Throughout the ages, Chinese astrology has been customarily used by billions of people in the Far East. According to historical data, Chinese astrology is recognized to have originated in the Han Dynasty (202 B.C. – A.D. 220).
The legend of Buddha
One Chinese New Year, more than five centuries before Christ, Buddha invited all the animals in creation to come before him. He promised to reward each appropriately with his all-powerful and miraculous generosity. However, most animals were too busy eating, sleeping, or coupling, so they did not heed Buddha’s call.
Yet 12 of the animals did go to him. They were the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. To thank them, Buddha offered each a year that would be dedicated to them alone. It would not only carry the animal’s name, but their specific psychological traits would also mark the personality of the people born during that year.
Thus a lunar cycle of 12 years was established in perfect sync with the emblems of the 12 animals. Each animal in the zodiac is associated with its own element — metal, wood, earth, water, or fire — while each year is also assigned an element. The combination of these two is said to define one’s personality.
The emperors
Emperor Hui Zong of the Song Dynasty was born in the Year of the Dog. Legend has it that he, therefore, issued an imperial decree banning the killing of dogs. Because Emperor Ren Zong of the Yuan Dynasty was born in the Year of the Rooster, he issued an imperial decree strictly forbidding anyone from carrying a chicken upside down. If anyone was found within the capital violating this law, he or she would be seriously punished without pity.
Emperor Wu Zong of the Ming Dynasty was born in the Year of the Pig. He was therefore against the slaughtering of pigs. In the year 1519, he issued a royal decree forbidding pigs to be raised and slaughtered. The punishment for anyone violating this law was that they would be jailed and put in isolation. However, the following year during the Qing Ming Festival, according to Chinese tradition, the emperor and the common people were required to sacrifice pigs to honor their ancestors. As there were no more pigs available to be sacrificed, the law was promptly abolished.
What animal are you?
It’s important to note that every sign is like a small world, completely independent of all the other signs. Try altering your mindset to a more Eastern way of thinking when studying the Chinese Zodiac. Instead of asking: “What can I have?” try asking: “Who can I be?”
Rat
Charming, sociable, creative, oversteps boundaries
Born: 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008
Ox
Strong-willed, leader, honest, patient, bad loser
Born: 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009
Tiger
Independent, generous, leader, tempestuous
Born: 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010
Rabbit
Sensitive, peacemakers, passive, detached
Born: 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011
Dragon
Proud, assertive, intelligent, pushy, intolerant
Born: 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012
Snake
Deep, complex, sophisticated, quick-tempered
Born: 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013
Horse
Popular, alert, honest freedom-loving, impulsive
Born: 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014
Sheep
Pure, kind, fair, persevering, defensive
Born : 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015
Monkey
Witty, clever, inventive, crafty, a bit of a tease
Born: 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016
Rooster
Flamboyant, hardworking, outspoken, quarrelsome
Born: 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017
Dog
Cheerful, dedicated, honest, loyal, alert, emotional
Born: 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018
Pig
Honest, kind, generous, funny, stubborn
Born: 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019
To find out your matching color based on the zodiac, click here. The Chinese Zodiac is a timeless mystery. It can be compared to “a dance of destiny,” with each animal mastering its own steps.
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Simone JonkerSimone Jonker worked in NTD Inspired for two years. She wrote light articles and inspiring stories.
