Chinese New Year vs Lunar New Year
Key Facts
Section titled “Key Facts”- “Chinese New Year” appears in English publications as early as the 19th century.
- “Lunar New Year” gained prominence in the late 20th century.
- The underlying calculation system remains Chinese and lunisolar.
Historical English Usage
Section titled “Historical English Usage”English-language sources throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries primarily used “Chinese New Year.”
See When Did “Chinese New Year” Appear in English?
Modern Linguistic Shift
Section titled “Modern Linguistic Shift”Beginning in the 1990s, “Lunar New Year” became more common in institutional language.
This shift did not alter:
- The astronomical calculation
- The calendrical structure
- The historical origin
Astronomical Accuracy
Section titled “Astronomical Accuracy”The Chinese calendar is lunisolar, not purely lunar.
Calling it solely “lunar” omits its solar correction mechanism.
See Is the Chinese Calendar Truly Lunar?
Conclusion
Section titled “Conclusion”Terminology may evolve, but the mechanism determining the date remains the Chinese lunisolar calendar.