初吉月首说

Chu ji, the First Day Of the Month

正确认识古人的纪时辞例是理解初吉含义的前提。中国古代的纪时采用“定点 +干支”的结构 ,初吉首先是一个定点。结合它与其它月相名词配合使用的事实 ,它应是哉生霸的代名词 ,它本身不是月相术语。朔出现后 ,它转而成为朔的代名词 ,所以后人用朔解释它。总之 ,初吉是月首 ,当天文学不发达时 ,人们以哉生霸为月首 ,后来人们又知道了月首应是朔 ,初吉的含义本身有个变化过程。

The precondition of comprehending Chuji(初吉) correctly is to catch on the time recording habit of the ancient times. In China people used to tell the first a fixed day that everyone knows, then gave the day that he wanted to tell. Chuji is a fixed day. As Chuji is used with other moon phase term together, it will be the synonym of Zaishengpo(哉生霸), the first moon phase. Chuji is not a moon phase term itself. When the new moon is found, it becomes the synonym of the new moon. Anyhow the meaning of Chuji has a change as the first day of the month has changed.