Let’s take some time to analyze and think back on the last year as we get closer to the Lunar New Year. A method for ringing in the New Year would be to consider your zodiac sign.
The Chinese Zodiac is a 12-year cycle that runs continuously, with each animal standing in for each year. Certain traits are associated with each zodiac sign. Some characteristics, including health and romance, will “be influenced” by the upcoming year.
This has drawn the interest of many, leading to the widespread use of zodiac forecasts or readings in the neighborhood. Those of you who appear lost at this moment should not worry! We’ll give you a quick rundown of what the Chinese Zodiac contains.
The twelve signs are arranged in the following order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Each animal has distinctive qualities all its own.
Interestingly, the Jade Emperor wanted to choose 12 animals to serve as his guardians, which is how the Chinese Zodiac was born. He declared that the higher one’s rank, the earlier one arrived. As a result, the animals are said to have arrived in the zodiac signs in the sequence that we now know them. Well, all of this is prehistoric mythological history. Let’s get to the interesting bits now that we are aware of the Chinese Zodiac’s history.
The Chinese believe that the characteristics of each Chinese Zodiac animal are reflected in the personalities of those born during that particular zodiac year.
Experts would recommend the dos and don’ts for each zodiac sign for the upcoming year based on a variety of considerations. These lucky elements, which include lucky numbers, lucky colors, lucky flowers, and lucky directions, are thought to have an impact on various facets of one’s life. Additionally, experts would offer guidance on employment, income, health, and love. You can learn more by searching online, attending to a temple or even your local mall, where in-depth explanations are displayed with CNY displays.
Even though zodiac readings may foretell your luck and fortune for the upcoming year, the majority of outcomes are determined by the person’s daily activities and attitude. Everyone will still need to prioritize working hard and maintaining their health.
After saying all of this, we would want to wish everyone a prosperous and abundant new year. Happy New Year!
In This Article...
Why is the rat in the Chinese zodiac positioned first?
Regardless of how the rat ended up in the Chinese zodiac, being a part of the group has already altered its fate and increased the cultural connotations of the diminutive animal.
The rat’s zodiac sign stands for traits like intelligence, adaptability, and vitality. These attributes are also thought to be bestowed onto those born during the Year of the Rat. The rat was also given a personal touch in chivalrous spirit characters in various Chinese Kung Fu tales.
The animal has also been included in numerous poems, proverbs, and fairy tales, as well as in traditional Chinese paintings and monuments.
Their reputation isn’t always favorable though. Rats could also be viewed as clever, greedy, and devious in Chinese culture. The rodent is once more in the spotlight as the Year of the Rat draws near.
Keep watching CGTN as we continue to bring you information about the Spring Festival festivities so that you may get a fuller understanding of Chinese culture.
What is the structure of the Chinese Zodiac?
Undoubtedly among the oldest theories still practiced in China is astrology. While some estimated its age at over 3,000 years, recent research on more esoteric ideas places it much further back in the murky past of human history. Astrology has been employed since ancient China to forecast a variety of events, including the fate of nations, the outcome of battles, economic trends, and much more.
Chinese astrology is divided into 12 animal sign categories. According to a Chinese mythology, the semi-mythical Yellow Emperor created the animal signs in 2637 B.C. Another myth states that before leaving Earth, the Lord Buddha called all the animals to come to him. Only 12 animals showed up to say goodbye to him. He gave them each a year in the order of their arrival as a reward. Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig came first. We now have 12 signs as a result.
These 12 Animal Signs, each of which has a unique year in the cycle, are the basis of the Chinese horoscope. Your life is significantly impacted by the year of the animal that was ruling the world when you were born. This is the beast that lurks in your heart, as the Chinese proverb puts it.
THE PIG
Dedicated and brave with a strong sense of self. won’t back down from objectives. Quiet yet always knowledgeable. very few friends, but they are all lifelong, loving, and devoted. compatible with sheep and bunnies. If followed, the Pig’s instincts will pay off handsomely, and the remainder of the year portends good fortune and luck.
THE DOG
The best aspects of human nature are present in those who were born in the Year of the Dog. Because they know how to maintain secrets, they inspire others’ confidence, are deeply loyal, and are honest. However, Dog People tend to be selfish, incredibly stubborn, and odd. Despite having little interest in wealth, they always appear to have money. At parties, they can act distant and emotionally frigid. They are known for having a quick tongue and being able to find fault with many things. Leaders who are dog people do well. Those who were born in the Years of the Horse, Tiger, and Rabbit can get along with them.
THE ROOSTER
People who were born in the Year of the Rooster are intelligent, competent, and gifted. They enjoy keeping themselves occupied, are exceedingly dedicated, and are extremely upset if they fall short. People born in the year of the rooster are frequently a little odd and frequently have trouble getting along with other people. They typically believe they are correct, which they always do! They tend to be loners, and although appearing to be brave on the outside, they are actually shy. The emotions of Rooster people fluctuate greatly from high to low. They might be obstinate and egotistical, yet they can also be quite bold and constantly interesting. They work best with the animals Ox, Snake, and Dragon.
THE MONKEY
The unpredictable geniuses of the cycle are those born in the Year of the Monkey. They are incredibly innovative and original, skilled, flexible, and clever, and they can easily solve even the most challenging situations. Monkey people are often competent in most disciplines, but they have the unsettling tendency to be excessively agreeable. They want to get things done right away, but if they can’t, they feel frustrated and may abandon their tasks. Despite being adept in making decisions, they frequently despise others. Monkey individuals are sensible, have a strong drive for knowledge, and have great recollections. Although they have a strong will, monkey people lose their temper easily. They get along best with the Rat and Dragon.
Why is the Chinese calendar referred to as a cycle?
The zodiac is based on a sixty-year cycle, with each animal denoting a different year. The Chinese zodiac animals’ order was established by the lunar calendar.
The Chinese Zodiac changes every twelve years; why?
Chinese astrology holds that those who insult Tai Sui, the God of Age, during their zodiac year will be cursed by him. It is thought to only bring bad fortune. Because of this, those who follow Chinese astrology pay close attention to how they behave every twelve years of their lives, or in the years of their birth sign.
Why isn’t the cat in the zodiac?
The Cat replaces the Rabbit in the Chinese zodiac as the thirteenth animal emblem in the 12-year cycle of the Vietnamese and Gurung horoscopes. As a result, the Cat is said to possess the characteristics of the Rabbit. Rats and cats are at odds with each other.
The reasons why the cat wasn’t one of the twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac are frequently mentioned in legends about the order of the signs. Rat misled the cat into missing the feast with the Jade Emperor since the cat would not have been invited, would not have known the event was taking place, and would not have received a year, which is how the animosity between cats and rats started. It’s probable that when the Chinese zodiac was introduced, domestic cats had not yet spread throughout the country.
All the zodiac animals were traveling to the Jade Emperor, according to a different mythology known as “The Great Race.” The two creatures with the highest levels of intelligencethe Cat and the Ratalso happened to be the worst swimmers and happened upon a river. They both conned the kind, innocent ox into helping them by allowing them to cross the river on its back. The Rat, who was already the first sign of the zodiac, forced the Cat into the river as the Ox approached the other side of the river. The Rat then jumped off the Ox and raced to the Jade Emperor. The Cat was abandoned to perish in the river after being sabotaged by the Rat, while all the other animals made it to the Jade Emperor. This is considered to be another factor in cats’ constant pursuit of rats.
There are several theories as to why the Vietnamese, in contrast to all other nations that use the Sino lunar calendar, have the cat as their zodiac animal rather than the rabbit. The most popular theory is that the old term for “rabbit” (mao) sounds similar to “cat” (meo).
The catis it the thirteenth zodiac?
The Chinese zodiac is supposed to have been developed by the first Chinese monarch, Emperor Huangdi, in 2637 B.C., or the 14th century. During the North Zhou Dynasty, the zodiac rose to prominence as a means of determining a child’s birth year and is still widely used today. Based on Chinese astrology, the zodiac was used to tally calendar years, months, days, and even hours. There are 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac, one for each year.
Many people are aware of the history of the zodiac, but they are unaware that the cat was the 13th animal.
The majority of you are familiar with the legend, which states that the Jade Emperor once invited all of the animal kingdom to participate in a fantastic race. According to appearance, each of the first 12 animals to successfully cross the river would be given a Chinese zodiac sign and corresponding year. Each animal was eager and happy for the race to start as soon as word of it spread quickly. All the animals gathered on the riverbank the day of the race. The rat won the race, which seems unlikely given his small size and poor swimming ability, but he was intelligent and exploited his expertise to outperform each animal. The rat had persuaded the ox that their chances of winning the race would be improved if they cooperated. Because the ox was powerful, it pulled the rat all the way to the finish line. The rat leaped off the ox as they neared the finish line and was the first to cross it. The tiger was the next animal to cross the river, then the rabbit, the dragon, the horse, the goat, the monkey, and the rooster. The dog was the eleventh animal to cross the river, and the pig followed him.
This was accurate, but they had overlooked a crucial fact. You could perceive this narrative differently after learning this fact. The tale of the cat and the rat is told here.
The cat and mouse made the best of friends, the kind of friends who spend almost all of their free time together. Both were quite excited to hear about the massive race, and they immediately started making plans to cross the river. Cat asked his best friend the rat to wake him up when the race was about to start because he needed to take a short nap before the race started because it would probably require a lot of energy and effort. But the rat had just been focused on winning the race.
When the race was about to begin, the rat crept out quietly and went to the river’s edge rather than waking up his best friend the cat. The race was already done when cat woke up from his rejuvenating snooze, and his best friend rat had taken first place. The cat was simultaneously devastated and enraged, and he made a lifelong vow to hate rats. The cat chases the rat because of this.
Rat: The Chinese Zodiac sign of the Rat is known for its quick wit, charm, and sharpness. It was born in 2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, and 1960. They are generous and devoted to those who are regarded as members of its pack, have outstanding taste, and make good friends. Money-driven, prone to avarice, insatiably curious, open to learning, and motivated by challenges. compatible with either Monkey or Dragon.
Ox: 2009, 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961 the Ox is steady, sturdy, a goal-oriented leader, detail-oriented, hard-working, tenacious, serious, and introverted, however they occasionally experience feelings of loneliness and insecurity. Takes solace in loved ones, and is a dependable, robust, and protective companion. compatible with the Rooster or the Snake.
Tiger: 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962-Those with the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Tiger have great leadership characteristics, are charming, ambitious, brave, warm-hearted, and incredibly alluring. They are also gloomy, intense, and ready to pounce at any moment. suitable for either horses or dogs.
Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Rabbit love being surrounded by family and friends. Rabbit: 2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963. Popular, kind, and sincere, they like to stay out of arguments and are occasionally viewed as softies. Rabbits prefer spending time at home and having guests. suitable for a goat or pig.
Dragon: People born in the years 2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, and 1964 are enthusiastic and warm-hearted, charismatic, lucky in love, and egotistical. They are naturally born leaders who are skilled at delegating authority and taking the required actions to uphold their position of dominance. compatible with rats and monkeys.
Snake: 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965-Those with the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Snake are attractive, sociable, introverted, generous, charming, good with money, analytical, insecure, jealous, slightly dangerous, smart, they rely on gut instincts, are hard-working, and they are intelligent. appropriate for Rooster or Ox.
Horse: 2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966 Those with the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Horse enjoy having freedom to wander. They adore traveling, love, and intimacy. They are vivacious, resourceful, and independent. They have exceptional seduction skills, are quick-witted, impatient, and occasionally perceived as a drifter. suitable for the Tiger or the Dog.
Goat: 2015, 2003, 1991, 1979, 1967-
The Chinese animal represented by the sign of the goat likes to be alone themselves thinking. They are imaginative, free-thinkers, rovers, disorganized, anxious, and high-strung. They require a lot of love, encouragement, and assurance. Additionally, appearance matters. suitable with either pigs or rabbits.
Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Monkey thrive on having fun. Monkey: 2016, 2004, 1992, 1980, 1968. They lack self-control yet are lively, positive, and terrific listeners. They enjoy being active and stimulated, and they prioritize their own happiness over that of others. They have weak morals, are heartbreakers, and are bad at maintaining long-term relationships. suitable for Rat or Dragon
Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Rooster are realistic, resourceful, attentive, analytical, direct, trusting, honest, perfectionists, neat and conservative. compatible with Snake or Ox.
Dog: 2018, 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970-Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Dog tend to be sensitive, dogmatic, temperamental, loyal, honest, distrustful, and often guilty of speaking white lies. Dogs are great at business, but they struggle to find partners. suited to either the Tiger or the Horse.
Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Pig are incredibly pleasant, well-mannered, and tasteful. Pig: 2019, 2007, 1995, 1983, 1971. They are affluent perfectionists who don’t come out as snobs despite enjoying finer things. They enjoy being of service to others and make terrific friendsuntil someone close to them crosses them. They possess intelligence, a thirst for information, and exclusivity. compatible with goats or rabbits.
Which animals entered the zodiac race in what order?
Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig are the twelve Chinese zodiac signs. Each sign bears the name of an animal, and each animal is distinct in its own right. Find out your Chinese zodiac sign by entering your birthdate.
Why does the Chinese Zodiac place the Pig last?
The legends state that the Pig was the last to arrive when the Jade Emperor summoned the important gathering. According to other versions, Buddha convened a significant gathering as he prepared to depart from Earth. Last to come was The Pig.
According to legend, a small Pig let out an oink and squeak just as the emperor was ready to call it a day. This is where the phrase “lazy Pig” comes from since the Pig became hungry during the race, immediately stopped for a feast, and then passed out. The Pig resumed the race after taking a nap, and was thus dubbed the cycle’s last and 12th animal.
Other versions claim that because of his incredibly strong build, he was either an ineffective swimmer who climbed up the wrong side of the river first or was simply too slow to defend himself from the other creatures.
The luckiest Chinese zodiac is…
Rat is the first animal among the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac. Additionally, it is said to be the sign with the finest luckperhaps because the first one is always the best. Those who were born in the year of the rat will be fortunate. They will enjoy a happier and wealthier life by chance.
Born into wealthy homes, rats will receive financial support from their families to succeed in their jobs.
People who were born in the year of the rat are skilled at seizing opportunities to succeed in life. When they encounter challenges in their studies or employment, they will receive assistance from others.
Rat men typically have a great chance of finding a beautiful wife due to their intelligence and quick wit. Read more about the Rat’s 2022 horoscope.
What does 2021 mean in Chinese?
The Year of the Ox officially begins on February 12, 2021. Although you may be familiar with the Chinese 12-year zodiac calendar, which is symbolized by 12 different animals, in reality, it is far more intricate.