DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.649#0334
288 THE SYSTEMS OF RECKONING TBTE.
months are equal to 354 days, 8 hours, 48 min., 36-6 sec.
—a total which is less than the solar year by 10 days,
21 hours, 0 min., 11 sec. The Tibetan year nominally
amounts to 360 days; and in order to bring it into
accordance with the moon, one day,1 from time to time,
is not counted at all. But as this does not occur with
exact regularity, the months and years do not always
begin on the same day as the Chinese months and
years.2
The difference between the lunar and the solar year is
compensated by the Tibetans by inserting, for every period
of nineteen years, seven intercalary months (Tib. Dashol);
the error then remaining is not more than about two
hours for this period, for seven lunar months give 206
days, 17 hours, 8 min., 20 sec, and the inferiority of
the lunar year for 19 years is altogether 206 days,
15 hours, 3 min., 29 sec. It is only after about two
centuries that the error amounts to one day.3 With
respect to the principle which is followed in the inter-
calation of the seven months I am not in possession of
any details. Csoma says, that generally one month is
inserted every third year.4
The year begins in February with the appearance of
1 "Description du Tubet," in Nouv. Journ. As., Vol. IV., p. 137. In his
Souvenirs (Vol. II., p. 370) Hue states that, owing to the belief in lucky
and unlucky days, many are omitted altogether, and are then counted by
the number of the preceding days.
2 See Ideler, as quoted above, p. 165.
3 In the Julian calendar the difference is much greater, amounting in
128 years to a whole day. Madler, Populare Astronomie, p. 522.
* Csoma, 1. c, p. 148, and Nouv. Journ. As., Vol. IV., p. 137.
months are equal to 354 days, 8 hours, 48 min., 36-6 sec.
—a total which is less than the solar year by 10 days,
21 hours, 0 min., 11 sec. The Tibetan year nominally
amounts to 360 days; and in order to bring it into
accordance with the moon, one day,1 from time to time,
is not counted at all. But as this does not occur with
exact regularity, the months and years do not always
begin on the same day as the Chinese months and
years.2
The difference between the lunar and the solar year is
compensated by the Tibetans by inserting, for every period
of nineteen years, seven intercalary months (Tib. Dashol);
the error then remaining is not more than about two
hours for this period, for seven lunar months give 206
days, 17 hours, 8 min., 20 sec, and the inferiority of
the lunar year for 19 years is altogether 206 days,
15 hours, 3 min., 29 sec. It is only after about two
centuries that the error amounts to one day.3 With
respect to the principle which is followed in the inter-
calation of the seven months I am not in possession of
any details. Csoma says, that generally one month is
inserted every third year.4
The year begins in February with the appearance of
1 "Description du Tubet," in Nouv. Journ. As., Vol. IV., p. 137. In his
Souvenirs (Vol. II., p. 370) Hue states that, owing to the belief in lucky
and unlucky days, many are omitted altogether, and are then counted by
the number of the preceding days.
2 See Ideler, as quoted above, p. 165.
3 In the Julian calendar the difference is much greater, amounting in
128 years to a whole day. Madler, Populare Astronomie, p. 522.
* Csoma, 1. c, p. 148, and Nouv. Journ. As., Vol. IV., p. 137.