Chinese zodiac

For the 2012 film, see CZ12.
Chinese zodiac
Chinese 生肖
Hanyu Pinyin shēngxiào
Alternative Chinese name
Chinese 屬相
Hanyu Pinyin shǔxiàng

The Chinese zodiac is the classification scheme that assigns an animal to each year in a repeating twelve-year cycle. The 12-year cycle of Chinese zodiac is an approximation to the 11.86-year cycle of Jupiter, the largest planet of the solar system.[1] It is a scheme and systematic plan of future action that relates each year to an animal and its reputed attributes according to a 12-year cycle. It remains popular in several East Asian countries including China, Vietnam, Burma, Korea, Japan, Philippines, Thailand.

Name

Identifying this scheme using the term "zodiac" reflects several superficial similarities to the Western zodiac: both have time cycles divided into 12 parts, each labels at least the majority of those parts with names of animals, and each is widely associated with a culture of ascribing a person's personality or events in his or her life to the supposed influence of the person's particular relationship to the cycle. Nevertheless, there are major differences: the Chinese 12-part cycle corresponds to years, rather than months. The Chinese zodiac is represented by 12 animals, whereas some of the signs in the Western zodiac are not animals, despite the implication of the Greek etymology of "zodiac". The animals of the Chinese zodiac are not associated with constellations spanned by the ecliptic plane.

Signs

Stone carving of the Chinese zodiac

The zodiac traditionally begins with the sign of the Rat. The following are the twelve zodiac signs (each with its associated Earthly Branch) in order and their characteristics.[2]

Jade Emperor

  1. Rat – 鼠 (子) (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Water)
  2. Ox – 牛 (丑) (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Water)
  3. Tiger – 虎 (寅) (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Wood)
  4. Rabbit – 兔 or 兎 (卯) (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Wood)
  5. Dragon – 龍 / 龙 (辰) (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Wood)
  6. Snake – 蛇 (巳) (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Fire)
  7. Horse – 馬 / 马 (午) (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Fire)
  8. Goat – 羊 (未) (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Fire)
  9. Monkey – 猴 (申) (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Metal)
  10. Rooster – 雞 / 鸡 (酉) (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Metal)
  11. Dog – 狗 / 犬 (戌) (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Metal)
  12. Pig – 豬 / 猪 (亥) (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Water)

In Chinese astrology the animal signs assigned by year represent what others perceive you as being or how you present yourself. It is a common misconception that the animals assigned by year are the only signs and many western descriptions of Chinese astrology draw solely on this system. In fact, there are also animal signs assigned by month (called inner animals), by day (called true animals) and hours (called secret animals).

While a person might appear to be a Dragon because they were born in the year of the Dragon, they might also be a Snake internally, an Ox truly, and a Goat secretively.

A conflict between a person's zodiac sign and how they live is known as tai sui or kai sui.

Chinese calendar

Main article: Chinese calendar

Years

Main article: Sexagenary cycle

Within the Four Pillars, the year is the pillar representing information about the person's family background and society or relationship with their grandparents. The person's age can also be easily deduced from the sign of the person, the current sign of the year and the person's perceived age (teens, mid 20's, 40's and so on). For example, a person who is a Tiger is either 12, 24, 36 or 48 years old in 2010, the year of the Tiger. In 2011, the year of the Rabbit, that person is one year older.

The following table shows the 60-year cycle matched up to the Western calendar for the years 1924–2043 (see Sexagenary cycle article for years 1804–2043). The sexagenary cycle begins at lichun 'about February 4' according to some astrological sources.[3]

Arctic Table

 Year Associated
Element		 Heavenly
Stem		 Earthly
Branch		 Associated
Animal		Year
1924–1983 1984–2043
1Feb 05 1924–Jan 23 1925 Yang Wood 甲子 RatFeb 02 1984–Jan 21 1985
2Jan 24 1925–Feb 12 1926 Yin Wood 乙丑 OxJan 22 1985–Feb 08 1986
3Feb 13 1926–Feb 01 1927 Yang Fire 丙寅 TigerFeb 09 1986–Jan 28 1987
4Feb 02 1927–Jan 22 1928 Yin Fire 丁卯 RabbitJan 29 1987–Feb 16 1988
5Jan 23 1928–Feb 09 1929 Yang Earth 戊辰 DragonFeb 17 1988–Feb 05 1989
6Feb 10 1929–Jan 29 1930 Yin Earth 己巳 SnakeFeb 06 1989–Jan 26 1990
7Jan 30 1930–Feb 16 1931 Yang Metal 庚午 HorseJan 27 1990–Feb 14 1991
8Feb 17 1931–Feb 05 1932 Yin Metal 辛未 GoatFeb 15 1991–Feb 03 1992
9Feb 06 1932–Jan 25 1933 Yang Water 壬申 MonkeyFeb 04 1992–Jan 22 1993
10Jan 26 1933–Feb 13 1934 Yin Water 癸酉 RoosterJan 23 1993– Feb 09 1994
11Feb 14 1934–Feb 03 1935 Yang Wood 甲戌 DogFeb 10 1994–Jan 30 1995
12Feb 04 1935–Jan 23 1936 Yin Wood 乙亥 PigJan 31 1995–Feb 18 1996
13Jan 24 1936–Feb 10 1937 Yang Fire 丙子 RatFeb 19 1996–Feb 06 1997
14Feb 11 1937–Jan 30 1938 Yin Fire 丁丑 OxFeb 07 1997–Jan 27 1998
15Jan 31 1938–Feb 18 1939 Yang Earth 戊寅 TigerJan 28 1998–Feb 15 1999
16Feb 19 1939–Feb 07 1940 Yin Earth 己卯 RabbitFeb 16 1999–Feb 04 2000
17Feb 08 1940–Jan 26 1941 Yang Metal 庚辰 DragonFeb 05 2000–Jan 23 2001
18Jan 27 1941–Feb 14 1942 Yin Metal 辛巳 SnakeJan 24 2001–Feb 11 2002
19Feb 15 1942–Feb 04 1943 Yang Water 壬午 HorseFeb 12 2002–Jan 31 2003
20Feb 05 1943–Jan 24 1944 Yin Water 癸未 GoatFeb 01 2003–Jan 21 2004
21Jan 25 1944–Feb 12 1945 Yang Wood 甲申 MonkeyJan 22 2004–Feb 08 2005
22Feb 13 1945–Feb 01 1946 Yin Wood 乙酉 RoosterFeb 09 2005–Jan 28 2006
23Feb 02 1946–Jan 21 1947 Yang Fire 丙戌 DogJan 29 2006–Feb 17 2007
24Jan 22 1947–Feb 09 1948 Yin Fire 丁亥 PigFeb 18 2007–Feb 06 2008
25Feb 10 1948–Jan 28 1949 Yang Earth 戊子 RatFeb 07 2008–Jan 25 2009
26Jan 29 1949–Feb 16 1950 Yin Earth 己丑 OxJan 26 2009–Feb 13 2010
27Feb 17 1950–Feb 05 1951 Yang Metal 庚寅 TigerFeb 14 2010–Feb 02 2011
28Feb 06 1951–Jan 26 1952 Yin Metal 辛卯 RabbitFeb 03 2011–Jan 22 2012
29Jan 27 1952–Feb 13 1953 Yang Water 壬辰 DragonJan 23 2012–Feb 09 2013
30Feb 14 1953–Feb 02 1954 Yin Water 癸巳 SnakeFeb 10 2013–Jan 30 2014
31Feb 03 1954–Jan 23 1955 Yang Wood 甲午 HorseJan 31 2014–Feb 18 2015
32Jan 24 1955–Feb 11 1956 Yin Wood 乙未 GoatFeb 19 2015–Feb 07 2016
33Feb 12 1956–Jan 30 1957 Yang Fire 丙申 MonkeyFeb 08 2016–Jan 27 2017
34Jan 31 1957–Feb 17 1958 Yin Fire 丁酉 RoosterJan 28 2017–Feb 15 2018
35Feb 18 1958–Feb 07 1959 Yang Earth 戊戌 DogFeb 16 2018–Feb 04 2019
36Feb 08 1959–Jan 27 1960 Yin Earth 己亥 PigFeb 05 2019–Jan 24 2020
37Jan 28 1960–Feb 14 1961 Yang Metal 庚子 RatJan 25 2020–Feb. 11 2021
38Feb 15 1961–Feb 04 1962 Yin Metal 辛丑 Ox Feb 12 2021–Jan 31 2022
39Feb 05 1962–Jan 24 1963 Yang Water 壬寅 Tiger Feb 01 2022–Jan 21 2023
40Jan 25 1963–Feb 12 1964 Yin Water 癸卯 Rabbit Jan 22 2023–Feb 09 2024
41Feb 13 1964–Feb 01 1965 Yang Wood 甲辰 Dragon Feb 10 2024–Jan 28 2025
42Feb 02 1965–Jan 20 1966 Yin Wood 乙巳 Snake Jan 29 2025–Feb 16 2026
43Jan 21 1966–Feb 08 1967 Yang Fire 丙午 Horse Feb 17 2026–Feb 05 2027
44Feb 09 1967–Jan 29 1968 Yin Fire 丁未 Goat Feb 06 2027–Jan 25 2028
45Jan 30 1968–Feb 16 1969 Yang Earth 戊申 Monkey Jan 26 2028–Feb 12 2029
46Feb 17 1969–Feb 05 1970 Yin Earth 己酉 Rooster Feb 13 2029–Feb 02 2030
47Feb 06 1970–Jan 26 1971 Yang Metal 庚戌 Dog Feb 03 2030–Jan 22 2031
48Jan 27 1971–Feb 14 1972 Yin Metal 辛亥 Pig Jan 23 2031–Feb 10 2032
49Feb 15 1972–Feb 02 1973 Yang Water 壬子 Rat Feb 11 2032–Jan 30 2033
50Feb 03 1973–Jan 22 1974 Yin Water 癸丑 Ox Jan 31 2033–Feb 18 2034
51Jan 23 1974–Feb 10 1975 Yang Wood 甲寅 Tiger Feb 19 2034–Feb 07 2035
52Feb 11 1975–Jan 30 1976 Yin Wood 乙卯 Rabbit Feb 08 2035–Jan 27 2036
53Jan 31 1976–Feb 17 1977 Yang Fire 丙辰 Dragon Jan 28 2036–Feb 14 2037
54Feb 18 1977–Feb 06 1978 Yin Fire 丁巳 Snake Feb 15 2037–Feb 03 2038
55Feb 07 1978–Jan 27 1979 Yang Earth 戊午 Horse Feb 04 2038–Jan 23 2039
56Jan 28 1979–Feb 15 1980 Yin Earth 己未 Goat Jan 24 2039–Feb 11 2040
57Feb 16 1980–Feb 04 1981 Yang Metal 庚申 Monkey Feb 12 2040–Jan 31 2041
58Feb 05 1981–Jan 24 1982 Yin Metal 辛酉 Rooster Feb 01 2041–Jan 21 2042
59Jan 25 1982–Feb 12 1983 Yang Water 壬戌 Dog Jan 22 2042–Feb 09 2043
60Feb 13 1983–Feb 01 1984 Yin Water 癸亥 Pig Feb 10 2043–Jan 29 2044

Months and solar terms

Main article: Solar term

Within the Four Pillars, the month is the pillar representing information about the person's parents or childhood. Many Chinese astrologers consider the month pillar to be the most important one in determining the circumstances of one's adult life.

The 12 animals are also linked to traditional Chinese agricultural calendar, which runs alongside the better known lunar calendar. Instead of months, this calendar is divided into 24 two week segments known as Solar Terms. Each animal is linked to two of these solar terms for a period similar to the Western month. Unlike the 60 year lunar calendar, which can vary by as much as a month in relation to the Western calendar, the agricultural calendar varies by only one day, beginning on the Western February 3 or 4 every year. Again unlike the cycle of the lunar years, which begins with the Rat, the agricultural calendar begins with the Tiger as it is the first animal of spring. Around summer days are longer than winter days, because it occurs differences of perihelion and aphelion.

As each sign is linked to a month of the solar year, it is thereby also linked to a season. Each of the elements is also linked to a season (see above), and the element that shares a season with a sign is known as that sign's fixed element. In other words, that element is believed to impart some of its characteristics to the sign concerned. The fixed element of each sign applies also to the year and hour signs, and not just the monthly sign. It is important to note that the fixed element is separate from the cycle of elements which interact with the signs in the 60-year cycle.

Season Lunar month Fixed element Solar longitude Solar term Gregorian date Approx. Western zodiac
Spring 1st – 寅 (yin) Tiger Wood 314° 立春 lìchūn Feb 4 – Feb 18 Aquarius
329° 雨水 yǔshuǐ Feb 19 – Mar 5 Pisces
2nd – 卯 (mao) Rabbit Wood 344° 啓蟄 qǐzhé (驚蟄 jīngzhé) Mar 6 – Mar 20
359° 春分 chūnfēn Mar 21 – Apr 4 Aries
3rd – 辰 (chen) Dragon Earth 14° 清明 qīngmíng Apr 5 – Apr 19
29° 穀雨 gǔyǔ Apr 20 – May 4 Taurus
Summer 4th – 巳 (si) Snake Fire 44° 立夏 lìxià May 5 – May 20
59° 小滿 xiǎomǎn May 21 – Jun 5 Gemini
5th – 午 (wu) Horse Fire 74° 芒種 mángzhòng Jun 6 – Jun 20
89° 夏至 xiàzhì Jun 21 – Jul 6 Cancer
6th – 未 (wei) Goat Earth 104° 小暑 xiǎoshǔ Jul 7 – Jul 22
119° 大暑 dàshǔ Jul 23 – Aug 6 Leo
Autumn 7th – 申 (shen) Monkey Metal 134° 立秋 lìqiū Aug 7 – Aug 22
149° 處暑 chùshǔ Aug 23 – Sep 7 Virgo
8th – 酉 (you) Rooster Metal 164° 白露 báilù Sep 8 – Sep 22
181° 秋分 qiūfēn Sep 23 – Oct 7 Libra
9th – 戌 (xu) Dog Earth 194° 寒露 hánlù Oct 8 – Oct 22
211° 霜降 shuāngjiàng Oct 23 – Nov 6 Scorpio
Winter 10th – 亥 (hai) Pig Water 224° 立冬 lìdōng Nov 7 – Nov 21
244° 小雪 xiǎoxuě Nov 22 – Dec 6 Sagittarius
11th – 子 (zi) Rat Water 251° 大雪 dàxuě Dec 7 – Dec 21
271° 冬至 dōngzhì Dec 22 – Jan 5 Capricorn
12th – 丑 (chou) Ox Earth 284° 小寒 xiǎohán Jan 6 – Jan 19
299° 大寒 dàhán Jan 20 – Feb 3 Aquarius

Hours

The Chinese zodiac is also used to label times of the day, with each sign corresponding to a "large-hour" or shichen (時辰), which is a two-hour period (24 divided by 12 animals). Determining this period depends on knowing an individual's exact time of birth. The secret animal is thought to be a person's truest representation, since this animal is determined by the smallest denominator: a person's birth hour. As this sign is based on the position of the sun in the sky and not the time shown on a local clock, followers of this system believe it to be important to compensate for daylight saving time. However, some on-line systems already compensate for daylight saving time, and astrologers may compensate for this as well, even though a client may already have compensated for it, leading to a theoretically inaccurate reading.

Within the Four Pillars, the hour is the pillar representing information about one's children and contributions to the world or later life.

London & solar time:

The times above are based on local solar time, rather than standard time. To convert to standard time, one needs to add or take off up to 30 min or more, depending on one's birth location west or east respectively of the central meridian of the given time zone. London, marking the central meridian of GMT has solar time equivalent to standard time; but for other cities like Cardiff located 3° 11′ W, the times will start at 11 min past the hour, whereas for Norwich, located 1° 17′ E, they will start 5 min earlier.

* standard time for other major cities:[4]

New York: 22:56 - 00:55 ; Chicago: 22:50 - 00:49; San Francisco: 23:09 - 01:08 ; Los Angeles: 22:53 - 00:52

Mumbai: 23:39 - 01:38 ; Lagos: 23:47 - 01:46 ; Cape Town: 23:47 - 01:46 ; Cairo: 22:56 - 00:55 ; Sydney: 23:00 - 00:59 ; Bangkok: 23:19 - 01:18 ; Beijing: 23:15 - 01:14 ; Nairobi: 23:33 - 01:32 ; Buenos Aires: 23:51 - 01:50 ; Moscow: 23:30 - 01:29 ; Paris: 23:51 - 01:50

Day

4 pillars calculator can determine the zodiac animal of the day.[5]

Chinese animal signs rule over days of the week, too. The term for them is “True Animals.” If your astrologer wishes to prepare a chart, it is essential he or she knows the animals of your day of birth. Given there are only seven days of the week and 12 animals, there is some repetition or doubling up.

The animals for each day are as follows:

Monday: Goat Tuesday: Dragon Wednesday: Horse Thursday: Rat, Pig Friday: Rabbit, Snake, Dog Saturday: Ox, Tiger, Rooster Sunday: Monkey

Compatibility

As the Chinese zodiac is derived according to the ancient Five Elements Theory, every Chinese Sign is composed of five elements with relations, among those elements, of interpolation, interaction, over-action, and counter-action — believed to be the common law of motions and changes of creatures in the universe. Different people born under each animal sign supposedly have different personalities, and practitioners of Chinese astrology consult such traditional details and compatibilities to offer putative guidance in life or for love and marriage.[6]

Chinese Zodiac Compatibility Grid[7]

Sign Best Match Match No Match
Rat Ox, Dragon, Monkey Dog, Pig, Rat, Goat, Tiger, Snake, Rabbit, Rooster Horse
Ox Rat, Rooster, Snake Pig, Tiger, Ox, Dragon, Rabbit, Dog, Monkey, Horse Goat
Tiger Pig, Horse, Dog Rooster, Goat, Tiger, Rabbit, Ox, Dragon, Rat, Snake Monkey
Rabbit Dog, Pig, Goat Monkey, Snake, Tiger, Ox, Horse, Rabbit, Dragon, Rat Rooster
Dragon Rooster, Monkey, Rat Horse, Pig, Snake, Rabbit, Tiger, Dragon, Ox, Goat Dog
Snake Monkey, Rooster, Ox Rabbit, Dog, Horse, Dragon, Snake, Rat, Goat, Tiger Pig
Horse Goat, Dog, Tiger Dragon, Rabbit, Snake, Ox, Monkey, Horse, Rooster, Pig Rat
Goat Horse, Rabbit, Pig Snake, Monkey, Goat, Rooster, Rat, Tiger, Dragon, Dog Ox
Monkey Snake, Dragon, Rat Goat, Monkey, Ox, Horse, Rooster, Dog, Rabbit, Pig Tiger
Rooster Dragon, Ox, Snake Tiger, Pig, Goat, Dog, Monkey, Horse, Rooster, Rat Rabbit
Dog Rabbit, Horse, Tiger Rat, Snake, Dog, Rooster, Monkey, Ox, Pig, Goat Dragon
Pig Tiger, Rabbit, Goat Ox, Rat, Horse, Rooster, Dragon, Dog, Pig, Monkey Snake

4 Pillars

The Four Pillars method can be traced back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC – AD 220), and is still much used in Feng Shui astrology and general analysis today. The Four Pillars or Columns chart is called such as the Chinese writing causes it to fall into columns. Each pillar or column contains a stem and a branch—and each column relates to the year, month, day and hour of birth. The first column refers to the year animal and element, the second to the month animal and element, the third to the day animal and element, and the last to the hour animal and element.

Within the 'Four Pillars', the Year column purports to provide information about one's ancestor or early age, and the Month column about one's parents or growing age. The Day column purports to offer information about oneself (upper character) and one's spouse (lower character) or adult age, and the Hour column about children or late age.[8]

Four Animal Trines

See: Astrological aspect#Trine

First Trine

The first trine consists of the Rat, Dragon and Monkey. These three signs are said to be intense and powerful individuals capable of great good, who make great leaders but are rather unpredictable. The three are said to be intelligent, magnanimous, charismatic, charming, authoritative, confident, eloquent and artistic, but can be manipulative, jealous, selfish, aggressive, vindictive or deceitful.

Second Trine

The second trine consists of the Ox, Snake and Rooster. These three signs are said to possess endurance and application, with slow accumulation of energy, meticulous at planning but tending to hold fixed opinions. The three are said to be hard-working, modest, industrious, loyal, philosophical, patient, good-hearted and morally upright, but can also be self-righteous, egotistical, vain, judgmental, narrow-minded or petty.

Third Trine

The third trine consists of the Tiger, Horse and Dog. These three signs are said to seek true love, to pursue humanitarian causes, to be idealistic and independent but tending to be impulsive. The three are said to be productive, enthusiastic, independent, engaging, dynamic, honourable, loyal and protective, but can also be rash, rebellious, quarrelsome, anxious, disagreeable or stubborn.

Fourth Trine

The fourth trine consists of the Rabbit, Goat and Pig. These three signs are said to have a calm nature and an intellectual approach; they seek aesthetic beauty and are artistic, well-mannered and compassionate, yet detached and resigned to their condition. The three are said to be caring, self-sacrificing, obliging, sensible, creative, empathetic, tactful and prudent, but can also be naïve, pedantic, insecure, cunning, indecisive or pessimistic.

Zodiac origin stories

There are many stories and fables to explain the beginning of the zodiac. Since the Han Dynasty, the 12 Earthly Branches have been used to record the time of day. However, for the sake of entertainment and convenience, they have been replaced by the 12 animals. The 24 hours are divided into 12 periods, and a mnemonic refers to the behaviour of the animals:[9][10]

A Branch may refer to a double-hour period. In the latter case it is the center of the period; for instance, 马 (the Horse) means noon or a period from 11am to 1pm.

The Great Race

An Ancient folk story tells that Cat and Rat were the worst swimmers in the animal kingdom. Although they were poor swimmers, they were both quite intelligent. To get to the meeting called by the Jade Emperor, they had to cross a river to reach the meeting place. The Jade Emperor had also decreed that the years on the calendar would be named for each animal in the order they arrived to the meeting. Cat and Rat decided that the best and fastest way to cross the river was to hop on the back of Ox. Ox, being naïve and good-natured, agreed to carry them both across. Midway across the river, Rat pushed Cat into the water. Then as Ox neared the other side of the river, Rat jumped ahead and reached the shore first. So he claimed first place in the competition and the zodiac.[11][12]

Following closely behind was strong Ox who was named the 2nd animal in the zodiac. After Ox, came Tiger, panting, while explaining to the Jade Emperor how difficult it was to cross the river with the heavy currents pushing it downstream all the time. But with its powerful strength, Tiger made to shore and was named the 3rd animal in the cycle.[10]

Suddenly, from a distance came a thumping sound, and the Rabbit arrived. It explained how it crossed the river: by jumping from one stone to another in a nimble fashion. Halfway through, it almost lost the race, but the Rabbit was lucky enough to grab hold of a floating log that later washed him to shore. For that, it became the 4th animal in the Zodiac cycle. In 5th place was the Flying Dragon. Of course, the Jade Emperor was deeply curious as to why a swift flying creature such as the Dragon should fail to reach first place. The mighty Dragon explained that he had to stop and make rain to help all the people and creatures of the earth, and therefore he was held back. Then, on his way to the finish, he saw a little helpless Rabbit clinging onto a log so he did a good deed and gave a puff of breath to the poor creature so that it could land on the shore. The Jade Emperor was very pleased with the actions of the Dragon, and he was added into the zodiac cycle. As soon as he had done so, a galloping sound was heard, and the Horse appeared. Hidden on the Horse's hoof was the Snake, whose sudden appearance gave the Horse a fright, thus making it fall back and giving the Snake the 6th spot, while the Horse placed 7th.

Not long after that, a little distance away, the Goat, Monkey, and Rooster came to the shore. These three creatures helped each other to get to where they are. The Rooster spotted a raft, and took the other two animals with it. Together, the Goat and the Monkey cleared the weeds, tugged and pulled and finally got the raft to the shore. Because of their combined efforts, the Emperor was very pleased and promptly named the Goat as the 8th creature, the Monkey as the 9th, and the Rooster the 10th.

The 11th animal was the Dog. Although he was supposed to be the best swimmer, he could not resist the temptation to play a little longer in the river. Though his explanation for being late was because he needed a good bath after a long spell. For that, he almost didn't make it to the finish line. Just as the Jade Emperor was about to call it a day, an oink and squeal was heard from a little Pig. The Pig got hungry during the race, promptly stopped for a feast and then fell asleep. After the nap, the Pig continued the race and was named the 12th animal of the zodiac cycle. The cat drowned in 13th place and did not make it in the zodiac. It is said that is the reason why cats always chase Rats; to get back at them for what they have done.

Another folk story tells that on registration day, the Rat met up with the Ox. He thought to himself "Ox is the fastest, strongest animal!" So the little Rat played a trick on the Ox. He asked the Ox if he would like to listen to him sing. The Rat opened his mouth but said nothing. "How was that?" he asked the Ox and of course he replied "Sorry little Rat, I didn't hear you." The Rat told the Ox to let him jump onto his back so that he could sing it more clearly, and the Ox agreed. Soon without knowing, the Ox was walking to the signing post, forgetting the Rat on his back. When they reached there, the Rat jumped off and claimed first place. The Ox following and the rest.

In Buddhism, legend has it that Buddha summoned all of the animals of the earth to come before him before his departure from this earth, but only 12 animals actually came to bid him farewell. To reward the animals who came to him, he named a year after each of them. The years were given to them in the order they had arrived.

The 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac must have been developed in the early stages of Chinese civilization over hundreds of years before it became the current edition; and it's very hard to investigate the real origin. Most historians agree that Cat is not in the list since the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac were formed before cats were introduced to China from India with Buddhism.

Another story tells that God called the animals to a banquet that night. The Rat, who loved to play tricks on his neighbor, told the cat that the banquet was on the day after tomorrow. The cat believed his neighbour the Rat and slept whilst dreaming of the banquet. The next day, the Rat arrived first followed by the Ox, the Tiger and the rest of the animals. The order of the animals was decided by the order that they arrived. The cat was devastated and vowed that he would always hate the Rat. This is why cats chase Rats in folklore.

Problems with English translation

Due to confusion with synonyms during translation, some of the animals depicted by the English words did not exist in ancient China. For example, 羊 can mean ram, sheep or Goat. Similarly, 鼠 (Rat) can also be translated as mouse, as there are no distinctive words for the two genera in Chinese. Further, 豬 (Pig) is sometimes translated to boar after its Japanese name, and 牛 plainly means cow or Ox, and not water buffalo, 水牛. 雞 (Rooster) may mean chicken or cock. However, Rooster is the most commonly used one among all the synonyms, same for 羊, 鼠, etc.

Chinese zodiac in other countries

The Chinese zodiac signs are also used by cultures other than Chinese. For one example, they usually appear on Korean New Year and Japanese New Year's cards and stamps. The United States Postal Service and those of several other countries issue a "Year of the ____" postage stamp each year to honor this Chinese heritage.

The Chinese lunar coins, depicting the zodiac animals, inspired the Canadian Silver Maple Leaf coins, as well as varieties from Australia, Korea, and Mongolia. The Chinese zodiac is an internationally popular theme, available from many of the world's government and private mints.

The Chinese zodiac is also used in some other Asian countries that have been under the cultural influence of China. However, some of the animals in the zodiac may differ by country.

East Asia

The Korean zodiac is almost identical to the Chinese zodiac except it includes the Sheep instead of the Goat. The Vietnamese zodiac is almost identical to the Chinese zodiac except the second animal is the Water Buffalo instead of the Ox, and the fourth animal is the Cat instead of the Rabbit. The Japanese zodiac includes the Sheep instead of the Goat, and the Wild Boar instead of the Pig.[13] The Japanese have since 1873 celebrated the beginning of the new year on 1 January as per the Gregorian Calendar. The Thai zodiac includes a nāga in place of the Dragon[14] and begins, not at Chinese New Year, but either on the first day of fifth month in Thai lunar calendar, or during the Songkran festival (now celebrated every 13–15 April), depending on the purpose of the use.[15]

Bulgars, Huns and Turkic people

The European Huns used the Chinese zodiac complete with "Dragon" "Pig". This common Chinese-Turkic Zodiac was in use in Balkan Bulgaria well into the Bulgars' adoption of Slavic language and Orthodox Christianity . Following is the Hunnish or Bulgarian Pagan zodiac calendar, distinctive from the Greek zodiac but much in conformity with the Chinese one:

Torè calendar

Names of years

  1. Kuzgé – [Year of] Saravana - Rat
  2. Shiger (Syger) – Ox
  3. Kuman (Imén)
  4. Ügur – Tiger, Myachè Ügur – Tiger
  5. Taushan – Rabbit
  6. Samar – Dragon Birgün (Bergen, Birig, Baradj) – Dragon
  7. Dilan – Snake
  8. Tykha – Horse
  9. Téké – Goat
  10. Bichin, Michin – Monkey
  11. Tavuk – Rooster (also written tağuk—ğ is pronounced as v in Turk. verbs döğmek and öğmek)
  12. It – Dog
  13. Shushma – Pig (many mistake it as boar though)(Turk., Russ. "Kaban"—Translator's Note, also cognate of Turkish şişman, "fat")

In Kazakhstan, an animal cycle similar to the Chinese is used, but the Dragon is substituted by a snail (Kazakh: улу), and Tiger appears as a leopard (Kazakh: барыс).

In Mongolia 12 year beasts are called "Арван хоёр жил" meaning "12 years"

  1. Hulgana - Хулгана - Rat
  2. Ukher - Үхэр - Ox
  3. Bar - Бар - Tiger
  4. Tuulai - Туулай - Rabbit
  5. Luu - Луу - Dragon
  6. Mogoi - Могой - Snake
  7. Mori - Морь - Horse
  8. Honi - Хонь - Goat
  9. Bichin, Michin, Mechin - Бич/Мич, Бичин, Мичин, Мэчин - Monkey
  10. Tahiya - Тахиа - Rooster
  11. Nohoi - Нохой - Dog
  12. Gahai - Гахай - Pig

See also

References

  1. ↑ Dr Zai, J. Taoism and Science: Cosmology, Evolution, Morality, Health and more. Ultravisum, 2015.
  2. ↑ Theodora Lau, The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes, pp. 2–8, 30–5, 60–4, 88–94, 118–24, 148–53, 178–84, 208–13, 238–44, 270–78, 306–12, 338–44, Souvenir Press, New York, 2005
  3. ↑ ""Almanac" "lunar" zodiac beginning of spring as the boundary dislocation? — China Network". 16 February 2009. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
  4. ↑ http://www.mastertsai.com/ChineseAstrology/Chineseastrology10.htm
  5. ↑ "online 4 pillars calculator".
  6. ↑ "Chinese Compatibility Matching". Jan 2016.
  7. ↑ "Chinese Zodiac Animal Signs Compatibility". yourchineseastrology.com/.
  8. ↑ chinesefortunecalendar.com
  9. ↑ The 12 Animals of the Chinese Zodiac 十二生肖, Drake University, retrieved October 11, 2013
  10. 1 2 Annotated Bibliography Plan: Chinese Astrology, University of Hawai'i, retrieved October 11, 2013
  11. ↑ Flying Snake of Paradise and the Zodiac, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, retrieved October 11, 2013
  12. ↑ Chinese Zodiac Background Information, retrieved October 11, 2013
  13. ↑ "Japanese Zodiac Signs and Symbols". japanesezodiac.org/. 5 January 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  14. ↑ ""งูใหญ่-พญานาค-มังกร" รู้จัก 3 สัญลักษณ์ปี "มะโรง"". ประชาชาติธุรกิจ. 5 January 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  15. ↑ "การเปลี่ยนวันใหม่ การนับวัน ทางโหราศาสตร์ไทย การเปลี่ยนปีนักษัตร โหราศาสตร์ ดูดวง ทำนายทายทัก".

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