What are Chinese Zodiacs?
       
           The Chinese animal signs are a 12 year cycle used for dating the years. They represent a cyclical concept of time, rather than the Western solar calendar. The Chinese lunar calendar is based on the cycles of the moon and is constructed in a different fashion than the western solar calendar. In the Chinese calendar, the beginning of the year falls somewhere between late January and early February. The Chinese have adopted the western calendar since 1911, but the lunar calendar is still used for the festive occasions such as the Chinese New Year. Many Chinese calendars will print both the solar dates and the lunar dates.
         


                                                         How the Zodiacs Evolved? (Legends/ myths)

              According to Chinese legend, the twelve animals quarreled one day as to who was to head the cycle of the years. The Gods were asked to decide and they held a contest: whoever was to reach the opposite bank of the river would be first and the rest of the animals would receive their years according to heir finish. All twelve animals gathered at the river bank and jumped in. Unknown to the ox, the rat had jumped upon his back. As the ox was about to jump ashore, the rat jumped off his back and won the race. The pig who was very lazy ended up last. That is why the rat is the first year of the animal cycle , the ox second, and the pig last. Another belief is that it came from Zoo theism. All of the 12 animals are closely related to humans. Half of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals live with humans: the ox, the sheep, the horse, the pig, the dog and the rooster. 5 are closely related to human life: the tiger, the rabbit, the monkey, the rat and the snake. And the last one is the dragon and is a spirit of China. Chinese believe that the world is made up and ruled by the five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. These effect the characteristics that each of the 12 animal's possess. They are governed by an element plus a Yin Yang direction.
                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                     Back to Home