Chinese Calendar - Chinese Zodiac

Chinese New Year is based on the Chinese calendar (traditional Chinese: ; simplified
Chinese: ; pinyin: nngl). The Chinese calendar also called Yin Calendar (traditional
Chinese: ; simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: g!ngl) is a l"nisolar calendar
incorporating elements of a l"nar calendar with those of a solar calendar.
The earliest e#idence of the Chinese calendar is fo"nd on oracle bones of the $hang
dynasty (ca. %&'' (C) ca .%'*& (C) which seem to describe a l"nisolar year of twel#e
months with a possible intercalary thirteenth or e#en fo"rteenth month added empirically
to pre#ent calendar drift (leap year).
The $e+agenarian cycle for recording days was already in "se. Tradition holds that in that
era the year began on the first new moon after the ,inter $olstice.
The Chinese Calendar is the longest chronological record in history dating from
appro+imately. -&''(C when the .mperor /"ang Ti (Yellow .mperor) introd"ced the
first cycle of the 0odiac.
1rom the earliest records the beginning of the year occ"rred at a new moon near the ,inter
$olstice. 2n the late second cent"ry (.C... a calendar reform established the practice of
re3"iring the ,inter $olstice (entering Capricorn) to occ"r in month %% as still practiced
today.
The Chinese New Year) also called $pring 1esti#al) is celebrated at the second new moon
after the ,inter $olstice and can fall anywhere between late 4an"ary and the middle of
1ebr"ary as per ,estern calendar.
New Year festi#ities traditionally start on the first day of the month and contin"e "ntil the
fifteenth when the moon is brightest (f"ll moon in the middle of the month).
The Chinese calendar is a l"nisolar calendar incorporating elements of a l"nar calendar
with those of a solar calendar indicating both the phase of the 5oon and the time of the
solar year.
LUNAR CALENDAR
The l"nar calendar is a dating system based on a year consisting of synodic months
(synodic period is the time that it ta6es for the ob7ect to reappear at the same point in the
s6y relati#e to the $"n as obser#ed from .arth)) i.e. complete cycles of phases cycles of
the 5oon.
8 l"nar calendar is one in which days are n"mbered within each l"nar cycle. 8 p"rely l"nar
calendar 3"ic6ly drifts against the seasons beca"se the length of the l"nar month is not an
e#en fraction of the length of the tropical solar year.
The l"nar year comprises ro"ghly %-.9: l"nations f"ll cycles of the phases of the 5oon as
seen from .arth. 2t has a d"ration of appro+imately 9;*.9: days.
8 l"nar month has appro+imately -<.;9';=< days.
SOLAR CALENDAR
The solar calendar is a dating system based on the seasonal year of appro+imately 9&;.-;
days which is the time it ta6es the .arth to re#ol#e once aro"nd the $"n to complete a
cycle of seasons ending at the same position it stared from as obser#ed from .arth.
8 solar calendar is a calendar whose dates indicate the position of the .arth on its
re#ol"tion aro"nd the $"n (or e3"i#alently the apparent position of the $"n mo#ing on the
celestial sphere).
8 solar calendar assigns a date to each solar day ) i.e. a period between two s"ccessi#e
e#ents: s"nset ) s"nrise.
2f the position of the .arth (or the $"n) is rec6oned with respect to the e3"ino+ then the
dates indicate the season (and so is synchroni0ed to the declination of the $"n). $"ch a
calendar is called a tropical solar calendar.
LUNISOLAR CALENDAR
8 l"nisolar calendar is a calendar whose date indicates both the phase of the 5oon and the
time of the solar year hence a combination of the l"nar as well as the solar calendar.
8 l"nisolar calendar is a l"nar calendar that 6eeps months on a l"nar cycle b"t then
intercalary months are added to bring the l"nar cycles into synchroni0ation with the solar
year.
The reason for this is that a year is not e#enly di#isible by an e+act n"mber of l"nations so
witho"t the addition of intercalary months the seasons will drift each year.
This res"lts in a thirteen)month year e#ery two or three years as i.e. shown in the Chinese
calendar.
THE CHINESE CALENDAR, LUNISOLAR
The Chinese Calendar is a l"nisolar calendar a yearly one.
>ne l"nar year consists of appro+imately %-.9: l"nations and is from one Chinese New
Year to the ne+t.
>ne solar year is either the period between one ?ernal .3"ino+ and the ne+t or the period
between two ,inter $olstices.
2n the Chinese calendar there are two different month cycles. >ne "ses the l"nar system and
the other "ses the solar system.
2n the l"nar system of month the first day of a l"nar month is the day when a new moon
appears in a partic"lar time 0one when the 5oon is completely @blac6A and in con7"nction
with the $"n hence is an astronomical new moon and begins at midnight. The first day of a
new l"nar month is also the dar6est night of the month; hence one month corresponds to
one l"nar cycle one phase of the 5oon the length of time between two s"ccessi#e new
moon days.
The name of a l"nar month is ta6en from the solar system. The months of the Chinese
calendar are n"mbered by the Brincipal Term that falls within it (see below).
The Chinese solar months are not li6e the months of a @modernA calendar. The Chinese
calendar di#ides the year into -* solar segments according to the $"nAs positions on the
tropical 0odiac. The solar months are defined by the longit"des of the $"n. .ach segmentCs
name was gi#en for ancient Chinese farmersC "se representing a weather and Dor seasonal
condition. The -* seasonal mar6ers which follow the solar year are also called 7ie3i (
7iE3).
.#ery other $olar Term (the instant when the $"n reaches one of twenty)fo"r e3"ally
spaced points along the ecliptic incl"ding the $olstices and .3"ino+es positioned at fifteen
degree inter#als) of the Chinese solar year is e3"i#alent to an entry of the $"n into a sign of
the tropical 0odiac (a Brincipal Term).
The 0odiac sign which the $"n enters d"ring the month and the ecliptic longit"de of that
entry point "s"ally determine the n"mber of a reg"lar month. 5onth % 0hFngy"G
literally means principal month (first moon). 8ll other months are literally n"mbered
second month third month etc.
The determination of a Chinese year is based on astrological calc"lations; the dates of the
new moon (H the first day of a l"nar month) as well as the $"nAs longit"de.
8 Chinese year normally consists of %- months one month corresponds to one l"nar cycleD
one phase of the 5oon.
>ne has to determine the dates when the $"nCs longit"de is a m"ltiple of 9' degrees. These
dates are called the Brincipal Terms and are "sed to determine the n"mber of each month:
THE SOLAR TERMS, PPRINCIPAL TERMS, SUNS LONITUDE, LENTH,
DATE, ZODIAC, SEASON as per date
I $olar Term
Brincipal Term
(BT)
$"nCs Jongi)
t"de
Chin. Name
Jenght
in
days
Kate Lodiac $eason
' (eginning of %; 1eb * 83"ari"s 8
% $pring
$olar Term
% ) &
total of <% days
'
-
Main ,ater
BT) % 99'N

0hFngy"G
%; 1eb %< Bisces
'
9
.+cited 2nsects
8wa6ening of
insects
%; 5arch & Bisces
'
*
?ernal .3"ino+
BT) - '''N
Gry"G
%;
5arch
-%
8ries
'
;
Clear O (right %; 8pril ; 8ries
'
&
Prain Mains
BT) 9 '9'N
sQny"G
%& 8pril -' Ta"r"s
'
:
$tart of $"mmer %; 5ay & Ta"r"s
(
$olar Term
:)%-
total of <* days
'
=
Prains 1ills
BT) * '&'N
sy"G
%& 5ay -% Pemini
'
<
Prain in .ar %; 4"ne & Pemini
%
'
$"mmer $olstice
BT) ; '<'N
wRy"G
%& 4"ne -% Cancer
%
%
$light 5inor /eat %& 4"ly : Cancer
%
-
Preat 5a7or /eat
BT) & %-'N
liSy"G
%& 4"ly -9 Jeo
%
9
$tart of 8"t"mn %; 8"g = Jeo
C
$olar Term
%9) %=
total of <% days
%
*
Jimit of /eat
BT) : %;'N
3Ty"G
%& 8"g -9 ?irgo
%
;
,hite Kew %; $ept = ?irgo
%
&
8"t"mnal .3"ino+
BT) = %='N
bQy"G
%; $ept -9 Jibra
%
:
Cold Kew %; >ct = Jibra
%
=
1rost Kescends
BT) <. -%'N
7iRy"G
%; >ct -9 $corpi"s
%
<
$tart of ,inter %; No# : $corpi"s
K
$olar Term
%<) -*
- Jight Jittle $now BT) %' -*'N %; No# -- $agittari"s
'
shUy"G
total =< days
-
%
/ea#y Preat $now %; Kec : $agittari"s
-
-
,inter $olstice
BT) %% -:'N
shUyTy"G
%; Kec -- Capricorn"s
-
9
Jittle 5inor Cold %* 4an & Capricorn"s
-
*
$e#ere 5a7or Cold
BT) %- 9''N
shUCGry"G
%; 4an -' 83"ari"s
$eason Note:
The twel#e parts of the year corresponding to the signs of the 0odiac each consists of two
$olar Terms b"t fo"r 0odiacal periods o#erlap two seasons. The seasons are of different
lengths beca"se according to VeplerCs $econd Jaw the .arth tra#els faster the closer it is
to the $"n. (4ohannes Vepler %;:%W %&9' 8K Perman mathematician and astronomer;
VeplerCs Jaws of Blanetary 5otion are the mathematical laws that describe the motion of
planets in the $olar $ystem).
The following r"les m"st apply to a Chinese Calendar:
) The first day of the month is the day on which the new moon occ"rs the month are l"nar
month.
) Calc"lations of astrological new moons and the $"n entering the 0odiac sign are based on
a certain time 0one and a determined location.
) The ,inter $olstice Brincipal Term %% always falls in the %%th month.
) 8n ordinary year has twel#e l"nar months; an intercalary year has thirteen l"nar months.
) 8 l"nar month in which a Brincipal Term does not occ"r becomes a leap (or intercalary)
month and is assigned the n"mber of the month that preceded it b"t is designated as a leap.
2f two months contain no Brincipal Term only the first s"ch month after the ,inter $olstice
is considered intercalary.
) .#ery other $olar Term of the Chinese solar year is e3"i#alent to an entry of the $"n into
a sign of the tropical 0odiac (a Brincipal Term).
The Chinese ha#e adopted the ,estern calendar since %<%- b"t the l"nar calendar is still
#ery "sed not only for festi#e occasions s"ch as the Chinese New Year.
The Chinese calendar is also called Y2N calendar d"e to the yinD l"nar characteristics as i.e.
dar6ness night)time mysterio"s hea#en passi#e softness moist"re downward see6ing
and docile aspects of things. 1"rther than this according to ancient Chinese astronomers
the fi#e ma7or planets referred to the 1i#e .lements: 4"piter) ,ood 5ars) 1ire $at"rn)
.arth ?en"s) 5etal (gold) 5erc"ry) ,ater had to be ta6en into acco"nt. ($ee also: 1i#e
.lements Chart)
Not only the planets b"t the n"mber of each month and the weather conditions are
s"pposed to relate to the 1i#e .lements: month % -D rain) ,ood; month *;D heat) 1ire;
month 9&<%-D wind) .arth; month :=D clear 5etal; month %' %%D cold) ,ater.
LEAP ! INTERCALAR" "EAR:
Jeap months are assigned in order to harmoni0e or synchroni0e the cycle of the 5oon with
the cycle of the $"n.
8 calendar year shows a fi+ed amo"nt of co"nted days (9&; days) a solar year does not
ha#e a whole n"mber of days (ro"ghly 9&;.-; days). 2n order to recei#e a reconciliation
the days of the calendar year m"st be changed.
2n solarD ,estern calendars this is often done by adding to a common year of 9&; days an
e+tra dayD leap day ma6ing the leap year of 9&& days. This occ"rs e#ery fo"r years.
The solar year does not ha#e a whole n"mber of l"nar months either so a l"nisolar calendar
m"st ha#e a #ariable n"mber of months in a year.
2n a @reg"larA Chinese l"nisolar calendar one year is di#ided into %- months one month is
corresponding to one f"ll moon. $ince the cycle of the 5oon is not an e#en n"mber of
days a month in the l"nar calendar can #ary between -< and 9' days and a normal year can
ha#e 9;9 9;* or 9;; days.
The a#erage calendrical month which is %D%- of a year is abo"t 9'.* days (9&; days. D. %-
month) while the 5oonCs phase (synodic) cycle repeats e#ery -<.;9';=< days. Therefore
the timing of the 5oonCs phases shifts by an a#erage slightly less than a day for each
s"ccessi#e month #ery ro"ghly spea6ing %- daysD year; -* daysD - years; 9& daysD 9 years
leading to abo#e mentioned addition of an e+tra month at reg"lar inter#als.
The Chinese calendar is ad7"sted to the length of the solar year by the addition of e+tra
months at reg"lar inter#als; e#ery second or third year has an leapD intercalary month.
Jeap years ha#e %9 months. To determine if a year is a leap year the n"mber of new moons
between the %%th month in one year and the %%th month in the following year ha#e to be
calc"lated. 2f there are %9 new moons from the start of the %%th month in the first year to
the start of the %%th month in the second year a leap month m"st be inserted.
2n leap years at least one month does not contain a Brincipal Term. The first s"ch month is
the leap month and can occ"r after any reg"lar month. 2t carries the same n"mber as the
preceding reg"lar month with the additional note that it is the leap month. 2f this happens
to occ"r twice in one year only the first month in which it occ"rs is a leap month.
Xnfort"nately all festi#als and holidays of the preceding month are not repeated in a leap
month.
8n @ordinaryA year in a l"nar calendar has %- l"nar month totalling 9;*9: days.
8n @ordinaryA year in a l"nisolar calendar has %- months a leap year has %9 months.
8n @ordinaryA year in l"nisolar calendar has 9;9 9;* or 9;; days a leap year has 9=9 9=*
or 9=; days.
8n @ordinaryA year in solar calendar has 9&; days a leap year has 9&& days and occ"rs
e#ery * years hence the @a#erage yearA wo"ld ha#e 9&;.-; days.
8n @ordinaryA month in the solar calendar has a length of 9'.*%&: days a leap year has 9'.;
days to a month.
CHINESE SE#AENAR" C"CLE - $% "EAR C"CLE &Chinese' ( )in*in'
+,n-h./
also called $.5)(M8NC/ CYCJ. /.8?.NJY $T.5$ 8NK .8MT/JY
(M8NC/.$
The perception of time in China is cyclical; according to a pattern which repeats itself o#er
and o#er.
The Chinese name the years rather than co"nting them.
2n the $e+agenarian Circle the names of the years are repeated e#ery &' years.
,ithin each &')year cycle each year is assigned a name consisting of two components: one
name from a cycle of %' /ea#enly $temsDCelestial $tems and one name from a cycle of %-
.arthly (ranchesD Terrestrial (ranch.
Hea0enl* S1e2s &/
The first component of a yearAs name are the /ea#enly $tems representing the 1i#e
.lements (,ood 1ire .arth 5etal ,ater) in their d"al Yin ) Yang form:
/ea#enly $tem $tem name in Chinese in pinyin
%st hea#enly stem jia

ji
-nd hea#enly stem yi

y
9rd hea#enly stem bing

bng
*th hea#enly stem ding

dng
;th hea#enly stem wu

w
&th hea#enly stem ji

j
:th hea#enly stem geng

gng
=th hea#enly stem xin

xn
<th hea#enly stem ren

rn
%'th hea#enly stem gui

gu
Ear1hl* 3ranches &/
The second component of a yearAs name are the .arthly (ranches; associated and
corresponding with the twel#e signs of the Chinese 0odiac the @Twel#e 8nimalsA
a %-)year cycle "sed for dating the years.
The names of the .arthly (ranches are:
.arthly (ranch (ranch name in Chinese in pinyin
related Lodiac
sign
%st earthly branch zi

z Mat
-nd earthly branch chou
!
chu >+
9rd earthly branch yin
"
yn Tiger
*th earthly branch mao
#
mo Mabbit
;th earthly branch chen
$
chn Kragon
&th earthly branch si
%
s $na6e
:th earthly branch wu
&
w /orse
=th earthly branch wei
'
wi Mam
<th earthly branch shen
(
shn 5on6ey
%'th earthly branch you
)
yu Mooster
%%th earthly branch xu
*
x Kog
%-th earthly branch hai
+
hi Big
.ach of the abo#e two components is "sed se3"entially.
The %st year of a &' year cycle wo"ld be named 7ia) 0i.
The -nd year of a &' year cycle wo"ld be named yi)cho".
The 9rd year of a &' year cycle wo"ld be named bing) yin.
,hen reaching the end of one component the en"meration of this component will be
started again. This proced"re is #alid for the Celestial $ystem as well as for the Terrestrial
(ranch.
The %%th year of a &' year cycle wo"ld be named 7ia)+" (restarting the Celestial $tem).
The %-th year of a &' year cycle wo"ld be named yi)hai.
The %9th year of a &' year cycle wo"ld be named bing)0i (restarting the Terrestrial (ranch).
The &'th year of a &' year cycle wo"ld be named g"i)hai.
$ince the n"mbers %' (CelestialD /ea#enly $tems) and %- (TerrestrialD.arthly (ranches)
ha#e a common factor of - only %D- of the %-' possible stem)branch combinations act"ally
occ"r.
The res"lting &')year cycle ta6es the name 7ia) 0i after the initial year in the cycle being
the /ea#enly $tem of @7iaA and .arthly (ranch of @0iA translating into @a f"ll span of lifeA.
The /ea#enly $tems are associated with the d"ality of yin (odd n"mber in the end of a
Pregorian Calendar) and yang (e#en n"mber in the end of an Pregorian Calendar) and the
1i#e .lements.
CycleAs proced"re:
Pregorian year ends in ' ) yang 5etal
Pregorian year ends in % ) yin 5etal
Pregorian year ends in - ) yang ,ater
Pregorian year ends in 9 ) yin ,ater
Pregorian year ends in * ) yang ,ood
Pregorian year ends in ; ) yin ,ood
Pregorian year ends in & ) yang 1ire
Pregorian year ends in : ) yin 1ire
Pregorian year ends in = ) yang .arth
Pregorian year ends in < ) yin .arth
The .arthly (ranches are associated with the twel#e signs of the Chinese Lodiac 6nown as
the @Twel#e 8nimalsA.
This combination of ; elements Y %- animals creates the &')year cycle which always starts
with ,ood Mat and ends with ,ater Big. $ince the 0odiac animal cycle of %- is di#isible by
two e#ery 0odiac sign can also only occ"r in either Yin or Yang: the sna6e is always yin
the horse is always yang etc.
"ear o4 3ir1h and 1he T5el0e Ani2al Si+n'
Years from %<-* ) %<:%
8nimal Year
/ea#enly
$tem
Year
/ea#enly
$tem
Year
/ea#enly
$tem
Year /ea#enly $tem
Mat %<-* (yang ,ood) %<9& (yang 1ire) %<*= (yang .arth) %<&' (yang 5etal)
>+ %<-; (yin ,ood) %<9: (yin 1ire) %<*< (yin .arth) %<&% (yin 5etal)
Tiger %<-& (yang 1ire) %<9= (yang .arth) %<;' (yang 5etal) %<&- (yang ,ater)
Mabbit %<-: (yin 1ire) %<9< (yin .arth) %<;% (yin 5etal) %<&9 (yin ,ater)
Kragon %<-= (yang .arth) %<*' (yang 5etal) %<;- (yang ,ater) %<&* (yang ,ood)
$na6e %<-< (yin .arth) %<*% (yin 5etal) %<;9 (yin ,ater) %<&; (yin ,ood)
/orse %<9' (yang 5etal) %<*- (yang ,ater) %<;* (yang ,ood) %<&& (yang 1ire)
Mam %<9% (yin 5etal) %<*9 (yin ,ater) %<;; (yin ,ood) %<&: (yin 1ire)
5on6ey %<9- (yang ,ater) %<** (yang ,ood) %<;& (yang 1ire) %<&= (yang .arth)
Mooster %<99 (yin ,ater) %<*; (yin ,ood) %<;: (yin 1ire) %<&< (yin .arth)
Kog %<9* (yang ,ood) %<*& (yang 1ire) %<;= (yang .arth) %<:' (yang 5etal)
Big %<9; (yin ,ood) %<*: (yin 1ire) %<;< (yin .arth) %<:% (yin 5etal)
Years from %<:- ) -'9%
8nimal Year
/ea#.
$tem
Year
/ea#.
$tem
Year
/ea#.
$tem
Year
/ea#.
$tem
Year
/ea#.
$tem
Mat %<:-
(yang
,ater)
%<=*
(yang
,ood)
%<<
&
(yang 1ire)
-''
=
(yang
.arth)
-'-
'
(yang
5etal)
>+ %<:9
(yin
,ater)
%<=;
(yin
,ood)
%<<
:
(yin 1ire)
-''
<
(yin .arth)
-'-
%
(yin 5etal)
Tiger %<:*
(yang
,ood)
%<=& (yang 1ire)
%<<
=
(yang
.arth)
-'%
'
(yang
5etal)
-'-
-
(yang
,ater)
Mabbit %<:;
(yin
,ood)
%<=: (yin 1ire)
%<<
<
(yin .arth)
-'%
%
(yin 5etal)
-'-
9
(yin
,ater)
Kragon %<:& (yang 1ire) %<==
(yang
.arth)
-''
'
(yang
5etal)
-'%
-
(yang
,ater)
-'-
*
(yang
,ood)
$na6e %<:: (yin 1ire) %<=< (yin .arth)
-''
%
(yin 5etal)
-'%
9
(yin
,ater)
-'-
;
(yin
,ood)
/orse %<:=
(yang
.arth)
%<<'
(yang
5etal)
-''
-
(yang
,ater)
-'%
*
(yang
,ood)
-'-
&
(yang 1ire)
Mam %<:< (yin .arth) %<<% (yin 5etal)
-''
9
(yin water)
-'%
;
(yin
,ood)
-'-
:
(yin 1ire)
5on6ey %<='
(yang
5etal)
%<<-
(yang
,ater)
-''
*
(yang
,ood)
-'%
&
(yang 1ire)
-'-
=
(yang
.arth)
Mooster %<=% (yin 5etal) %<<9
(yin
,ater)
-''
;
(yin
,ood)
-'%
:
(yin 1ire)
-'-
<
(yin .arth)
Kog %<=-
(yang
,ater)
%<<*
(yang
,ood)
-''
&
(yang 1ire)
-'%
=
(yang
.arth)
-'9
'
(yang
5etal)
Big %<=9
(yin
,ater)
%<<;
(yin
,ood)
-''
:
(yin 1ire)
-'%
<
(yang
.arth)
-'9
%
(yin 5etal)
.+ample: 8 person born in the year %<:= wo"ld be born according to abo#e chart of the
.arthly (raches in the year of the Z/orseZ and as per /ea#enly $tem with the element
ZYang .arthZ. That person wo"ld be characteri0ed as Z.arth /orseZ.
Note: Chinese New Year is celebrated on the second new moon after the winter solstice
between 4an"ary and 1ebr"ary hence it is not the New Year celebrated 4an"ary %st as per
Pregorian Calendar.
/istorically the calendar was sponsored by the .mperor. Not only did a calendar ser#e
practical needs in agric"lt"re as in when to plant to recei#e the best res"lts b"t e#en more
did the calender show the connection between the /ea#en and the 2mperial Co"rt. (Yellow
.mperor -&<= (.C...). 8n emperorAs accession co"ld mar6 a new era (hence the name
span of life[) as well as an emperor co"ld declare a new era within his reign based on
special e#ents. Keclaring a new era was considered to re)strengthen the connection between
/ea#en and .arthD .mperor.
The brea6 might be re#ealed by the death of an emperor the occ"rrence of a nat"ral
disaster or the fail"re of astronomers to predict a celestial e#ent s"ch as an eclipse.
/istorical dates were normally gi#en as a combination of: dynasty name \ reign name \
year within the reign (co"nted from the first l"nar new year in the reign) \ l"nar month \
day of that month.
ANIMALS O6 THE ZODIAC AND THEIR ASSOCIATIONS
The Chinese 0odiac refers to a p"re calendrical cycle; there are no e3"i#alent constellations
li6e those of the occidental 0odiac.
The Chinese 0odiac based on p"re calendrical cycles is only "sed to name the years and
not to co"nt them repeating itself contin"o"sly.
The Chinese belie#e that the r"ling animal of e#ery year mo"lds the personality traits of
persons born in that year. /owe#er in proper Chinese astrology not only the year
(characteri0ing how one presents oneself hence how others #iew one) b"t the month
(characteri0ing the inner animal of a person showing oneCs moti#ation) day (characteri0ing
the secret animal of a person showing oneAs tr"est representation) ha#e to be ta6en into
acco"nt. ,hile describing a personAs personality and fate the position of the ma7or planets
(see 1i#e .lements) as well as the position of the $"n the 5oon and comets ha#e to be
considered as well.
The Yin or Yang is bro6en down into 1i#e .lements on top of the cycle of animals. These
are modifiers and affect the characteristics of each of the %- animal signs. /ence each of
the %- animals are go#erned by an element pl"s a Yin) Yang Kirection. The balance of Yin
and Yang and the 1i#e .lements in a personCs ma6e)"p has a ma7or bearing on what is
beneficial and effecti#e for them in terms of 1eng $h"i. This is beca"se each element is
lin6ed to a partic"lar direction and season and their different 6inds of life force energy
(Chi).
,ood go#erns the Tiger Mabbit (wea6est wood) and Kragon (strongest wood).
1ire go#erns the $na6e /orse (strongest fire) and Mam (wea6est fire).
.arth go#erns Kragon Mat and >+. 2t is the central balance of the elements and can lend
3"alities to all %- animals as well.
5etal go#erns the 5on6ey (strongest metal) Mooster and Kog (wea6est metal).
,ater go#erns the Mat (strongest water) >+ and Big (wea6est water).
DESCRIPTIONS O6 THE 78 "EARL" SINS &Chin9' ,- - sh:;<rsh=n+>i?o/
2n the Chinese Lodiac each of the %- animals has a different characteristic and represents a
different personality. (elow a brief list of ascpects.
RAT (. ) shR)
(as abo#e mentioned: Yang %st trine (see below) fi+ed .lement ,ater): 1orthright
disciplined systematic metic"lo"s charismatic hard wor6ing ind"strio"s charming
elo3"ent sociable and shrewd. Can be manip"lati#e cr"el dictatorial rigid selfish
obstinate critical o#er)ambitio"s r"thless intolerant and scheming.
O# (/ ) ni])
(as abo#e mentioned: Yin -nd trine fi+ed .lement ,ater): Kependable calm methodical
patient hardwor6ing ambitio"s con#entional steady modest logical resol"te and
tenacio"s. Can be st"bborn narrow)minded materialistic rigid demanding dependable
and calm.
TIER (0 ) hR)
(as abo#e mentioned: Yang 9rd trine fi+ed .lement ,ood): Xnpredictable rebellio"s
colo"rf"l powerf"l passionate daring imp"lsi#e #igoro"s stim"lating sincere
affectionate h"manitarian and genero"s. Can be restless rec6less impatient 3"ic6)
tempered obstinate selfish and can be #iewed with fear and respect.
RA33IT (1 ) tS)
(as abo#e mentioned: Yin *th trine fi+ed .lement ,ood): Pracio"s tho"ghtf"l reser#ed
6ind sensiti#e soft)spo6en retrospecti#e amiable elegant reser#ed ca"tio"s artistic
thoro"gh tender self)ass"red ast"te compassionate and fle+ible. Can be moody detached
s"perficial self)ind"lgent opport"nistic and la0y.
DRAON (2 ) lng)
(as abo#e mentioned: Yang %st trine fi+ed .lement ,ood): 5agnanimo"s strong
#igoro"s self)ass"red pro"d direct harmonic eager 0ealo"s fiery passionate decisi#e
pioneering ambitio"s genero"s loyal and healthy. Can be arrogant tyrannical demanding
eccentric dogmatic o#er)bearing impet"o"s and brash.
SNA@E (3 ) shE)
(serpent)) (as abo#e mentioned: Yin -nd trine fi+ed .lement 1ire): .nigmatic is a deep
thin6er wise mystic gracef"l soft)spo6en sens"al creati#e pr"dent shrewd ambitio"s
elegant ca"tio"s responsible calm strong constant and p"rposef"l. Can be a loner bad
comm"nicator is possessi#e hedonistic self)do"bting distr"stf"l and mendacio"s.
HORSE (4 ) m^)
(as abo#e mentioned: Yang 9rd trine fi+ed .lement 1ire): Cheerf"l independent liberty
(gi#ing and ta6ing) determined pop"lar 3"ic6)witted changeable earthy percepti#e
tal6ati#e agile mentally and physically magnetic intelligent ast"te fle+ible and open)
minded. Can be fic6le an+io"s r"de g"llible st"bborn lac6ing stability and perse#erance.
RAM (5 ) y_ng)
(as abo#e mentioned: Yin *th trine fi+ed .lement 1ire): Mighteo"s artistic sincere
sympathetic mild)mannered shy creati#e gentle compassionate "nderstanding
mothering determined peacef"l genero"s and see6s sec"rity. Can be moody indecisi#e
o#er)passi#e pessimistic o#er)sensiti#e a worrier and complainer.
MON@E" (6 ) h")
(as abo#e mentioned: Yang %st trine fi+ed .lement 5etal): 2n#enting moti#ating
impro#ising problem sol#ing 3"ic6)witted in3"isiti#e fle+ible inno#ati#e 7"st self)
ass"red sociable polite dignified competiti#e ob7ecti#e fact"al and intellect"al. Can be
egotistical #ain selfish c"nning 7ealo"s and s"spicio"s.
ROOSTER (7 ) 7T)
(Bhoeni+)) (as abo#e mentioned: Yin-nd trine fi+ed .lement 5etal): 8c"te neat
metic"lo"s organi0ed self)ass"red decisi#e conser#ati#e critical alert 0ealo"s practical
scientific responsible and a perfectionist. Can be o#er 0ealo"s and critical p"ritanical
egotistical abrasi#e and opinionated.
DO (8 ) g`")
(as abo#e mentioned: Yang 9rd trine fi+ed .lement 5etal): /onest intelligent
straightforward obedient responsible loyal attracti#e amiable "npretentio"s sociable
open)minded idealistic moralistic practical affectionate dogged and has a sense of 7"stice
and fair play. Can be cynical la0y cold 7"dgmental pessimistic worrier st"bborn and
3"arrelsome.
PI (9 ) 0ha)
(as abo#e mentioned: Yin *th trine fi+ed .lement ,ater): /onest simple gallant st"rdy
sociable peace)lo#ing patient loyal hard)wor6ing tr"sting fertile sincere calm
"nderstanding tho"ghtf"l scr"p"lo"s passionate and intelligent. Can be nai#e o#er)
reliant self)ind"lgent g"llible fatalistic and materialistic.
N>T.: 8 trine is an astrological aspect formed when a planet point or other celestial body
is %-' degrees away from another planet point or celestial body.
LEENDS A3OUT THE ZODIAC ANIMALS AND NAMIN O6 THE C"CLES
8s legends are they #ary and are often @recomposedA as they are told.
8s for the storyAs beginning of how the animals signs for the Chinese Lodiac were chosen
the legends differ tho"gh the main part seems to be the same. /ere are a few of them:
%. 8ccording to the Chinese legend ("ddha s"mmoned all the animals to him before he
departed from .arth. Twel#e animals arri#ed as a sign of obedience. 2n t"rn ("ddha
rewarded them by naming the years after them in the order in which they arri#ed.
-. 8ccording to the Chinese legend ("ddha s"mmoned all the animals to him as6ing for
the animalsC help in naming the cycles of years.
Jegend has it that the animals heard that the first one to swim across and reach the other
ban6 of a ri#er wo"ld head the cycle of years.
The animals assembled on one ban6 of the ri#er and happily splashed into the ri#er to be
the first one to swim across to the other ban6 so as to ha#e the first year of the animal cycle
named after it. The rat being cle#er "n6nown to the >+ 7"mped on his bac6 and 7"st as the
>+ was abo"t to 7"mp ashore the rat 7"mped off his bac6 and won the race while the pig
being e+tremely la0y and sl"ggish ended "p last. That is the reason for the Mat being the
first year of the animal cycle and the Big last.
(as for the naming of the other %' month read below...)
9. The 4ade .mperor who had r"led /ea#en and .arth wisley had ne#er fo"nd time to
#isit the .arth and did not 6now what the creat"res loo6ed li6e. /ence he in#ited the
animals for a ban3"et in order to help him decide which animal sho"ld be represented in the
Chinese Lodiac (or as another legend goes the 4ade .mperor was so pleased by the
animals that he decided to name the years after each one).
2n order to reach the 4ade .mperorAs palace the tas6 for the animals was to cross a ri#er.
,hiche#er animal wo"ld reach the opposite ri#er ban6 first wo"ld be granted a 0odiac
sign. $o all the animals gathered at the ri#er ban6.
The cat and the rat were the worst swimmers in the animal 6ingdom. 8ltho"gh bad
swimmers they were both intelligent. They decided that the best and fastest way to cross
the ri#er was to hop on the bac6 of the o+. The o+ being a nab#e and good)nat"red animal
agreed to carry them across. /owe#er o#ercome with a fierce competiti#eness the rat
decided that in order to win it m"st do something and promptly p"shed the cat into the
ri#er. (eca"se of this the cat has ne#er forgi#en the rat swearing to be its worst enemy for
ages to come and hates the water as well. 8fter the o+ had crossed the ri#er the rat 7"mped
ahead and reached the shore first and it claimed first place in the competition.
1ollowing closely behind was the strong o+ and it was named the -nd animal in the 0odiac.
8fter the o+ came the tiger panting while e+plaining to the .mperor 7"st how diffic"lt it
was to cross the ri#er with the hea#y c"rrents p"shing it downstream all the time. ("t with
powerf"l strength it made to shore and was named the 9rd animal in the cycle.
$"ddenly from a distance came a th"mping so"nd and the rabbit arri#ed. 2t e+plained how
it crossed the ri#er: by 7"mping from one stone to another in a nimble fashion. /alfway
thro"gh it almost lost the race b"t the rabbit was l"c6y eno"gh to grab hold of a floating
log that later washed him to shore. 1or that it became the *th animal in the 0odiac cycle.
Coming in ;th place was the dragon flying and belching fire into the air. >f co"rse the
.mperor was deeply c"rio"s as to why a strong and flying creat"re s"ch as the dragon
sho"ld fail to reach first. The mighty dragon e+plained that he had to stop and ma6e rain to
help all the people and creat"res of the earth and therefore he was held bac6 a little. Then
on his way to the finish line he saw a little helpless rabbit clinging on to a log so he did a
good deed and ga#e a p"ff of breath to the poor creat"re so that it co"ld land on the shore.
The .mperor was #ery pleased with the actions of the dragon and he was added into the
0odiac cycle.
8s soon as the .mperor had done so a galloping so"nd was heard and the horse appeared.
/idden on the horseCs hoof is the sna6e whose s"dden appearance ga#e the horse a fright
th"s ma6ing it fall bac6 and ga#e the sna6e &th spot while the horse too6 the :th.
Not long after that a little distance away the ram mon6ey and rooster came to the shore.
These three creat"res helped each other to get to where they were. The rooster spotted a
raft and too6 the other two animals with it. Together the ram and the mon6ey cleared the
weeds t"gged and p"lled and finally got the raft to the shore. (eca"se of their combined
efforts the .mperor was #ery pleased and promptly named the ram as the =th creat"re the
mon6ey as the <th and the rooster the %'th.
The %%th animal is the dog. /is e+planation for being latecaltho"gh he was s"pposed to be
the best swimmer amongst the restcwas that he needed a good bath after a long spell and
the fresh water from the ri#er was too big a temptation. 1or that he almost didnCt ma6e it to
finish line.
4"st as the .mperor was abo"t to call it a day an oin6 and s3"eal was heard from a little
pig. The pig got h"ngry d"ring the race promptly stopped for a feast and then fell asleep.
8fter the nap the pig contin"ed the race and was named the %-th and last animal of the
0odiac cycle.
The cat finished too late (thirteenth) to win any place in the calendar and #owed to be the
enemy of the rat fore#er.
>r according to a different #ersion of the legend the cat ne#er made it to the ri#er d"e to
happenings of the pre#io"s day. The cat being the most handsome of all animals as6ed his
friend the rat to wa6e him on the day they were to go to /ea#en so he wo"ldnCt o#ersleep.
The rat howe#er was worried that he wo"ld seem "gly compared to the cat so he didnCt
wa6e the cat. Conse3"ently the cat missed the meeting with the 4ade .mperor and hence
was not granted a place in the calendar.
$ee also: /istory of China
Co"ntry information: China d (h"tan d /ong Vong d 2ndia d 4apan d Vorea d 5ongolia d Nepal
d $ingapore d Taiwan d Tibet d Thailand d ?iet Nam
(ac6 to the inde+ of Chinese C"stoms and Traditions Plossary