Chinese Zodiac

Chinese zodiac overview

In the occidental country, the years are dated from the birth of Jesus Christ, for example, 1977 means 1,977 years after the birth of Christ.
The Chinese zodiac refers to a pure calendrical cycle; there are no equivalent constellations like those of the occidental zodiac. In imperial times there were astrologers who watched the sky for heavenly omens that would predict the future of the state, but this was a quite different practice of divination from the popular present-day methods.

Legends and mythology are a big part of Chinese culture, especially in relation to the Chinese Zodiac. The 12 animals that appear on the Chinese Zodiac calendar include a rat, buffalo (ox), tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. It’s an unusual combination of animals for sure, and their appearance on the Chinese Zodiac is the topic of countless legends and is deeply embedded in Chinese mythology.

Chinese astrology is the divination of the future from the Chinese calendar, which is based on astronomy, and ancient Chinese philosophy. In particular, it is based on the age-old sexagenary cycle of 60 years that has been documented at least since the time of the Shang Dynasty. This basic cycle has been constructed from two cycles: the 10 heavenly stems (the five elements in their yin and yang forms) and the 12 earthly branches, or the 12-year cycle of animals referred to as the Chinese zodiac. The Chinese animal zodiac also operates on a cycle of months or ‘moons’ and of hours of the day.

The rotating cycle of twelve animal signs was a folk method for naming the years in traditional China. The animal signs for one another in an established order, and are repeated every twelve years. 1976 was the Year of the Dragon, and 1977 was the year of the Snake.

There are some newer astrological texts which follow the Chinese Agricultural Calendar (the jie qi), and thus place the changeover of zodiac signs at the solar term li chun (beginning of Spring), at solar longitude 315 degrees. (See Chinese calendar) The Chinese New Year is determined by the start of the Lunar calendar, however the annual division between the signs is not the Chinese New Year. Rather, it is the beginning of spring, which is the 4th or 5th of February of each year. This is a very complex concept. In this calendar, Combination Element is the result of the Elements movement.
Begin     End     Heaven Element     Combination Element     Sign
1960 Feb 4     1961 Jun 3     金 Metal 庚     earth     鼠 Rat
1961 Feb 4     1962 Jun 3     金 Metal 辛     earth     牛 Ox
1962 Feb 4     1963 Jun 3     水 Water     Gold     虎 Tiger
1963 Feb 4     1964 Jun 3     水 Water     Gold     兔 Rabbit
1964 Feb 4     1965 Jun 3     木 Wood     fire     龍 Dragon
1965 Feb 4     1966 Jun 3     木 Wood     fire     蛇 Snake
1966 Feb 4     1967 Jun 3     火 Fire     water     馬 Horse
1967 Feb 4     1968 Jun 3     火 Fire     water     羊 Sheep
1968 Feb 4     1969 Jun 3     土 Earth     earth     猴 Monkey
1969 Feb 4     1970 Jun 3     土 Earth     earth     雞 Rooster
1970 Feb 4     1971 Jun 3     金 Metal     Gold     狗 Dog
1971 Feb 4     1972 Jun 3     金 Metal     Gold     豬 Pig
1972 Feb 4     1973 Jun 3     水 Water     wood     鼠 Rat
1973 Feb 4     1974 Jun 3     水 Water     wood     牛 Ox
1974 Feb 4     1975 Jun 3     木 Wood     water     虎 Tiger
1975 Feb 4     1976 Jun 3     木 Wood     water     兔 Rabbit
1976 Feb 4     1977 Jun 3     火 Fire     earth     龍 Dragon
1977 Feb 4     1978 Jun 3     火 Fire     earth     蛇 Snake
1978 Feb 4     1979 Jun 3     土 Earth     fire     馬 Horse
1979 Feb 4     1980 Jun 3     土 Earth     fire     羊 Sheep
1980 Feb 4     1981 Jun 3     金 Metal     wood     猴 Monkey
1981 Feb 4     1982 Jun 3     金 Metal     wood     雞 Rooster
1982 Feb 4     1983 Jun 3     水 Water     water     狗 Dog
1983 Feb 4     1984 Jun 3     水 Water     water     豬 Pig
1984 Feb 4     1985 Jun 3     木 Wood     Gold     鼠 Rat
1985 Feb 4     1986 Jun 3     木 Wood     Gold     牛 Ox
1986 Feb 4     1987 Jun 3     火 Fire     fire     虎 Tiger
1987 Feb 4     1988 Jun 3     火 Fire     fire     兔 Rabbit
1988 Feb 4     1989 Jun 3     土 Earth     wood     龍 Dragon
1989 Feb 4     1990 Jun 3     土 Earth     wood     蛇 Snake
1990 Feb 4     1991 Jun 3     金 Metal     earth     馬 Horse
1991 Feb 4     1992 Jun 3     金 Metal     earth     羊 Sheep
1992 Feb 4     1993 Jun 3     水 Water     Gold     猴 Monkey
1993 Feb 4     1994 Jun 3     水 Water     Gold     雞 Rooster
1994 Feb 4     1995 Jun 3     木 Wood     fire     狗 Dog
1995 Feb 4     1996 Jun 3     木 Wood     fire     豬 Pig
1996 Feb 4     1997 Jun 3     火 Fire     water     鼠 Rat
1997 Feb 4     1998 Jun 3     火 Fire     water     牛 Ox
1998 Feb 4     1999 Jun 3     土 Earth     earth     虎 Tiger
1999 Feb 4     2000 Jun 3     土 Earth     earth     兔 Rabbit
2000 Feb 4     2001 Jun 3     金 Metal     Gold     龍 Dragon
2001 Feb 4     2002 Jun 3     金 Metal     Gold     蛇 Snake
2002 Feb 4     2003 Jun 3     水 Water     wood     馬 Horse
2003 Feb 4     2004 Jun 3     水 Water     wood     羊 Sheep
2004 Feb 4     2005 Jun 3     木 Wood     water     猴 Monkey
2005 Feb 4     2006 Jun 3     木 Wood     water     雞 Rooster
2006 Feb 4     2007 Jun 3     火 Fire     earth     狗 Dog
2007 Feb 4     2008 Jun 3     火 Fire     Gold     豬 Pig
2008 Feb 4     2009 Jun 3     土 Earth     fire     鼠 Rat
2009 Feb 4     2010 Jun 3     土 Earth     fire     牛 Ox
2010 Feb 4     2011 Jun 3     金 Metal     wood     虎 Tiger

The methodology involved for determining dating and compatibility according to the Chinese Zodiac really isn’t that complicated. If you’re wondering whether or not you’re compatible with another person, whether it be a friend, lover, business associate or otherwise, you simply begin with your date of birth and the date of birth that corresponds to the person you’re inquiring about. If you don’t know it, you’ll have to find out.

Most people’s understanding of the Chinese Zodiac Calendar doesn’t extend beyond what they see on the paper placemats that cover the tables of their favorite Chinese restaurants. But there really is much more to know about this doctrine that dates back more than 2,000 years.

Most Chinese Zodiac Calendar discussions focus only on the 12 animals. According to legend, these were the animals that appeared before Buddha (or the Jade Emperor, depending on the story) in response to an invitation. The 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac represent the order of each animal’s arrival. The legends depicting each animal’s journey differ slightly, but the order that prevails is as follows: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, ram, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.

Astrology has for years played a significant role in Chinese culture. The depiction on a circular chart of 12 different animals representing the 12-year cycle of the Chinese lunar calendar was built on the foundation of astronomy and Chinese astrology which has itself been in existence for over 5,000 years. Not nearly as old as Chinese astrology in general, the Chinese Zodiac is believed to have come into existence during second millennium. Even though it is thousands of years old, the Chinese Zodiac is one of the most recognizable symbols associated with Chinese culture today.

Legends and mythology are a big part of Chinese culture, especially in relation to the Chinese Zodiac. The 12 animals that appear on the Chinese Zodiac calendar include a rat, buffalo (ox), tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. It’s an unusual combination of animals for sure, and their appearance on the Chinese Zodiac is the topic of countless legends and is deeply embedded in Chinese mythology.
An unlikely gathering