Wuyue (month)

Wǔyuè (Chinese: 五月) is the fifth month of the Chinese calendar and calendars based on it, such as the Japanese calendar, Korean calendar and Vietnamese calendar. It follows Sìyuè and precedes Liùyuè. It is known in Japanese as Gogatsu (Japanese: 五月) or traditionally Satsuki (Japanese: 皐月), and in Korean as Owol (Korean: 오월; Hanja: 五月) or traditionally Maldal (Korean: 말달; Hanja: 午月). All of these words can also refer to the month of May in the Gregorian calendar.

In the Tenpō calendar, the last official version of the Japanese calendar, the fifth month must always include the summer solstice.

Names

In Mandarin Chinese, traditional names of the month include liúyuè (Chinese: 榴月), púyuè (Chinese: 蒲月), and zhòngxià (Chinese: 仲夏).

In Japanese, the month is known as gogatsu (Japanese: 五月). Traditional names for it include satsuki (皐月), sanaezuki (早苗月) and gogachi. It is associated with early summer rains (Japanese: 五月雨, romanized: samidare).

Observances

• The Dragon Boat Festival, also called Duanwu, is held on the 5th day of the 5th month.
• Tango no sekku was traditionally held on the 5th day of the 5th month in Japan.
• Dano is celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th month in Korea.

Dates

Below is a list of the start and end dates of Wǔyuè 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