Twelve-hour switch

1. The Twelve Earthly Branches is a traditional Chinese method of measuring time that divides a day into 12 equal parts, with each branch corresponding to two modern hours.

2. Detailed introduction to the Twelve Earthly Branches:

(1) Zi Hour (23:00–00:59): Midnight, also known as the Dead of Night or the Middle of the Night, is the first of the Twelve Earthly Branches. At this time, the night is deep and quiet, and all things enter a state of deep rest.

(2) Chou Hour (01:00–02:59): Cockcrow, also known as "Cock’s Crow," is the second hour of the Twelve Earthly Branches. In ancient times, roosters would begin to crow during this period, heralding the start of a new day.

(3) Yin Hour (03:00–04:59): Dawn, also known as Daybreak, Morning, or Daybreak, marks the transition from night to day. The sky begins to gradually brighten, but the sun has not yet risen.

(4) Mao Hour (5:00–6:59 a.m.): Sunrise, also known as the beginning of the day, dawn, or the rising sun, refers to the period when the sun first appears and begins to rise.

(5) Chen Hour (07:00–07:59): Breakfast Hour, also known as "Morning Meal," corresponds to the time when people in ancient times would have their "morning meal," or breakfast.

(6) Si Hour (09:00–10:59): Yu Zhong. The time approaching noon is called Yu Zhong. The sun rises to near the zenith, making this the warmest time of the day.

(7) Wu Hour (11:00–12:59): Zhongri (Midday), also known as Rizheng or Zhongwu. The sun is directly overhead, marking the time of day when sunlight is most intense.

(8) Wei Hour (1:00 PM – 2:59 PM): The Sun Begins to Decline, also known as "Sun Declining" or "Mid-Afternoon." As the sun shifts westward, it begins to decline, and temperatures start to drop.

(9) Shen Hour (15:00–16:59): The hour of preparing dinner, also known as "sun spreading" or "evening meal." During this time, people begin preparing dinner, and it is a relatively relaxed time of day.

(10) You Hour (17:00–18:59): Sunset, also known as "Sunset," "Sun Dip," or "Evening," refers to the time when the sun sets. The sky gradually darkens, and the day’s work is about to end.

(11) Xu Hour (7:00 PM–8:59 PM): Twilight, also known as "sunset," "dusk," or "evening": By this time, the sun has set, and while it is not yet completely dark, people take time to rest and relax after dinner.

(12) Hai Hour (21:00–22:59): "People Settle Down," also known as "Settling into Darkness," etc. By this time, night has fallen deeply, and people have ceased their activities and settled down to sleep.

3. The Twelve Earthly Branches are not only a method of dividing time but are also integrated with China’s Five Elements theory.

4. Each hour corresponds to the Five Elements (Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth) and the Twelve Zodiac Animals, reflecting ancient Chinese understanding of time, nature, and the laws of the universe.