CHINESE ASTROLOGY
Posted by Darshana Sanrakshak Shambhala on February 9, 2011 at 6:55am in Astrology
Chinese Astrology is the divination of the future from the Chinese calendar,
which is based on astronomy, and ancient Chinese philosophy. In particular,
Chinese Astrology is based on the sexagenary cycle of 60 years that has been
documented since the time of the Shang Dynasty at the latest. 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 Chinese
zodiac refers to a pure calendrical cycle; there are no equivalent
constellations like those of the occidental zodiac. In imperial Chinese 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.
Background of Chinese
Astrology:
The ancient Chinese astronomers called the 5 major planets by the
names of the element they were associated with: Venus corresponds to Metal
(gold); Jupiter to Wood; Mercury to Water; Mars to Fire; Saturn to Earth.
According to Chinese Astrology, a person's destiny can be determined by the
position of the major planets, along with the positions of the Sun, Moon and
comets and the person's time of birth and Zodiac Sign. The Chinese Astrology
system of the twelve year cycle of animal signs was built from observations of
the orbit of Jupiter. Chinese astronomers divided the celestial circle into 12
sections to follow the orbit of ?? Suìxing (Jupiter, the Year Star). Astronomers
rounded the orbit of Suixing to 12 years (from 11.86). Suixing was associated
with Sheti (? Böotes) and sometimes called Sheti. A laborious system of
computing one's fate and destiny based on one's birthday and birth hours is
still used regularly in modern day Chinese astrology to divine one's fortune.
The 28 Chinese constellations are qute different from the 88 Western
constellations. In addition to astrological readings of the heavenly bodies, the
stars in the sky form the basis of many fairy tales. For example, the Summer
Triangle is the trio of the cowherd (Altair), the weaving maiden fairy (Vega),
and the "tai bai" fairy (Deneb). The two forbidden lovers were separated by the
silvery river (the Milky Way). Each year on the seventh day of the seventh month
in the Chinese calendar, the birds form a bridge across the Milky Way. The
cowherd carries their two sons (the two stars on each side of Altair) across the
bridge to reunite with their fairy mother. The tai bai fairy acts as the
chaperone of these two immortal lovers.
The lunisolar calendar in Chinese
Astrology:
The 60-year cycle consists of two separate cycles interacting with
each other. The first is the cycle of ten heavenly stems, namely the Five
Elements (in order Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water) in their Yin and Yang
forms. The second is the cycle of the twelve Zodiac animal signs or Earthly
Branches. They are in order as follows: the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon,
snake, horse, sheep (ram or goat), monkey, rooster, dog, and boar . This
combination of 5 elements × 12 animals creates the 60-year cycle, which always
starts with Wood Rat and ends with Water Boar. Since the zodiac animal cycle of
12 is divisible by two, every zodiac sign can also only occur in either yin or
yang: the dragon is always yang, the snake is always yin, etc. When trying to
calculate the relevant year, an easy rule to follow is that years that end in an
even number are yang, those that end with an odd number are yin. The cycle
proceeds as follows:
Chinese Astrology: Forecast Your Future from Your
Chinese Horoscope
If the year ends in 0 it is Yang Metal.
If the year
ends in 1 it is Yin Metal.
If the year ends in 2 it is Yang Water.
If the
year ends in 3 it is Yin Water.
If the year ends in 4 it is Yang Wood.
If
the year ends in 5 it is Yin Wood.
If the year ends in 6 it is Yang
Fire.
If the year ends in 7 it is Yin Fire.
If the year ends in 8 it is
Yang Earth.
If the year ends in 9 it is Yin Earth.
However, since the
(traditional) Chinese zodiac follows the (lunisolar) Chinese calendar, the
switch over date is the Chinese New Year, not January 1 as in the Gregorian
calendar. Therefore, a person who was born in January or early February has the
sign of the previous year. For example, if a person was born in January 1970,
his or her element would still be Yin Earth, not Yang Metal. Similarly, although
1990 was called the year of the horse, anyone born from January 1 to January 26,
1990 was in fact born in the Year of the Snake (the sign of the previous year),
because the 1990 Year of the Horse did not begin until January 27, 1990. For
this reason, many online sign calculators (and Chinese restaurant placemats)
will give a person the wrong sign if he/she was born in January or early
February.
The start of a new Zodiac is also celebrated on Chinese New
Year along with many other customs.
Five elements in Chinese
Astrology:
The Yin or Yang is broken down into Five Elements (Wood, Fire,
Earth, Metal, and Water) on top of the cycle of animals. These are modifiers and
affect the characteristics of each of the 12 animal signs. Thus, each of the 12
animals are governed by an element plus a Yin Yang Direction. The Chinese
conception of 'element' is therefore quite different to the Western one. The
Western elements were seen as the basic building blocks of matter. The Chinese
'elements', by contrast, were seen as ever changing and moving forces or
energies - one translation of xing is simply 'the five changes'. The balance of
yin and yang and the five elements in a person's make-up has a major bearing on
what is beneficial and effective for them in terms of feng shui, the Chinese
form of geomancy. This is because each element is linked to a particular
direction and season, and their different kinds of qì or life force.
Wood
in Chinese Astrology:
The East
Spring
Azure Dragon
The Planet
Jupiter
The Color Green
Liver and gallbladder
Generous, Warm,
Persuasive, Co-operative, Seeks to Expand and Grow
Idealistic, Ethical,
Enthusiastic, Seeks to Explore
Wood 'Governs' the Tiger, Rabbit,
Dragon
Fire in Chinese Astrology:
The South
Summer
Vermilion
Bird
The Planet Mars
The Color Red
Circulatory system and
Heart
Dynamic, Humanitarian, Energetic, Passionate, Enterprising,
Adventurous, Restless
Competitive, Leadership Skills, Strong, Single-minded,
Loves a good laugh
Fire 'Governs' the Snake, Horse and Sheep.
Earth in
Chinese Astrology:
Center
Three Enclosures, Change of seasons
The
Yellow Dragon
The Planet Saturn
The Color Yellow
Digestive system,
Spleen and stomach
Patient, Militaristic, Prudent, Stable, Reliable,
Hard-working, Ambitious, Stubborn, and very energetic
Disciplined, Tenacious,
Logical, Governed by Service and Duty to Others
'Governs' Dragon, Rat, and
Ox. It is the central balance of the elements and can lend qualities to all 12
animals as well.
Metal in Chinese Astrology:
The
West
Autumn
White Tiger
The Planet Venus
The Color
White
Respiratory system & Lungs Determined, Self-reliant, Unyielding,
Strong, Tenacious, Forceful
Reserved, Needs Personal Space, Sophisticated,
Seeks pleasure, caring, respectful
Metal 'Governs' the Monkey, Rooster,
Dog.
Water in Chinese Astrology:
The North
Winter
Black
Tortoise
The Planet Mercury
The Color Black
Skeletal/Excretory System
and Lungs
Secretive, Charming, Intuitive, Compassionate, Sensitive,
Creative
Flexible, Compliant, Eloquence, Intellectual
Water 'Governs' the
Pig, Rat, Ox.
Element cycles in Chinese
Astrology:
Interactions of Five Chinese Elements - Cycles of Balance
and Cycles of ImbalanceThe doctrine of five phases describes two Cycles of
Balance, a generating or creation cycle and an overcoming or destruction cycle
of interactions between the phases.
Generating:
Wood feeds Fire;
Fire creates Earth (ash); Earth bears Metal; Metal collects Water and Water
nourishes Wood. Overcoming:
wood parts earth; earth absorbs water; water
quenches fire; fire melts metal and metal chops wood
The 12 zodiac
animals in Chinese Astrology:
In Chinese astrology the zodiac of twelve
animal signs represents twelve different types of personality. The zodiac
traditionally begins with the sign of the Rat, and there are many stories about
the Origins of the Chinese Zodiac which explain why this is
so.
Rat (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Water): Forthright,
disciplined, systematic, meticulous, charismatic, hardworking, industrious,
charming, eloquent, sociable, shrewd. Can be manipulative, cruel, dictatorial,
rigid, selfish, obstinate, critical, over-ambitious, ruthless, intolerant,
scheming. Ox (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Water): Dependable, calm,
methodical, patient, hardworking, ambitious, conventional, steady, modest,
logical, resolute, tenacious. Can be stubborn, narrow-minded, materialistic,
rigid, demanding. Tiger (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Wood): Unpredictable,
rebellious, colorful, powerful, passionate, daring, impulsive, vigorous,
stimulating, sincere, affectionate, humanitarian, generous. Can be restless,
reckless, impatient, quick-tempered, obstinate, selfish. Rabbit (Yin, 4th Trine,
Fixed Element Wood): Gracious, kind, sensitive, soft-spoken, amiable, elegant,
reserved, cautious, artistic, thorough, tender, self-assured, astute,
compassionate, flexible. Can be moody, detached, superficial, self-indulgent,
opportunistic, lazy. Dragon (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Wood): Magnanimous,
vigorous, strong, self-assured, proud, direct, eager, zealous, fiery,
passionate, decisive, pioneering, ambitious, generous, loyal. Can be arrogant,
tyrannical, demanding, eccentric, dogmatic, over-bearing, impetuous, brash.
Snake (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Fire): Deep thinker, wise, mystic,
graceful, soft-spoken, sensual, creative, prudent, shrewd, ambitious, elegant,
cautious, responsible, calm, strong, constant, purposeful. Can be loner, bad
communicator, possessive, hedonistic, self-doubting, distrustful, mendacious.
Horse (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Fire): Cheerful, popular, quick-witted,
changeable, earthy, perceptive, talkative, agile mentally and physically,
magnetic, intelligent, astute, flexible, open-minded. Can be fickle, anxious,
rude, gullible, stubborn, lack stability and perseverance. Sheep (Yin, 4th
Trine, Fixed Element Fire): Righteous, sincere, sympathetic, mild-mannered, shy,
artistic, creative, gentle, compassionate, understanding, mothering, determined,
peaceful, generous, seeks security. Can be moody, indecisive, over-passive,
worrier, pessimistic, over-sensitive, complainer. Monkey (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed
Element Metal): Inventor, motivator, improviser, quick-witted, inquisitive,
flexible, innovative, problem solver, self-assured, sociable, polite, dignified,
competitive, objective, factual, intellectual. Can be egotistical, vain,
selfish, cunning, jealous, suspicious. Rooster (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element
Metal): Acute, neat, meticulous, organized, self-assured, decisive,
conservative, critical, perfectionist, alert, zealous, practical, scientific,
responsible. Can be over zealous and critical, puritanical, egotistical,
abrasive, opinionated. Dog (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Metal): Honest,
intelligent, straightforward, loyal, sense of justice and fair play, attractive,
amiable, unpretentious, sociable, open-minded, idealistic, moralistic,
practical, affectionate, dogged. Can be cynical, lazy, cold, judgmental,
pessimistic, worrier, stubborn, quarrelsome. Pig (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element
Water): Honest, simple, gallant, sturdy, sociable, peace-loving, patient, loyal,
hard-working, trusting, sincere, calm, understanding, thoughtful, scrupulous,
passionate, intelligent. Can be naive, over-reliant, self-indulgent, gullible,
fatalistic, materialistic. 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)
and hours of the day (called secret animals).
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Chinese Astrology: The Most Comprehensive Study of the Subject Ever Published in
the English Language
To sum it up, 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 and an ox secretively. In total, this makes for 8,640 possible
combinations (five elements x 12 animals in the 60 year cycle (12 x 5 = 60) , 12
months, 12 times of day) that a person might be. These are all critical for the
proper use of Chinese astrology.
The months - the inner animals in
Chinese Astrology:
The 12 animals are also linked to the traditional Chinese
agricultural calendar, that 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 3rd or 4th
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. An individual's monthly animal sign is called their inner animal and
is concerned with what motivates a person. Since this sign dictates the person's
love life and inner persona, it is critical to a proper understanding of the
individual's compatibility with other signs. As each sign is linked to a month
of the solar year, it is thereby also linked to a season. Each of the elements
are also linked to a season, 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.
The hours
- the secret animals in Chinese Astrology:
The Chinese zodiac is also used to
label times of day, with each sign corresponding to a "large-hour", which is a
two-hour period (24 divided by 12 animals). It is therefore important to know
the exact time of birth to determine it. 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 of your local clock, it is important to
compensate of daylight savings time. However, some online systems already
compensate for daylight savings time, and astrologers may compensate your time
for you oblivious to the fact that you've compensated it yourself, leading to an
inaccurate reading. The large-hour in which a person is born is their secret
animal. It is a person's own true sign which their personality is based on. Note
that while this chart is quite accurate, the exact time at which each animal
begins shifts by the day.
23:00 - 01:00: rat 01:00 - 03:00: ox 03:00 -
05:00: tiger 05:00 - 07:00: rabbit 07:00 - 09:00: dragon 09:00 - 11:00: snake
11:00 - 13:00: horse 13:00 - 15:00: sheep 15:00 - 17:00: monkey 17:00 - 19:00:
rooster 19:00 - 21:00: dog 21:00 - 23:00: pig
Categorizations of the
twelve signs in Chinese Astrology:
Power
Signs
Rat
Ox
Tiger
Dragon
Snake
Monkey
Romance
Signs
Rabbit
Horse
Sheep
Rooster Dog Pig
The Four Animal
Trines in Chinese Astrology:
The First Trine in Chinese
Astrology:
The first trine consists of the Rat, Dragon, and Monkey. These
three signs are intense and powerful individuals, capable of great good or great
evil. They make great leaders, but the three have different approaches. Rats and
Dragons have a tendency to be quite dictatorial and autocratic, whilst Monkeys
are more diplomatic. Frustrated when hampered, these signs are ruled by highly
potent energy and unpredictability. They are intelligent, magnanimous,
charismatic, charming, authoritative, confident, eloquent and artistic. They can
also be tyrannical, bombastic, prejudiced, deceitful, imperious, ruthless,
power-hungry, and megalomaniacal.
The Second Trine in Chinese
Astrology:
The second trine consists of the Ox, Snake, and Rooster. These
three soul mates conquer life through endurance, application, and slow
accumulation of energy. Although each sign is fixed and rigid in opinions and
views, they are genius in the art of meticulous planning. They are hardworking,
discreet, modest, industrious, charitable, loyal, punctual, philosophical,
patient, and good-hearted individuals with high moral standards. They can also
be self-righteous, vain, critical, judgmental, unimaginative, narrow-minded,
petty, and pessimistic.
The Third Trine in Chinese Astrology:
The
third trine consists of the Tiger, Horse, and Dog. These three signs seek one
another, and are like-minded in their pursuit of humanitarian causes. Each is a
gifted orator and excels at verbal communication. Relationships and personal
contact are of highest priority and each one seek their intimate soul mate.
Idealistic and impulsive, the Tiger, Horse and Dog follow the beat of their own
drummer. Defiant against injustice, these three signs wilt without large amounts
of physical affection and loyal support for causes. They are productive,
enthusiastic, independent, engaging, dynamic, and honourable. They can also be
rash, rebellious, quarrelsome, hot-headed, reckless, anxious, moody,
disagreeable, stubborn, and selfish.
The Fourth Trine in Chinese
Astrology:
The fourth trine consists of the Rabbit, Sheep and Pig. The quest
for these three signs is the aesthetic and beautiful in life. Their calm nature
gives them great leadership abilities. They are artistic, refined, intuitive,
and well-mannered. These souls love the preliminaries in love, and are fine
artists in their lovemaking. The Rabbit, Sheep and Pig have been bestowed with
calmer natures than the other 9 signs. These three are compassionately aware,
yet detached and resigned to their condition. They seek beauty and a sensitive
lover. They are caring, unique, self-sacrificing, obliging, sensible, creative,
emphatic, tactful, and prudent. They can also be naive, pedantic, insecure,
cunning, indecisive, and pessimistic.
Origins of the Chinese Zodiac in
Chinese Astrology:
According to one legend, in the sixth century B.C. the
Jade Emperor invited all the animals in creation to a race, only twelve showed
up: the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Lamb, Monkey, Cock, Dog,
and Pig, and according to their places in the race, the Jade Emperor had given
them each a number starting with the Rat who was the winner of the race. Many
legends arose from the Race of the Chinese Zodiacs. One told of the reason why
cats and rats shall always be enemies: He and the cat (at the time good friends)
were poor swimmers, so they asked the ox if they could stay on top of his head
to cross the river. Along the way he pushed the cat off of the ox's back. And
the cat, incapable of swimming, lagged behind. The rat stayed on top of the ox's
head until the ox was almost at the finish line. And as the ox was about to
cross it, the rat jumped from the ox's head and became first place. And the cat
and rat have been enemies ever since. Another legend tells that the cat had
asked the rat to wake him up the day of the Race. The rat agreed, but on the
said day, he did not wake the cat in his greed to win. When the cat finally woke
up and got to the racing ground, he found the race to be over. The cat then
swore revenge upon the rat. The legend of the Zodiac Race, of course, is by far
the least credible of all explanations of the origin of the Chinese zodiac.
Because the "twelve earthly branches" which correspond with the zodiac, was
already in existence as early as the Zhou era, long before the advent of
Buddhism. A parallel decimal set of symbols called "ten heavenly stems",
corresponding with yin-yang dualism and the five elements (wood, fire, earth,
metal, water) was in existence in the Shang dynasty as the stems were part of
Shang rulers' names. The Zodiac, or the "twelve earthly branches" is probably
devised together with the ten heavenly stems. As a duodecimal numeral system,
the twelve earthly branches is probably evidence for trade between early tribes
that later contributed to the Chinese civilization on the one hand, and the
Mesopotamian civilization, which perfected duodecimal arithmetics, on the other.
The Chinese zodiac, though not entirely identical with the Greek zodiac,
nonetheless shares with it the duodecimal system and the idea of using animals
as numerical symbols. This is a hint for the triangular relations between early
Chinese, Mesopotamian and Greek cultures. When the Bulgars, an early Turkic
tribe within the Hun tribal federation that invaded Europe at the end of the
Roman Empire, brought with them the very same Chinese zodiac. This is a
probability that the Chinese zodiac is of northern Chinese origin, commonly
shared among Altaic and northern Chinese tribes. However, nowadays the Thai and
Tibetans use the same zodiac with slight modification, probably due to millennia
of contact with the Chinese civilization.
Chinese zodiac in other
countries:
The Chinese zodiac signs are also used by cultures other than
Chinese. For one example, they usually appear on 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. However, those unfamiliar with the use of the Chinese lunar calendar
usually just assume that the signs switch over on Jan 1 of each year. Those who
are serious about the fortune telling aspect of the signs can consult a table,
such as the one above. 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:
For example, the
Vietnamese zodiac is almost identical to Chinese zodiac except that the second
animal is the water buffalo instead of the ox, the fourth animal is the cat
instead of the rabbit and the eighth animal is the goat instead of the sheep.
The Japanese zodiac includes the wild boar instead of the pig, and the Thai
zodiac includes a naga in place of the dragon. 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.