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

Personality

Occupying the 11th position in the Chinese Zodiac, the Dog symbolizes character traits such as loyalty, compatibility and kindness. Dogs frequently offer kind words and useful advice, always listening and lending a shoulder when necessary. Dogs often become deeply involved in others’ lives and are sometimes perceived as nosy. Ensuring others are happy is more important to the Dog than wealth, money or success.

Dogs are determined individuals; always wanting to master a new subject before moving on and always finishing what they start. Dogs value friendships; they’re loyal, honest, trustworthy and reliable and have strong morals and ethics.

Personality

Occupying the 7th position on the Chinese Zodiac, the Horse symbolizes such character traits as strength, energy, and an outgoing nature. Extremely animated, Horses thrive when they’re the center of attention. Always in search of a good time, Horses keep the crowds happy with their humor and their wit.

Horses are extremely intelligent so they’re able to grasp new subjects with ease. They’re also capable of multi-tasking however they don’t always finish what they start because they’re forever chasing the next opportunity. Horses are honest, friendly and open-minded. They’re perhaps a bit too centered on themselves and have been known to throw tantrums when situations don’t go their way.
Health

Personality

Occupying the 3rd position on the Chinese Zodiac, the Tiger symbolizes such character traits as bravery, competitiveness and unpredictability. Tigers love to be challenged and will accept any challenge if it means protecting a loved one or protecting their honor. They don’t worry about the outcome because they know they’ll always land on their feet. Don’t let their calm appearance fool you though; Tigers will pounce when they feel it’s necessary.

Personality

Occupying the 2nd position on the Chinese Zodiac, Oxen possess such character traits as dependability, strength and determination. Oxen are tolerant individuals who believe that the road to success involves hard work and scrupulous behavior; they don’t believe in taking shortcuts. They characterize those who don’t work hard as lazy individuals not worthy of respect.

Oxen are capable of trusting others and will listen to their opinions with an open mind. However, Oxen prefer making decisions that are based on their own research. Oxen favor strong, life-long alliances to casual acquaintances.

Personality

Occupying the 1st and most prominent position on the Chinese Zodiac, the Rat symbolizes such character traits as wit, imagination and curiosity. Rats have keen observation skills and with those skills they’re able to deduce much about other people and other situations. Overall, Rats are full of energy, talkative and charming but they have a tendency to become aggressive.

Rats are full of good advice but they will never share their troubles with others. They are honest individuals and they enjoy living for the moment. They’re also capable of surviving any situation.
Health

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.

As sometimes happens with historical developments, several versions of the origin of the Chinese Zodiac exist. This is to be expected, especially when you consider that the Chinese Zodiac was established thousands of years ago. Most stories do seem to agree on one thing: the animals that make up the signs, or the 12 equal parts of the Chinese Zodiac, were the animals that appeared in response to an invitation. As a reward for appearing, these 12 animals were included on the Chinese Zodiac. As interesting as the story of the animals is, there’s much more to the origin of the Chinese Zodiac than that.

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