dates

Below is a list of the start and end dates of Bāyuè in the Gregorian calendar. Because the 1-hour difference between China and Japan/Korea occasionally affects the date on which a new moon occurs, the dates below can differ from those of the Japanese and Korean calendars.

References