‘历法’ (lì fǎ) literally combines ‘历’ (lì), meaning ‘calendar’ or ‘historical record’, and ‘法’ (fǎ), meaning ‘method’ or ‘system’. Together, they refer to the structured system used to organize time — such as dividing years, months, and days — based on astronomical cycles like the sun’s movement (solar calendar), the moon’s phases (lunar calendar), or a combination (lunisolar calendar). It is not just a schedule but a formalized framework governing festivals, agriculture, astrology, and official record-keeping.

In Chinese history, multiple历法 have been developed and revised — for example, the Xia Calendar, the Shoushi Calendar, and the modern Gregorian calendar adopted officially in 1912. Today, ‘历法’ appears in academic, historical, and cultural discussions about timekeeping traditions, especially when comparing Eastern and Western systems or explaining why traditional holidays (like Spring Festival or Mid-Autumn Festival) shift on the Gregorian calendar.