The Chinese Zodiac

The Chinese Zodiac
By Frances Romero
Asian communities throughout the world will mark the Lunar New Year beginning Jan. 26
with festivities that include plenty of food, firecrackers (to chase away evil spirits), red paper
lanterns (red being a bright color that portends a sunny future) and dragon and lion dances
for good luck. (In the dances, a group of performers holds up a model of the animal's head
and a long train symbolizing its body and moves sinuously as a way to demonstrate power
and dignity no lions or dragons are harmed.) Such traditions are rooted in an astrological
system that dates back to the Shang Dynasty (about 1700 B.C.), when soothsayers would
burn turtle shells or shoulder blades of goats or cattle and use the cracks to interpret what
the future held. The remains of these "readings" were unearthed years later and called
dragon bones. Although these methods weren't specifically astrological, the period marks the
beginning of the Chinese connection to the celestial bodies that form the basis of the Chinese
zodiac.
(SeepicturesofChineseNewYearcelebrations)
Because the Chinese calendar is based on the moon's rotation, the new year can occur
anytime from mid-January to late February. According to legend, the calendar was created
by Ta Nao, a minister of Emperor Huang Ti's, and has been used in Asia since 4000 B.C. It is
based on 12 temperaments represented by 12 symbolic animals rat, ox, tiger, rabbit,
dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig (the dragon being the well-known
favorite). After 12 years, the cycle restarts, matching the length of Jupiter's solar orbit.
(Read"ChinaNotSoBullishAbouttheYearoftheOx.")
Each animal in the zodiac is associated with its own element metal, wood, earth, water or
fire while each year is assigned an element. The combination of these two elements is said
to define a person's personality. For example, 2009 is the year of the earth ox, but the ox's
fixed element is water; the mix of the two elements, earth and water, is believed by some to
be a destructive blend.
Animals and some of their corresponding years:
Goat/Sheep (well-mannered, altruistic, insecure, irresponsible): 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967,
1979, 1991, 2003
Monkey (independent, enthusiastic, unscrupulous, childlike personality): 1920, 1932, 1944,

1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004
Rooster (resourceful, adventurous, short-sighted, impractical): 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969,
1981, 1993, 2005
Dog (attentive, loyal, stubborn, guarded): 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006
Pig/Boar (sincere, cultured, noncompetitive, gullible): 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995,
2007
Rat (hardworking, thrifty, quick-tempered, neurotic): 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996,
2008
Ox (patient, self-sacrificing, jealous, rigid): 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009
Tiger (lucky, courageous, vain, undisciplined): 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010
Rabbit (ambitious, unflappable, aloof, private): 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011
Dragon (intuitive, influential, demanding, judgmental): 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000
Snake (calm, intelligent, lazy, possessive): 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001
Horse (entertaining, powerful, selfish, rebellious): 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002
Elements that correspond to particular animals:
Metal (monkey, rooster, dog): resolute and intense, can be stubborn
Wood (tiger, rabbit, dragon): high moral standards, tendency to take on too much
Earth (not fixed because it is composed of the four other elements): practical and reliable,
can suffer from lack of imagination)
Water (pig, rat, ox): skillful communicators but can be too passive
Fire (snake, horse, sheep): aggressive, domineering, dynamic in speech and action
A Chinese astrologer takes all these factors into consideration when charting an individual's
personality or determining what a new year will bring. These predictions aren't just for
carnival sideshows or fortune cookies: in many Asian cultures, each year's forecasts are
studied carefully for portents relating to business, romantic and family decisions for the
coming year. Some Chinese plan births during dragon years to improve their children's
fortune. Some people born in "wrong" years have reportedly been excluded from attending
weddings and funerals. As for those making plans for 2009, be warned: because the element
of fire is lacking from this year's forecast, fortune tellers don't believe the economy will fare
any better than it did in 2008's year of the rat.

The Chinese Zodiac

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Chinese Zodiac

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Chinese Zodiac

Monkey (independent, enthusiastic, unscrupulous, childlike personality): 1920, 1932, 1944,

You might also like