For example, the tiger is a person's animal sign if they were born in the Year of the Tiger. In particular, the year a person is born determines their animal sign. Each animal is known to have certain characteristics that a person born under the sign would demonstrate. Horoscopes were developed around animal signs to predict personality traits and destiny. Yang is perceived as male, heaven, light, and active. Yin is perceived as earth, female, dark, and passive. The concept of Yin and Yang also affects the Chinese Zodiac by assigning opposing forces to each animal sign - odd years are Yin years and even years are Yang years. The five elements, including metal, water, wood, fire, and earth, have existed in Chinese culture for thousands of years, and affect the Chinese zodiac, as each element has different traits.Ĭharacteristics of the five elements are assigned to the 12 animal signs, creating 60 possible characteristic combinations. Much of Chinese philosophy is bult around five elements and the belief that they interact with natural phenomena. Assigning each of the five elements to the 12 years creates 60 different combinations that result in a 60-year cycle.Įither the same zodiac calendar or variations on the cycle remain popular in many countries around China, including Thailand, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, and more. The five elements are assigned to the 12 animals (years), giving different characteristics to each animal (year). The five elements are metal, water, wood, fire, and earth.Įach year of the Chinese Zodiac is represented by a different animal: the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. The calendar is based on two cycles that interact with each other - the Chinese zodiac, which is divided into 12 parts, and the five elements. Unlike the Gregorian calendar used in China today, the traditional Chinese calendar features a cyclical dating method that repeats every 60 years. The system included 12 earthly branches and existed long before Buddhism. Early Chinese astronomers devised a system based on the 12-year orbit of Jupiter to tell time. This is why the Year of the Rat comes first in the cycle and the Year of the Pig comes last, as the order of these animals in the zodiac seems to have been set by the era of the Han Dynasty, from 9 to 220 A.D.Īlthough Buddha is the central figure in many stories about the origin of the Chinese zodiac, evidence suggests the Chinese zodiac predates Buddhism. The order of the animals on the calendar reflects their completion of the race - the rat placing first and the pig finishing last. In order to fairly resolve the conflict, the gods had them hold a “Great Race” across a river. But most agree that the 12 animals on the Chinese zodiac calendar were the animals that appeared in response to an invitation to a celebration from Buddha or the Jade Emperor.Īnother legend says that the animals fought over their place on the calendar. Read on for more information on the animals of the Chinese zodiac, horoscope information, and what the Chinese New Year is currently! The Legend of the Chinese ZodiacĬonsidering that the Chinese zodiac was created thousands of years ago, it is not surprising that there are several interpretations of its origin. The featured animals were originally selected in ancient China because of important cultural legends, and each has characteristics that are believed to influence a person’s personality - in other words, the Chinese horoscope. You might have heard of the Lunar or Chinese New Year, and the associated animal that is celebrated annually.Įach of these animals makes up the Chinese zodiac, which is also known as shngxiào or in Chinese.
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