People in ancient times used the Earthly Branches to tell time, dividing the day into twelve two-hour periods.
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The twelve are 子, 丑, 寅, 卯, 辰, 巳, 午, 未, 申, 酉, 戌 and 亥, each matched with a zodiac animal, from 子 the Rat to 亥 the Pig. Paired with the 天干 they name the years: 2024 was a 甲辰 year, a Year of the Dragon.
