Chinese Zodiac

The Chinese lunar calendar is the oldest chronological record in history, dating from 2637 B.C. when the first cycle of the zodiac was introduced. One complete cycle takes 60 years and is made up of five simple cycles of 12 years each. The 78th cycle started on February 1984, and will end on February 2044. Twelve animals were assigned to each of the 12 years when, according to legend, the Lord Buddha summoned all the animals to come to him before he departed from Earth. Only twelve animals came to bid him farewell. As a reward he named a year after each one in the order that it arrived. First came the mouse, then the Ox, the Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. Thus, we have the twelve animal signs of today. The animal ruling the year in which you were born exercises a profound influence on your life. Chinese people say that this is the animal that hides in your heart.

The lunar year is divided into twelve months of 29 days. Every two and a half years, an intercalary month is added to adjust the calendar. The addition of this month every third year produces the Lunar Leap Year. For easy reference, the beginning of each lunar month is the date of the New Moon marked on the Western calendar. There is an interesting fact that happens on the first day of Spring, as indicated by the lunar calendar: a freshly laid egg can be made to stand erect on its base. Maybe you want to give it a try :o) ?? (In the Gregorian calendar, the first day of Spring always falls on the 4th or 5th day of February).
 

During the complete 60-year cycle each of the animal signs (sometimes also referred to as the twelve Earth branches) is combined with the five main elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. The element of your lunar sign will exercise their influence on your life.

Read more about our Chinese zodiacs on the NEXT page.

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Information is from Chinavoc.

Graphics are by me and from Country Patch Collections.