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Transmission of the Chinese Calendar to Korea, Vietnam, and Japan

Key Facts

Section titled “Key Facts”
  • Korea, Vietnam, and pre-1873 Japan adopted the Chinese lunisolar calendar.
  • Their New Year dates followed the same astronomical rule.
  • The calendrical origin is Chinese.

Korea

Section titled “Korea”

Adopted Chinese calendrical computation historically.

Modern Seollal:

  • Official holiday reinstated in 1985.
  • Extended to three days in 1989.
  • Date determined using Chinese-derived astronomical rules.

Vietnam

Section titled “Vietnam”

Used Chinese calendrical models during imperial periods.

Modern Tết:

  • Official national holiday after 1976 state consolidation.
  • Date determined using Chinese lunisolar calculation structure.

Japan

Section titled “Japan”

Used Chinese lunisolar calendar for centuries.

1873:

  • Adopted Gregorian calendar.
  • Discontinued lunisolar New Year as national observance.

Modern Japan celebrates January 1 as New Year.

Shared Chinese Calendrical Origin

Section titled “Shared Chinese Calendrical Origin”

Where the same winter-solstice-based new moon rule is applied, the calendrical origin is Chinese.

Further Reading

Section titled “Further Reading”