Calendar Production Calendar Printing Calendar Design

China is believed to have had a calendar system as early as more than 4,000 years ago. According to an ancient oracle bone calendar discovered among the inscriptions, the calendar system of the Shang Dynasty had already reached a remarkably advanced level. This particular oracle bone calendar is recognized as the oldest extant physical example of a calendar in human history, and thus it is commonly referred to as "the Calendar."

Tang poetry reads: "In the mountains, there is no calendar; as winter ends, one forgets the passing years." The "calendar" might be the earliest form of a desk calendar. During the Tang dynasty, historians meticulously cut paper daily and bound it into volumes—each month represented by a separate book. Each page was marked with the month and date, leaving ample blank space for imperial attendants, particularly eunuchs, to record the emperor's words and deeds. This document was known as the "calendar," and at the end of each month, it was first presented to the emperor for review before being archived by historians for use in compiling the official "National History." Due to its practical functions of timekeeping and documentation, both civil and military officials eagerly sought to emulate this system.

Early Development

According to historical records, as early as the first year of Yongzheng during the reign of Emperor Shunzong of the Tang Dynasty—approximately 1,100 years ago—the imperial palace had already begun using calendars. At that time, these calendars were also referred to as "imperial calendars," serving not only as datekeeping tools but also as crucial materials for compiling national history. The calendar format at the time closely resembled the traditional "dian dou" system, dividing the year into 12 volumes. Each volume's page count was determined by the number of days in the corresponding month, with months and dates meticulously recorded on each page. These calendars were then entrusted temporarily to eunuchs who served the emperor, who would diligently document the emperor's daily activities and remarks on the blank pages provided. At the end of each month, the eunuchs submitted the completed calendars to the emperor for review and approval before passing them on to the official historians for archival purposes. The historians would subsequently integrate the calendar entries with significant events occurring within the court and across various regions of the country, refining and polishing the content before recording it officially as part of the nation's historical chronicles.

In the future, as calendars brought considerable convenience to daily life, they gradually found their way into the homes of many high-ranking officials in the court. After undergoing several transformations, these calendars eventually became an integral part of household routines. As calendars continued to evolve toward greater accessibility and personalization, people began incorporating essential elements from traditional almanacs—such as the sexagenary cycle, monthly regulations, seasonal markers, and auspicious days aligned with the Yellow Path—directly onto the calendar pages. At the same time, ample blank spaces were left on the calendars specifically for users to jot down personal notes and important reminders.

As for calendars, their evolution into various forms such as wall calendars and desk calendars has occurred only within the past century. Initially simple in design, desk calendars have since diversified into numerous variations. In recent years, the growth of the market economy and the widespread adoption of the internet have facilitated cultural exchanges across different regions—naturally including calendar designs. Today, the most common trend is that desk calendars are becoming smaller and more refined.