The Chinese calendar has a entirely different way of dating as compared to the west. They follow a lunar calendar which shows a cycle of 12 years unlike the west where we use a linear calendar to show the time concept. As far as Zodiac calendar is concerned the Chinese use animal images to stand for each Zodiac sign.
You will discover that the functioning of Chinese calendar is absolutely opposite to that of western calendar. Western calendar is called solar calendar because it follows the sun whereas Chinese follow the moon's progress and is called lunar calendar. The Chinese New Year too starts around end of January and beginning of February.
The present day China even now stick to the lunar calendar for its traditional events and festivities though formally it had adopted the western calendar by 1911. To give an example the Chinese New Year is still celebrated as per the lunar calendar. The calendars which are printed in China today show both lunar and solar dates.
The cyclical theory of time developed a physical portrayal in the form of animals according to prevalent folklore. An animal was assigned to each year which would be the official symbol for that year. The twelve years have twelve distinct animals with their respective traits. Since the calendar is cyclical the same animal returns every twelve years.
You will observe that the Chinese animal signs representing character traits are not different from western monthly or daily horoscope. The dissimilarity lies in the yearly representation. It is believed that a person born in a particular year will take on the qualities of that animal which represents that year.
The Chinese zodiac symbols have another important meaning apart from the qualities of the person that they depict which at times may not be taken seriously.
Chinese lunar calendar is very useful in calculating the age of a person. Once you know the type of the animal to which the person belongs with a bit of intelligence and little mathematics this can be done.
As the Chinese legend goes once there was a fight between twelve animals to enforce some control over the cycle of years. Finally it was determined that there would be a race of the animals in which the animal to reach the opposite bank of the river would lead and the rest would follow as they finish. Thus the practice of representing each year with one animal sign came into being.
In the race the Ox took the lead and the rat rode on the Ox's back. As the Ox nearly reached the opposite bank, the rat being crafty jumped off the Ox's back on the bank and got the first place. So the rat leads the cycle of year till today with the ox being the second. The last is the pig to depict the last month.
You will discover that the functioning of Chinese calendar is absolutely opposite to that of western calendar. Western calendar is called solar calendar because it follows the sun whereas Chinese follow the moon's progress and is called lunar calendar. The Chinese New Year too starts around end of January and beginning of February.
The present day China even now stick to the lunar calendar for its traditional events and festivities though formally it had adopted the western calendar by 1911. To give an example the Chinese New Year is still celebrated as per the lunar calendar. The calendars which are printed in China today show both lunar and solar dates.
The cyclical theory of time developed a physical portrayal in the form of animals according to prevalent folklore. An animal was assigned to each year which would be the official symbol for that year. The twelve years have twelve distinct animals with their respective traits. Since the calendar is cyclical the same animal returns every twelve years.
You will observe that the Chinese animal signs representing character traits are not different from western monthly or daily horoscope. The dissimilarity lies in the yearly representation. It is believed that a person born in a particular year will take on the qualities of that animal which represents that year.
The Chinese zodiac symbols have another important meaning apart from the qualities of the person that they depict which at times may not be taken seriously.
Chinese lunar calendar is very useful in calculating the age of a person. Once you know the type of the animal to which the person belongs with a bit of intelligence and little mathematics this can be done.
As the Chinese legend goes once there was a fight between twelve animals to enforce some control over the cycle of years. Finally it was determined that there would be a race of the animals in which the animal to reach the opposite bank of the river would lead and the rest would follow as they finish. Thus the practice of representing each year with one animal sign came into being.
In the race the Ox took the lead and the rat rode on the Ox's back. As the Ox nearly reached the opposite bank, the rat being crafty jumped off the Ox's back on the bank and got the first place. So the rat leads the cycle of year till today with the ox being the second. The last is the pig to depict the last month.
About the Author:
Recent years have seen a resurgence in interest when it comes to Chinese zodiac symbols. If you would like to read more on Chinese name symbols click on the hyperlinks here.
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