Understanding Chinese Astrology

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Fortune cookies are fun, but Chinese astrology is much more intricate and satisfying than any feel-good sentence on a piece of paper. For almost five thousand years, people have looked for guidance in this system, based on the movement of heavenly bodies, the Chinese calendar, and its cycle of animals.

Chinese astrologists focus on a person's birthday and birth hours in analyzing their fate and destiny. Yet for the most part, this type of astrology is used to uncover information about the lifestyle, character and emotional state of a person. Let's explore this timeless tradition, used every day by millions of people.



The use of Chinese astrology precedes 2637 BC, when it was officialized under the rule of Emperor Huang Ti. It emerged and developed alongside the Chinese writing system, and was soon conjoined with some tenets of Eastern philosophy, particularly the beliefs elaborated by Confucius, Lao-tse and the Yi Jing.

Yet the roots of Chinese astrology lie in astronomy. In China, the ancients didn't look at the sky in the same way that their Western counterparts did. Instead of 88 constellations, the Chinese had only 28, each with different names. Amid these constellations, five planets were seen as being of particular significance: Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, and Saturn. Each planet was said to represent a major element of life: metal (gold), wood, water, fire, and earth, respectively.

The way that the stars are laid out in relation to the sun, the moon, the comets, and the Chinese zodiac signs were said to determine the destiny of the person born under them. To understand this notion more clearly, the Chinese zodiac system requires some explanation.

buddha and the beasts

Legend has it that, at some point, Buddha came to the conclusion that China needed to be reorganized. On the occasion of the Chinese New Year, he requested that all the animals in the land assemble for a meeting. Only 12 animals showed up.

It is these 12 animals that make up the Chinese zodiac:

Rat

Buffalo

Tiger

Rabbit

Dragon

Snake

Horse

Sheep (or goat)

Monkey

Rooster

Dog

Pig

Although the cat was supposed to be there as well, the rat forgot to extend the invitation. They have been mortal enemies ever since.

At this meeting, Buddha decided that each year would belong to one of the animals present, and that everyone born within that year would see the character traits of the ruling animal within themselves.

Because this 12-year cycle is based on the Chinese lunar calendar, the switchover date for each sign usually falls in the period between mid-January and mid-February.

Find out if all those women were right when they called you a pig... Next Page >>