earthly branch

plural earthly branches

1. One of the twelve terms used in East Asian cultures to represent
   1. historicalastronomyThe (approximately) twelve years of Jupiter's orbital period, forming the Chinese zodiac and personified as twelve or sixty gods known as Tai Sui.
   2. astrologyThe twelve animals representing the Chinese zodiac, (particularly) as a birthyear.
   3. obsoleteThe twelve months of the Chinese lunar year.
   4. historical navigationThe twelve bearings of traditional Chinese navigation, comprising 30° divisions of the compass beginning with due north.
   5. historicalastronomyThe duodecimal divisions of the Chinese seasons, beginning with the second of the three divisions of winter.
   6. historical chronometryThe duodecimal divisions of the day into "Chinese" or "double hours", beginning with 11 pm.
   7. historical chronometryThe exact time at the middle of a "Chinese" or "double hour", beginning with midnight.