Wasn't the week originally the period between the moon's phases, of which there are four (new moon, first quarter, full moon, last quarter), thus dividing the month into four parts? This works until you try to square the lunar calendar with days and years, which are solar.
Is the week strictly a Western cultural artifact? Did native Americans have weeks? Or the Chinese?
Week was not a Chinese concept. Although week is now used in all Chinese countries just like the rest of the world. In Chinese literature, the new moon and full moon were often refered to, but no trace of any seven day periods. The lunar calendar follows the phase of the moon. The 15th of each month always have a full moon. The 1st and 15th are often the time to fast or turn to vegatarian diet for most part-time buddhists. To throw in as a food for thought, the word "Week" is translated as "Star Period" in Chinese. The translation hints that week is related to some astronmoical events, or it was based on some misunderstanding of the translators when the concept was first introduced to China.
- actually there is one reference to a period of 7 days in the Chinese culture, but it is not call a week. It is believe that the dead reincarnates after 49 days, on the 7th day after death, the ghost returns home to see their loved ones for the last time before moving on.
"All Chinese countries" is awkward; does this mean China and the cultures it has influenced?
Didn't the Romans once have an eight day week or something like that? Also, mention should be made of introduction of ten-day week in revolutionary France and the Soviet Union. -- SJK
- classical Rome never really had a week - they had the month, with the named days - see Roman calendar. --MichaelTinkler
I find the whole Chinese tangent one the page (not in the talk)
as irrelevant. Who said anything about Chinese?
"All Chinese" sounds really racist or at least nationalist to me.
The meaning of the word week in Chinese would be a nice thing to retain.
Otherwise various other calendars should be talked about on their
own page.
Yes I think, various other curious weeks from African cultures etc.
are worht mentioning.
-Paul Hill
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