成天历
Southern Song · Chen Ding
Overview
Promulgated in 1271 CE under Chen Ding — the last calendar of the Southern Song.
Key data
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Period of use | 1271 – 1276 CE |
| Compiler | Chen Ding |
| Year head | Jian-yin |
The last Southern Song calendar
The Chengtian calendar was made by Chen Ding, promulgated in 1271 CE, when the Yuan had already taken its dynastic name and the Southern Song held only a corner of the southeast.
It was used until 1276, when Lin’an fell — the last calendar of the Southern Song. The end of a calendar came at the same time as the end of a dynasty.
Calendar and fortune
Historians often link calendrical reform to dynastic rise and fall, yet the calendar has its own technical line. Still, reading of a last calendar brings a sense of the passing of things.
Compiled and arranged by Chujia Kuang.