the first of the twelve Earthly Branches, representing the North, the year of the Rat, and the time from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.

the second of the twelve Earthly Branches, associated with the ox; also refers to the time from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m.

Third of the twelve earthly branches, associated with the tiger; often refers to the period between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m., the first month of the lunar calendar, or the compass point 60 degrees.

The fourth of the twelve earthly branches, associated with the rabbit; used to represent the period from 5:00 to 7:00 a.m., the second solar month, or the direction east.