earthly branch English

Meaning earthly branch meaning

What does earthly branch mean?

earthly branch noun

— One of the twelve terms used in East Asian cultures to represent

— (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.

— (astrology) The twelve animals representing the Chinese zodiac, (particularly) as a birthyear.

— (obsolete) The twelve months of the Chinese lunar year.

— (historical, _, navigation) The twelve bearings of traditional Chinese navigation, comprising 30° divisions of the compass beginning with due north.

— (historical, _, astronomy) The duodecimal divisions of the Chinese seasons, beginning with the second of the three divisions of winter.

— (historical, _, chronometry) The duodecimal divisions of the day into "Chinese" or "double hours", beginning with 11 pm.

— set of twelve terms in East Asian cultures