Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Xiali Chinese Calendar in Rose Gold

“Calendars are the X-rays of civilizations, born from the patient observation of humans and nature, revealing something deeply magical. Nature is a collection of fascinating codes that humanity has always strived to decipher. By examining its rhythms, we traverse history, retracing the steps of civilizational development. The Mayas and Toltecs, for example, designed calendars remarkably similar to those of the Chinese, reflecting a universal harmony in the perception of time. Calendars originate from the need to understand the seasons: they guide us in sowing and harvesting, anticipating the cold of winter, understanding the heat of summer, and adjusting our lives to the immutable cycle of nature. Thus, the calendar addresses a fundamental need: to foresee and master the nourishing phenomena of the earth, ensuring the balance of human societies.” – Michel Parmigiani, Founder and Master Watchmaker

Building on the triumph of its steel counterpart, Parmigiani Fleurier now enriches its homage to Chinese culture with the rose gold edition of the Tonda PF Xiali Perpetual Calendar. This precious material, paired with the imperial red dial, bestows an even more regal aura upon this creation, elevating it to the pinnacle of millennial luxury, where the art of watchmaking harmoniously intertwines with the ancient wisdom of the Xiali calendar.

Created over 5,000 years ago, the Chinese calendar, or Xiali, is a marvel of ingenuity. Based on a lunisolar system, it divides time into complex cycles that integrate:

• 24 solar terms (or solar breaths), which pace the seasons and agricultural cycles.
• 12 zodiac animals, which define the years and their spiritual influences.
• 5 natural elements (wood, fire, metal, water, earth) and their Yin and Yang variations.

Each day and month in the Xiali calendar holds specific meanings, frequently linked to significant events such as harvests, festivals, or ceremonies. This calendar aligns natural forces with human life cycles, embodying a philosophical perspective where harmony takes precedence over linearity.

Through the Tonda PF Xiali, Parmigiani Fleurier translates this timeless tale onto a dial, inviting its wearer to engage in a unique dialogue with time.

The Laws of Nature, Determining the Agricultural Calendar
The 24 solar terms (or periods) are based on the sun’s position in the Chinese zodiac, reflecting changes in climate, agricultural factors, and other phenomena impacting human life. Created by farmers of ancient China, they correspond to 24 divisions of 15° of the sun’s path along the ecliptic, or the path of the sun as seen from the earth.

Each year is divided into four seasons and within each season are six solar terms, two per month. Some of these 24 solar terms correspond with traditional Chinese festivals.
Each solar term has a Chinese name whose meaning is derived from the natural world and its phenomena, mostly relating to the changes of seasons and climates. The names reflect the belief that nature is our teacher and we must learn from her. The 24 solar terms were important in ancient China for farming and getting the best yield from the land according to the climatic changes. Later they were adopted into Chinese medicine and Daoist internal alchemy to better prescribe treatments according to the cycles of nature.

The Animals of the Chinese Zodiac

Shang dynasty (1570 -1045 BC). The sexagesimal system combines the Ten Heavenly Stems and the Twelve Earthly Branches. The Heavenly Stems, also called the Celestial Stems, are based on the five elements — Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water, all linked to yin/yang principles. The Twelve Earthly Branches are represented by the animals of the Chinese Zodiac, which may vary slightly depending on the East Asian country of origin — China, Japan, Korea or Vietnam.

To give a name to the years, China uses a sixty-year calendrical cycle, the numbering system of which is based on the combination of the Celestial Stems and Earthly Branches, allowing sixty different numerical combinations. The Celestial Stems are associated with the yīn-yáng cycle and with the concept of the five primary elements, also known as the Five Agents, recognized by the Chinese: wood, water, earth, metal and fire. At each change to a new year, the incrementation of 1 on the Celestial Stem and the Earthly Branch will make it possible to cover the sexagesimal cycle, i.e. the name of the years over 60 years. This numbering is most often used to mark the course of the years.

Legend has it that on a New Year’s Day, the Jade Emperor, or Ruler of Heaven, called all the animals of creation to visit him with the promise of a reward. Only twelve animals went to this heavenly meeting, arriving in the order depicted below. To each of them the Emperor offered a year that would bear his name, and in the order of their arrival. For many in Asia, no moves of personal, financial, or political significance are made without consulting them.

Unlike in the West where we celebrate only New Year’s Day, the Chinese New Year celebration spans 15 full days of festivities, ending with the Lantern Festival.

• The Rat 鼠
• The Ox 牛
• The Tiger 虎
• The Rabbit 兔
• The Dragon 龍
• The Snake 蛇
• The Horse 馬
• The Goat 羊
• The Monkey 猴
• The Rooster 鷄
• The Dog 狗
• The Pig 豬

The 24 Solar Breaths: The Chinese Calendar Almanac