What is the meaning of the ecliptic hour in Mingtang?

The ecliptic time in Mingtang refers to the traditional astronomy in China, where the ecliptic time is determined by the location of Mingtang (the building where the sun is always above the horizon). Zodiac time is the concept of dividing a day into 12 hours, each hour is about 2 hours, which is used to express time. The ecliptic is the trajectory of the sun on the celestial sphere, which is divided into 12 ecliptic houses, each of which represents a constellation. The ecliptic time divides a period of time in each house, indicating the constellation and planet corresponding to the position of this time. In the traditional culture of China, the ecliptic time is used in the study of the five elements theory, divination and geomantic omen. According to the change of ecliptic time, we can speculate on good or bad luck, fortune and suitable activity arrangement. It should be noted that the ecliptic time in Mingtang is a traditional concept of time based on astronomical observation and calculation, which is not widely accepted or adopted by modern science. Therefore, modern people use more standardized time systems such as Gregorian calendar and clocks in their daily lives.