"Sexagenary" Pronounce,Meaning And Examples

"Sexagenary" Meaning

A 60-year cycle in the Chinese calendar, used for dating and reckoning time. It divides each year into one of 10 Heavenly Stems and one of 12 Earthly Branches. The cycle starts from the year 2637 BC and repeats every 60 years.

The sexagenary cycle is used to date years, but it does not indicate the number of years since a preceding year. It also has 12 animals and 12 symbols which together create combinations to denote the years. The twelve animal symbols include rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. Likewise, the 10 symbols which denote the Heavenly Stems include and, , and so on.

"Sexagenary" Examples

5 Examples of "Sexagenary" Usage

1. Name for Chinese Age System

The Chinese age system, also known as the sexagenary cycle, has 10 heavenly stems and 12 earthly branches. This system is used in various cultures, primarily China, Vietnam, and Japan, to count days, months, years, etc.

2. Historical Reference for Age Designation

In Western astrology and ancient Greece, the term "sexagenary" was used to describe someone who is considered to be 60 years old due to the sexagenary cycle.

3. Modern Usage in Astrology

Some individuals use the sexagenary system to determine personality traits by the combination of the year of their birth and other elements of the Chinese astrological system.

4. Saxon Example or Alternative

The term "sexagenary" has been used to describe a system of counting by sixties, rather than tens. For example, a person who is 76 years old comes after 72 in a sexagenary based system.

5. Counterpart of the Octogenarian

The sexagenary counterpart, or the collective noun, for people around the age of 60 is the octogenarian for those in their 80s and Latin equivalent of the word which is nonagenarian for 90.