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Chinese Astrology

What is Chinese astrology?

Chinese friends and relatives remember events, birth years and birthdays according to the respective animal for that year. Matchmakers line up prospective spouses based on astrological compatibility charts. Auspicious dates are chosen to open businesses and get married based on Chinese astrology. Astrologers can make divinations according to the day, time of day, even from minutes. But what is it all about?

Chinese astrology and fortune telling have been practised for thousands of years the origins of the practice are hard to determine. The Chinese year is based on the lunar calendar and dates from over 2000 years BC - the time of the Yellow Emperor. Diviners practised their divinations by reading the cracked lines of tortoise shells or animal scapulas heated over fire to provide predictions for emperors. Once a writing system developed it merged with the philosophy of personages like Confucius, Lao Zi, and the Yi Jing (I Ching; The Book of Changes) and out of this grew the practice of fortune telling.

Why does Chinese New Year fall on different dates?

The first day of the first month of the lunar calendar - Chinese New Year is based on the Chinese calendar which follows the cycles of the moon. It falls on the second new moon after the Winter Solstice (the latter of which is based on the solar calendar; of course the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere is the Summer Solstice in our Southern Hemisphere). Therefore the date (solar calendar) of Chinese New Year can vary from 30 to 59 days after the solstice - from 21 January to 20 February. In a traditional agricultural society, seasons were very important. Chinese New Year which is also called Spring Festival heralds the arrival of spring. Ancient astronomers were able to break up the year into intervals shorter than seasons (about 15 days each) which was of great benefit to farmers.

Why is my sign a rooster (or a monkey), etc?

Some attribute the line of animals to Buddha who invited all of the animals to a meeting but only 12 animals came: the rat was first, the ox second, tiger third, and pig last; or in another rendition: he invited all the animals to swim over the Heavenly River and of the 12 animals who attempted it, they arrived in the order rat first and pig last. Buddha then gave each of the animals its own year as well as its own unique characteristics based on the nature of that animal, for example the diligent ox and the artistic goat. Another legend has a goddess inviting all of the earth's animals to farewell her as she left for the Heavens and only 12 turned up! A famous scholar, Chu Hsi (1130 - 1200), suggested that the order of animals comes from the hour of the day during which each is active: rat from 11 pm to 1 am (first); horses from 11 am to 1 pm (7th), and so on. There are other legends as well. By reading more about your sign, no doubt some of the traits will ring true.

Crackers, lanterns, action

Chinese people undertake various festivities and rituals around the Chinese New Year, in particular. Whether they are superstitious or not, most follow practices such as cleaning the house, wearing new clothes, visiting relatives, leaving offerings for various gods, giving bonuses to employees or shiny red envelopes with new notes to children. In China the most popular activity is to watch a New Year television spectacular - a huge variety show held on New Year's Eve.

The New Year festivities traditionally start with a family dinner on New Year's Eve and conclude with a lantern festival on the 15th day of the lunar new year when people make and hang up intricate lanterns. Nowadays, a seven-day new year holiday is granted throughout China. Chinese communities around the world celebrate with street festivals, concerts, and get togethers. Dragon and lion dancing, fireworks and crackers typically accompany the celebrations as the new year is welcomed. We hope you enjoy the action, wherever you are.

What sign am I?

If your birthday falls between 21 January and 20 February, you will need to check carefully as dates vary from year to year (as mentioned above). Dates below are inclusive.

FROM	TO	SIGN
14 February 2010	2 February 2011	Tiger
26 January 2009	13 February 2010	Ox
7 February 2008	25 January 2009	Rat
18 February 2007	6 February 2008	Pig
29 January 2006	17 February 2007	Dog
9 February 2005	28 January 2006	Rooster
22 January 2004	8 February 2005	Monkey
1 February 2003	21 January 2004	Goat (or Sheep)
12 February 2002	31 January 2003	Horse
24 January 2001	11 February 2002	Snake
5 February 2000	23 January 2001	Dragon
16 February 1999	4 February 2000	Rabbit
28 January 1998	15 February 1999	Tiger
7 February 1997	27 January 1998	Ox
19 February 1996	6 February 1997	Rat
31 January 1995	18 February 1996	Pig
10 February 1994	30 January 1995	Dog
23 January 1993	9 February 1994	Rooster
4 February 1992	22 January 1993	Monkey
15 February 1991	3 February 1992	Goat
27 January 1990	14 February 1991	Horse
6 February 1989	26 January 1990	Snake
17 February 1988	5 February 1989	Dragon
29 January 1987	16 February 1988	Rabbit
9 February 1986	28 January 1987	Tiger
20 February 1985	8 February 1986	Ox
2 February 1984	19 February 1985	Rat
13 February 1983	1 February 1984	Pig
25 January 1982	12 February 1983	Dog
5 February 1981	24 January 1982	Rooster
16 February 1980	4 February 1981	Monkey
28 January 1979	15 February 1980	Goat
7 February 1978	27 January 1979	Horse
18 February 1977	6 February 1978	Snake
31 January 1976	17 February 1977	Dragon
11 February 1975	30 January 1976	Rabbit
23 January 1974	10 February 1975	Tiger
3 February 1973	22 January 1974	Ox
15 February 1972	2 February 1973	Rat
27 January 1971	14 February 1972	Pig
6 February 1970	26 January 1971	Dog
17 February 1969	5 February 1970	Rooster
30 January 1968	16 February 1969	Monkey
9 February 1967	29 January 1968	Goat
21 January 1966	8 February 1967	Horse
2 February 1965	20 January 1966	Snake
13 February 1964	1 February 1965	Dragon
25 January 1963	12 February 1964	Rabbit
5 February 1962	24 January 1963	Tiger
15 February 1961	4 February 1962	Ox
28 January 1960	14 February 1961	Rat
8 February 1959	27 January 1960	Pig
18 February 1958	7 February 1959	Dog
31 January 1957	17 February 1958	Rooster
12 February 1956	30 January 1957	Monkey
24 January 1955	11 February 1956	Goat
3 February 1954	23 January 1955	Horse
14 February 1953	2 February 1954	Snake
27 January 1952	13 February 1953	Dragon
6 February 1951	26 January 1952	Rabbit
17 February 1950	5 February 1951	Tiger
29 January 1949	16 February 1950	Ox
10 February 1948	28 January 1949	Rat
22 January 1947	9 February 1948	Pig
2 February 1946	21 January 1947	Dog
13 February 1945	1 February 1946	Rooster
25 January 1944	12 February 1945	Monkey
5 February 1943	24 January 1944	Goat
15 February 1942	4 February 1943	Horse
27 January 1941	14 February 1942	Snake
8 February 1940	26 January 1941	Dragon
19 February 1939	7 February 1940	Rabbit
31 January 1938	18 February 1939	Tiger
11 February 1937	30 January 1938	Ox
24 January 1936	10 February 1937	Rat
4 February 1935	23 January 1936	Pig
14 February 1934	3 February 1935	Dog
26 January 1933	13 February 1934	Rooster
6 February 1932	25 January 1933	Monkey
17 February 1931	5 February 1932	Goat
30 January 1930	16 February 1931	Horse
10 Febraury 1929	29 January 1930	Snake
23 January 1928	9 February 1929	Dragon
2 February 1927	22 January 1928	Rabbit
13 February 1926	1 February 1927	Tiger
24 January 1925	12 February 1926	Ox
5 February 1924	23 January 1925	Rat
16 February 1923	4 February 1924	Pig
28 January 1922	15 February 1923	Dog
8 February 1921	27 January 1922	Rooster
20 February 1920	7 February 1921	Monkey
1 February 1919	19 February 1920	Goat
11 February 1918	31 January 1919	Horse

To find out more about this year:Year of the Tiger

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