earthly branch

Calque of Chinese 地支 (dìzhī)

earthly branch (plural earthly branches)

1. One of the twelve terms used in East Asian cultures to represent
   1. (historical astronomy) The (approximately) twelve years of Jupiter's orbital period, forming the Chinese zodiac and personified as twelve or sixty gods known as Tai Sui.
   2. (astrology) The twelve animals representing the Chinese zodiac, (particularly) as a birthyear.
   3. (obsolete) The twelve months of the Chinese lunar year.
   4. (historical navigation) The twelve bearings of traditional Chinese navigation, comprising 30° divisions of the compass beginning with due north.
   5. (historical astronomy) The duodecimal divisions of the Chinese seasons, beginning with the second of the three divisions of winter.
   6. (historical chronometry) The duodecimal divisions of the day into "Chinese" or "double hours", beginning with 11 pm.
   7. (historical chronometry) The exact time at the middle of a "Chinese" or "double hour", beginning with midnight.

• terrestrial branch

• (zodiac, in order): rat; ox and cow; tiger; rabbit (cat in Vietnam); dragon (i.e., Chinese dragon); snake; horse; goat; monkey; rooster and chicken; dog; pig
• (months, in order): 11th, 12th, and 1st–10th lunar months
• (directions, in order): north; 30° east of north; 60° east of north; east; 60° east of south; 30° east of south; south; 30° west of south; 60° west of south; west; 60° west of north; 30° west of north