Chinese Astrology
The foremost origins of Chinese astrology are shrouded in the
haze of the ancient times. Chinese astrology is based on a lunar cycle of
twelve lunations, a lunation being the time between a New Moon and the next,
with the New Year beginning when the New Moon appears in Aquarius (sometime
between mid-January and mid-February). In the Western world, the years are
dated from the birth of Jesus Christ, for example, 2003 means 2,003 years after
the birth of Christ. This represents a linear perception of time, with time
proceeding in a straight line from the past to the present and the future. In
traditional China, dating methods were cyclical, cyclical meaning something that
is repeated time after time according to a pattern.
A popular folk method which
reflected this cyclical method of recording years was the naming of Twelve
Animal Signs. Every year within a cycle (cyclical period) is assigned an animal
name or "sign" according to a repeating cycle: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit,
Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep/Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Boar/Pig.
Every twelve years the same animal name or "sign" would reappear. The Chinese
lunar calendar (used in China for determining dates of festive events such as
Chinese New Year) is made up of five cycles of twelve years each, with a bigger
cycle taking sixty years. These numbers of years were determined from
mathematics, astronomical observations, and analyses of people and events on
Earth. Each year has characteristic influences which are repeated every 12
years.
Under the Chinese astrological system a complete analysis of an individual would
have to take into account the year of birth, the element, the yin/yang polarity,
the month of birth, and the hour of birth. Each year within a 12 year cycle is
ruled by a different element.
Metal (ruled by Venus, color=white)
Water (ruled by Mercury, color=black)
Wood (ruled by Jupiter, color=green)
Fire (ruled by Mars, color=red)
Earth ( ruled by Saturn, color=brown)
As there are five elements and twelve years in a Chinese
zodiac cycle, four elements appear twice within a 12 year period and one of them
occurs four times. For example, the current 60 year cycle began in February
1984 and the current 12 year cycle began in 1996, with the changeable
elements and polarities as follow An example of elements and polarities for the
12 year cycle starting in 1996 follows.
Rat Fire (+)
Ox Fire (-)
Tiger Earth (+)
Rabbit Earth (-)
Dragon Metal (+)
Snake Metal (-)
Horse Water (+)
Sheep Water (-)
Monkey Wood (+)
Rooster/ Wood (-)
(year 2005)
Chicken
Dog Fire (+)
Boar Fire (-)
The next Rat will have the element of Earth corresponding
with it. Thus, each Animal sign, which repeats 5 times in a 60 year period, has
a different element, called the changeable element. A 60 year period begins
with Metal and ends with Metal. Each element has a polarity, either Yin or
Yang. According to Chinese philosophy, two primal forces or polarities control
the whole universe. These are Yin (-) and Yang (+) and are reflected in the
microcosm. The balance of the universe, the earth, a nation and even the health
and moods of individuals are determined by the balance or imbalance of Yin and
Yang factors. Yin is feminine, darkness and death, and Yang is masculine, light
and life.
Having said that, every one of the Animals has a fixed element (with its
fixed polarity) together with a fixed season and a fixed direction!!
Water Winter North Boar/Pig - Rat + Ox -
Wood Spring East Tiger + Rabbit - Dragon +
Fire Summer South Snake - Horse + Sheep +
Metal Autumn West Monkey + Rooster - Dog +
Note that the element Earth is symbolically composed of all
the other four elements and hence is not represented. The fixed element that rules a
person's year of birth is called the Dominant element. The fixed sign and
changeable sign give more detail to the characteristics of each year.
Someone whom is a Fire Wood Rabbit is somewhat different to a Water Wood Rabbit.
To top it off, there are not only fixed and changeable elements, polarities,
seasons, and directions, but yet another layer of detail is given. This is
because each lunar calendar day begins at 11 pm, and the 24 hours are divided
into twelve two-hour segments, each ruled by one of the animal signs, which adds
a deeper layer of meaning to a person's personality. For example, you may have
been born in the Year of the Water Wood Rabbit at the Hour of the Dragon, which
makes you different to someone born in the Year of the Water Wood Rabbit at the
Hour of the Sheep!!
11 p.m. to 1 a.m. The Hours of the Rat
1 a.m. to 3 a.m. The Hours of the Ox
3 a.m. to 5 a.m. The Hours of the Tiger
5 a.m. to 7 a.m. The Hours of the Rabbit
7 a.m. to 9 a.m. The Hours of the Dragon
9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The Hours of the Snake
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Hours of the Horse
1 p.m to 3 p.m. The Hours of the Sheep
3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Hours of the Monkey
5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Hours of the Rooster
7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The Hours of the Dog
9 p.m. to 11 p.m. The Hours of the Boar
2003 was the Year of the Water Fire
Sheep. Fire is the Sheep's fixed element, and Water was the changeable
element for 2003. 2003 may be referred to by many people as the Year of
the Black Sheep, because of the colour black associated with the changeable
element (Water). It was a fairly smooth year following that of the
energetic Year of the Horse. It was a year to relax and make peace with
oneself as well as with others. Things progressed and we found
ourselves more sentimental and emotional. The Sheep's influence may have drawn
us closer to home and our families, and on the world scene things were
relatively tranquil and subdued. 2002 was the Year of the Horse (swift
year) and 2001 was the sad Year of the Snake (and the year of the September 11
attacks).
Last year, 2005, was the Year of the Wood Metal Chicken (Green Chicken).
Any unfinished good or bad business from 2004 continued to occur in 2005
2005 was not the Year of the Rooster, as some people believed, because in that year, the female of the animal, that is, a hen was involved,
rather than the male of the species, (the Rooster). See below for more information.
2004, was the Year of the mischievous Wood Metal Monkey (Green Monkey).
On the world scene there were horrific events in Iraq.
To stop the monkey dancing click on the Stop button (X) in
the Tool-bar at the top of your screen
This year, 2006, is the Year of the Red Fire Dog (male).
It is a turning point year that will have some unexpected good or bad events that happen.
For a good web site on Chinese
Astrology, click on the following link :
www.chineseastrologyonline.com/2009.htm
To find out the characteristics of your particular year and hour of birth, click here.
To be updated
? Perhaps
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