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Chinese Horoscope has very long history that has been used for thousands years.
Chinese horoscopes (as it is known today) is the divination of the future from
the Chinese calendar, particularly its 12-year cycle of animals, referred to as
the Chinese Zodiac. This fortune-telling system is derived from the principle
characteristics of the system: the Zodiac, the five elements of Chinese thought, calendrical cycles based on astronomy, and ancient Chinese religion.
The Chinese Zodiac refers to a pure calendrical cycle: there are no equivalent
constellations like those of the occidental zodiac. In imperial times there were
astrologers who watched the sky for heavenly omens that would predict the future
of the state, but this was a quite different practice of divination than the
popular present-day methods.
The ancient Chinese astronomers called the five major planets by the names of
the element they were associated with: Venus corresponds to Metal (gold);
Jupiter to Wood; Mercury to Water; Mars to Fire; Saturn to Earth. It is said
that the position of these planets, along with the positions of the Sun, Moon,
any comets in the sky as well as time of birth and Zodiac Sign can determine a
person's destiny according to Chinese horoscope.
A laborious system of computing one's fate and destiny based on one's birthday
and birth hours (known as Zi Wei Dou Shu µµ·L¤æ¼Æ zǐwēidǒushù) is still used
regularly in modern day Chinese horoscope to divine one's fortune. The
twenty-eight Chinese constellations (±J xìu) are quite different from the
eighty-eight Western constellations. For example, the Big Bear (Ursa Major) is
known as ¤æ dǒu; the belt of Orion is known as °Ñ shen, or the "Happiness,
Fortune, Longevity" trio of demigods. The seven northern constellations are
referred to as xúanwǔ (¥ÈªZ). Xuan Wu is also known as the spirit of the northern
sky or the spirit of Water in Taoism belief.
In addition to astrological readings of the heavenly bodies, the stars in the
sky form the basis of many fairy tales. For example, the Summer Triangle is the
trio of the cowherd (Altair), the weaving maiden fairy (Vega) and the "tai bai"
fairy (Deneb). The two forbidden lovers were separated by the silvery river (the
Milky Way). Each year on the seventh day of the seventh month in the Chinese
calendar, the birds form a bridge across the Milky Way. The cowherd carries
their two sons (the two stars on each side of Altair) across the bridge to
reunite with their fairy mother. The tai bai fairy acts as the chaperone of
these two immortal lovers. See Qi Xi for more versions of this story.
The Yin or Yang is broken down into Five Elements (Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and
Earth) on top of the cycle of animals. These are modifiers and afflict the
characteristics of each of the 12 animal signs. Each element has features that
apply to both years and the animals. Each of the 12 animals are governed by an
element plus a Yin Yang Direction. They are divided into 4 groups.
The balance of yin and yang and the five elements in a person's make-up has a
major bearing on what is beneficial and effective for them in terms of feng shui,
the Chinese form of geomancy. This is because each element is linked to a
particular direction and season, and their different kinds of qì or life force.
Metal
* The West
* Autumn
* The Planet Venus
* The Color White
* Respiratory system & Lungs
* Determined, Self-reliant
* Unyielding, Strong
* Persistent, Forceful
* Sophistication, Enjoys comforts, pleasure
* Reserved, Needs Personal Space
Governs Rooster and Dog. These three signs form the Chinese Autumn season,
between 7 or 8 of August and 6 or 7 of November, approximately. The major "gods"
(heavenly stems) of these signs are geng (yang Metal), xin (yin Metal) and wei
(yang Earth) respectively.
Wood
* The East
* Spring
* The Planet Jupiter
* The Color Green
* Liver and gallbladder
* Generous, Warm
* Persuasive, Co-operative
* Seeks to Expand and Grow
* Idealistic, Ethical
* Enthusiastic, Seeks to Explore
'Governs' Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon
Water
* The North
* Winter
* The Planet Mercury
* The Color Black
* Skeletal/Excretory System & Lungs
* Diplomatic, Charming
* Intuitive, Compassionate
* Communication, Intellectual
* Sensitivity, Creative
* Flexible, Compliant
'Governs' Pig, Rat, Ox
Fire
* The South
* Summer
* The Planet Mars
* The Color Red
* Circulatory system & Heart
* Dynamic, Energetic
* Passion, Enterprise
* Adventurous, Restless
* Competitive, Leadership Skills
* Strong, Single-minded
'Governs' Snake, Horse, goat
Earth
* Center
* Three Enclosures, Change of seasons
* The Planet Saturn
* The Color Yellow
* Digestive system, Spleen and stomach
* Patient, Prudent
* Stable, Reliable
* Hard-working, Ambitious
* Disciplined, Logical
* Service and Duty to Others
'Governs' Dragon, Dog, Rat, and Ox. It is the central balance of the elements
and can lend qualities to all 12 animals as well.
Some websites denote the years by the colour and zodiac sign as opposed to
animal sign and element |
