hour of the Snake (around 10am, 9-11am, or 10am-12 noon)
Obsolete temporal unit from the traditional Chinese time system. Used only in historical contexts or fixed expressions like 巳の刻.
See also: 巳の刻
south-southeast
Obsolete directional term from the traditional Chinese zodiac compass. No longer used in modern navigation.
fourth month of the lunar calendar
Obsolete month name from the lunar calendar. Only encountered in historical texts or traditional almanacs.
The old document says they departed the temple at the hour of the Snake.
In old directional systems, 巳 indicated south-southeast.
The fourth month of the lunar calendar was also called the month of the Snake.
southeast
first Serpent day of the year
year of the Snake
Standard kanji for the zodiac sign and related traditional uses.
The kanji 巳 is one of the twelve earthly branches, originally used in ancient Chinese astronomy and timekeeping. Its association with the snake comes from the Chinese zodiac system. The reading み is the native Japanese kun'yomi, while し is the Sino-Japanese on'yomi.