The Chinese astrological calendar is lunisolar in nature and follows a 60-year
cycle. Within this cycle, there are two separate sub-cycles, which interact with
one another. The first sub-cycle comprises of the ten heavenly stems, namely the
Five Elements in their Yin and Yang forms. These elements are Wood, Fire, Earth,
Metal and Water. The second sub-cycle comprise of the twelve zodiac animal
signs, also known as the Earthly Branches.
These signs are rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, ram (sheep or
goat), monkey, rooster, dog, and pig (boar). The combination of five elements
with twelve animals (5 X 12) leads to the creation of the 60-year cycle. The
beginning of the cycle occurs with the Wood Rat, while the culmination takes
place with the Water Pig. The zodiac animal cycle of twelve is divisible by two
and because of this, every zodiac animal sign can occur only in one of the two
forms, yin or yang.
For example, a dragon is always yang and a snake is always yin. The current
astrological cycle of the Chinese year calendar started in the year 1984. While
calculating the form to which a particular sign belongs, one has to keep a
simple rule in mind. When the year ends in an even number, the form is yang,
while for the years ending in an odd number, the form is yin. The cycle proceeds
in the following way:
* For years ending with 0, it is Yang Metal.
* For years ending with 1, it is Yin Metal.
* For years ending with 2, it is Yang Water.
* For years ending with 3, it is Yin Water.
* For years ending with 4, it is Yang Wood.
* For years ending with 5, it is Yin Wood.
* For years ending with 6, it is Yang Fire.
* For years ending with 7, it is Yin Fire.
* For years ending with 8, it is Yang Earth.
* For years ending with 9, it is Yin Earth.
The switch over date in the Chinese astrological calendar is 4th February, not
1st January, like the Gregorian calendar. This is because of the fact that the
Chinese zodiac follows the Lunisolar Chinese calendar. Thus, a person who was
born in January or early February will have the sign of the previous year,
rather than the current year. On Chinese New Year, the celebrations of the start
of a new Zodiac accompany the festivities of numerous other customs. |
|
