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As we understand astrology, there are twelve months and twelve signs, one for each, right? If you were born in a particular month, you belong to a particular sign. Simple? Not so in China. There, it is the year that is important, (of course, when you want to go into the details, then the latitude, longitude, hour, minute, and second also matters, but that's for later) and the Chinese year does not begin on 1 January.
Possibly, the ancient Chinese were trying to simplify the measurement of time. The average intelligent man-on-the-street could not fathom the complications of the 10 Heavenly Branches and 12 Earthly Ones to count the months, births, and deaths. Therefore, the pundits made it easier for all by naming each Earthly branch (or month) after an animal.
There are twelve animals in a particular order:
Rat,
Ox,
Tiger,
Rabbit,
Dragon,
Snake,
Horse,
Goat,
Monkey,
Rooster,
Dog, and
Pig.
Each year is named after one of them. When a cycle of twelve years is over, another begins. Each year also has an element attached to it: Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood. (Actually, these represent five planets whose positions determine what is going to happen to a person who is born under their individual influence.) There is a year of the Fire Rat, Fire Ox, Earth Tiger, etc., followed by a bunch of twelve years of Earth Rat, Earth Ox, Earth Tiger, and so on. A year-sign would ideally have two parts. A cycle that covers all animals and elements comprises sixty years that always begins with a Wood Rat and ends with a Water Pig. The measurement of time and its effect on human births was noted and then combined with other observations and philosophical inputs to evolve a "science of sorts" that could identify and classify human beings, or at least human nature. Each emblem or animal represents certain traits, frailties, and strengths.
Chinese astrology goes back over more than a thousand years before Christ. There may be overlaps in the traits mentioned, but the fact that it has survived for so long, and that it is still flourishing, is an indicator of its strengths.
Legends linked to its origins vary. One says that a bored king decided to call twelve animals to give him company. Another says the Buddha invited them. A common link in all the tales is that the rat made sure the cat did not get the chance to go to the party (they've been foes ever since) and isn't part of the gang of twelve. Another is that the Rat rode the Ox in almost all the tales.
The Yin (female) and Yang (male) aspects of the symbols are also taken into consideration in serious study. Yin is an odd number year and Yang is even. The Dragon is male and the Snake is female. The traits apply as much to either gender. Take a look-where do you fit?
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