This phenomenon is determined using traditional Chinese lunar calendar elements such as the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, as well as the Chinese zodiac signs, to denote the year, month, day, and hour.
Wang Kechao, the director of popular science at the Purple Mountain Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, explained that in the Dragon Month of the Jia Chen Dragon Year 2024, there are three Dragon Days. Hence, there will be three instances of "Dragon Year, Dragon Month, Dragon Day, Dragon Hour," occurring from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on April 10th, April 22nd, and May 4th.
How is the "Dragon Year, Dragon Month, Dragon Day, Dragon Hour" calculated?
In the Jia Chen Dragon Year, which is this year, the Dragon Month, Dragon Day, and Dragon Hour correspond to the Chen Month, Chen Day, and Chen Hour, respectively.
The Chinese lunar calendar still employs the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches for year and day reckoning. For instance, this year is named the Jia Chen Dragon Year. Days are named according to sequential numbering and the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches.
Ancient China also divided the day into twelve "shichen," or "time periods," corresponding to the twelve Earthly Branches. These time periods are used to denote time throughout the day. Each shichen corresponds to a two-hour period. For instance, the Dragon Hour corresponds to the Chen Hour, which in modern time is from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.
