Chapter 21
Introducing the Twelve Animals of the Chinese Zodiac
In This Chapter
A look at the Chinese Zodiac
The 12 animals and their compatibility
What’s your animal sign?
Personality profiles of each animal sign
You’re in a Chinese restaurant waiting for your food to arrive. What else is there to do but read your horoscope, which is printed on virtually every place mat? You can learn all kinds of things from the Chinese Zodiac. Under which of the 12 animal signs were you born? Are you a sociable but crafty rat, or a proud and unpredictable tiger? Perhaps you’re a nurturing and benevolent rabbit? Whatever your sign, your paper place mat will undoubtedly inform you which animals are your friends and which are your foes. You’ll also learn which creature rules the current year and how its sign affects your prospects.
So, what does Chinese astrology have to do with feng shui? Not a whole lot. But, a good feng shui practitioner will incorporate elements of Chinese astrology into his or her feng shui analysis. Things like determining compatibility, your lucky colors, and careers and environments best suited to you are best described using astrology.
This chapter will take an elementary look into the popular system of Chinese astrology. Recognize, however, that although the animal zodiac can provide cursory insights into your personality, it is rarely considered in more sophisticated systems of Chinese fate calculation (you’ll learn about one such method, The Four Pillars of Destiny, in Chapters 22 through 26). Nevertheless, it’s fun—even if it’s superficial. The character traits associated with your ming gua are more accurate. Please consult Chapter 8 for a reminder.
What Is the Chinese Zodiac?
Legend has it that just before entering Nirvana, Buddha (563–483 B.C.E.) summoned the animal kingdom. For some reason, only 12 animals answered his call. To reward the respondents, Buddha named a year after each animal in the order of its arrival. The rat arrived first, so it was honored with the first year. Then came the ox, followed by the tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. Thus, we have the 12 animals that make up the Chinese Zodiac.
But this is a legend. The truth is, no one really knows where the animal signs came from. Sima Qian (163–85 B.C.E.), considered to be one of the greatest scholars of the Han dynasty, and the Grand Astrologer to the emperor, never mentioned the animal cycle. Nor is it mentioned in the astronomical chapters of the Jin Shu, the history of the Jin dynasty (265–420 C.E). But, somehow, toward the end of the tenth century, the animal cycle was in full use. Interestingly, contemporary scholars agree its origins are probably not even Chinese. We’ll leave it up to the scholars to discover the true origins. Let’s move on.
Twelve Animals, Twelve Earthly Branches
Not one of the 12 animal signs represents a star or a constellation. Rather, the animals represent the movement of earthly qi expressed in cycles of time. Called the Twelve Earthly Branches, each of the 12 animal signs corresponds to a branch, or component, of 12 two-hour increments, 12 months, and 12 years.
Most Zodiac astrologers consider only the year, month, and hour of birth when determining a client’s astrological chart. But, what of the day you were born? Determining the day branch requires a series of mathematical calculations that is either ignored by, or not known by, astrologers who practice this system. As you’ll soon learn in Chapter 22, the Chinese believe we have eight components to our personality. If the day/animal branch is ignored, then this analysis will account for only three eighths, or less than half, of our overall makeup.
Wise Words
The Twelve Earthly Branches (Di Zhi) represent a cycle of the earth’s qi expressed by the year, the month, the day, and the time of day.
So, what purpose do the animals serve? The animal signs attached to each branch are merely mnemonics to aid learning the different types of qi and their associated natural and human phenomena.
Take the rat, for example. A nocturnal and social creature, the rat is an ideal emblem for yin’s midnight hour, for winter, and for north. The rat person is at his best at night and in a crowd. Directly opposite the rat is the horse, the emblem of noon, summer, and south. The horse symbolizes independence, passion, and masculinity—all characteristics of yang’s force at its highest. This gives added meaning to the steadfast Marlboro ads, doesn’t it?
Governing the earthly branches, or animal cycle, are the five phases of fire, earth, metal, water, and wood. Also, each branch corresponds to a yin and yang polarity. The following illustration shows the interplay of everything we’ve discussed so far.
Notice that the earth phase separates each of the other phase elements. This is because the qi represented by fire, metal, water, and wood returns to earth before transforming into another phase.
What’s Your Animal Sign?
Suppose that you’re a rooster. Are you a fire rooster, earth rooster, metal rooster, water rooster, or wood rooster? You could also be a fire rooster born in a water rat month, on an earth tiger day, at the time of the metal dragon. See, this stuff is a lot more complex than you thought! Even the experienced fortune-teller has much to consider. But learning to analyze each component of your destiny is beyond the scope of this chapter. We’ll leave that task to Chapters 22 through 26 about The Four Pillars of Destiny, a method of Chinese astrology. For our purposes here, we’ll concern ourselves with only your year sign.
The following table lists the Chinese solar years from 1924 to 2023, along with the exact time the year began. If you were born after the fifth of February, determining your sign is simple. However, if you were born on the third, fourth, or fifth day of February, the hour of your birth determines your Chinese birth year. Let’s say you were born at 3:30 P.M. on February 4, 1925. You would use 1924 as your year of birth because 1925 didn’t begin until 3:37 P.M. If you were born at 5:00 P.M. on February 4, 1925, then you would stay with 1925. Let’s take another example. If you were born at 7:00 A.M. on February 5, 1940, would you use 1940, the year of the Dragon, as your Chinese birth year? No. This is because 1940 didn’t actually begin until 7:08 A.M.—eight minutes after you were born. Your Chinese birth year would be 1939, the year of the Rabbit.
The question arises, why are we using the solar calendar instead of the lunar calendar to mark the beginning of the year? While traditionally, Chinese New Year (which can occur variously on a date in late January through mid-February) marks the change in animal sign, scholars and serious students of feng shui and The Four Pillars of Destiny consider the beginning of spring as the new year.
Feng Facts
The Chinese solar year begins variously on February 3, 4, or 5. It is the midpoint between the Winter Solstice (the day when daylight is at its minimum) and Spring Equinox (one of two days when day and night are of equal length). The solar calendar is based on the rotation of the earth on its axis (the solar day) and the revolution of the Earth around the sun (the solar year). The ancients also measured the interval between the successive full moons, the lunar months.
Considered individually, it takes 60 years for each phase’s sign to reappear (5 phases ¥ 12 branch animals = 60 years). The last complete cycle began in 1924 (the year of the wood rat), and ended in 1983 (the year of the water pig). The year 1984 ushered in a new cycle of 60 years, which will end in 2043.
Who Are Your Friends?
Many Chinese wouldn’t think of proceeding with a ceremony, partnership, or anything else of importance without first seeking guidance from an astrologer. As a cursory check for compatibility, you, too, can determine the auspiciousness of a relationship.
The signs that form a triangle are considered your most harmonious relationships (see the preceding figure). The rat-dragon-monkey are the best of friends, as are the ox-snake-rooster, the tiger-horse-dog, and the rabbit-sheep-pig. Upon closer examination, you’ll notice each sign is four away from its compatible partner.
If you have some time on your hands, jot down the birth dates of your best friends and family members. You’ll find that your affinity for your loved ones is more than a coincidence.
Who Are Your Foes?
For every two allies, you have one dangerous rival. You can determine yours by locating the animal directly opposite your sign. These are inauspicious relationships resulting in conflict, tension, and even disaster.
The animal signs that do not appear opposite each other and are not part of an affinity triad are considered compatible to varying degrees.
Good Year/Bad Year
To check whether the current year is auspicious for you—or whether the upcoming year will be—simply compare your phase sign to the year in question. For example, 2005 marks the year of the wood rooster. If your element is the same as, or productive to, wood and your animal sign is compatible with a rooster, then 2005 will not feature unfavorable qi for you. But remember, this is a generality. Your year branch represents only one eighth of your personality.
Feng Alert
If you’re wondering why the phase associated with your personal trigram is different than the phase assigned to your animal sign, there is a reason. The personal trigram represents the East or West Group to which you belong. The phase is the phase of the group, not the individual. The phase associated with your animal sign denotes the year of birth. However, the year phase also does not represent the individual. As you’ll learn in the next chapter, the phase associated with the day stem characterizes a person.
Personality Profiles
Unlike other systems of Chinese fortune-telling in which prediction and precautionary measures are the cornerstones, the system of the animal zodiac offers nothing more than general characteristics shared by people born under a specific sign. In the following sections, we’ll discuss the aspects of each of the 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac.
The Industrious Rat
Famous Rats: William Shakespeare, Mozart, George Washington, Mata Hari, Jimmy Carter, Prince Charles, Doris Day, Sidney Poitier, Peggy Fleming, Sean Penn
Everyone loves a rat. Charming, social, and quick-witted, those born during a rat year are generally popular people. Always on the move, rats find safety in numbers, giving credence to the phrases “the rat race” and “the rat pack.” Rats also have good business acumen. Self-motivated, detail-oriented, hard-working, and overambitious, rats are able to accumulate wealth effortlessly. Their thrifty nature and shrewdness pays off during a recession. If you have a rat boss—beware! You’ll have to do a lot of negotiating to make this rat part with his reserves. Rat women make excellent wives and mothers. Budgeting, bargaining, delegating duties, and organizing hoards of stuff are her best qualities. Negatively, the rat person loves to gossip and criticize. He is often self-obsessed and greedy.
The Methodical Ox
Famous Oxen: Walt Disney, Emperor Hirohito, Richard Nixon, Vincent van Gogh, Margaret Thatcher, Robert Redford, Dustin Hoffman, Adolf Hitler, Charlie Chaplin, Saddam Hussein
The ox person succeeds by his own merits. Hard working, logical, meticulous, and tenacious, the ox can be trusted to get the job done. By nature, he is methodical, sticking to routines and tradition. It’s almost impossible to get the ox to budge. His rigidity and militant style often result in an unapproachable and intimidating manner. At home, the ox man is the disciplinarian, the decision maker, and the rule setter. Disobeying an ox is cause for a rampage. Stay clear if he charges you! But, he is an excellent provider, and his family will never do without. An ox wife excels on the job and in her domestic duties. The bills are paid; the checkbook is balanced; the dinner is made; the shirts are ironed; and the kids are tucked in. Although the ox lacks a sense of humor, his affairs governed by his head rather than his heart, he is an intensely loyal creature.
The Unpredictable Tiger
Famous Tigers: Beethoven, Ho Chi Minh, Queen Elizabeth II, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Hugh Hefner, Marilyn Monroe, Rudolf Nureyev, Stevie Wonder, Jodie Foster, Tom Cruise
Tigers are romantic, charismatic, and independent. They’re also fiercely adventurous, moody, impulsive, and reckless. An ardent optimist, tigers live life to the fullest and on their terms! Although he gives 110 percent to whatever catches his attention at that moment, he is notoriously unreliable. The tiger man is brash, rash, and extremely possessive. If he sees you with his lady, look out. The tiger woman is vain and indecisive. She is playful with her children, but enforces good behavior. In all, tigers are unpredictable creatures.
The Lucky Rabbit
Famous Rabbits: Albert Einstein, Orson Welles, John Dillinger, David Rockefeller, King Olav V of Norway, Jane Seymour, Nicholas Cage, Fidel Castro, Francis Ford Coppola, Sting
Rabbits are affable, even-tempered, and diplomatic. Known for their discriminating taste, rabbits are refined, cultured, and a bit snobbish! They thrive on fine wine, gourmet food, designer clothes, and stimulating conversation. In business, a rabbit is a deft negotiator. His good judgment, sound advice, and graciousness will move him up the career track—fast. Because he has few enemies, he rarely gets into trouble. Rabbits live by the Golden Rule and wouldn’t think of burning a bridge. Lady rabbits are kind, considerate, and caring, but superficial.
The Dynamic Dragon
Famous Dragons: Joan of Arc, John Lennon, Jimmy Connors, Salvador Dali, Shirley Temple Black, Fred (Mr.) Rogers, Al Pacino, Pee Wee Herman, Christopher Reeves, Robin Williams
Among the 12 animals, dragons are the most fortunate. In fact, they’re downright lucky! They’re energetic, self-assured, grandiose, and egocentric. Dragons are the doers of the world. They don’t sit around waiting for things to happen; they make them happen. You can always count on the no-nonsense dragon to take charge—and take risks. Their fiery enthusiasm and forceful nature rule. Dragons want things done their way. They demand perfection from themselves and from others. Even though the dragon must have the last word, he is quick to forgive. Holding grudges will slow him down. Although the dragon’s magnanimous spirit draws a crowd, he has few close friends.
Master Class
In China, the dragon is the guardian of wealth and power. It is the symbol of the emperor. This is why there is an abundance of dragon artifacts throughout China and ethnic Chinese communities worldwide. If you have a keen eye, you’ll notice that the dragon emblems used by the commoners have four claws on each paw. Only the emperor’s emblems depict a dragon with five claws.
The Wise Snake
Famous Snakes: Picasso, Mao Tse-tung, J. Paul Getty, Brooke Shields, John F. Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln, Ryan O’Neal, Jacqueline Onassis, Oprah Winfrey
Those born under the sign of the snake are governed by their innate wisdom and intuition. Snake people think a lot. They mull things over before forming an opinion. They’re intensely philosophical and make excellent listeners. Snake people are fast learners and will never make the same mistake twice. Highly skeptical and secretive creatures, snakes prefer to keep matters to themselves. They cherish their privacy, concealing their innermost wants and needs. Distrustful and somewhat unforgiving, they tend to be paranoid, even neurotic. Cross a snake, and you can be sure he’ll strike at you. Most of the world’s beautiful and powerful people are snakes.
The Independent Horse
Famous Horses: Rembrandt, Leonid Brezhnev, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt, Billy Graham, Laura Dern, Clint Eastwood, Roger Ebert, Paul McCartney, Barbra Streisand
A horse person loves freedom. Freedom to keep his own hours. Freedom from routine. And, freedom from anyone intending to rope him in. So, if you’re married to a horse, give him space, or he’ll bolt. Incredibly industrious and self-reliant, horses love a challenge. Horses tend to be show-offs and self-centered, and will compliment to get a compliment. Finances are never an issue. Horses are hard-working and creative. Also, they are very headstrong, quick-minded, and don’t tolerate those who are not “up to speed.” Able to do 10 things at once, the horse abhors idleness. Horses are poor savers, thinking of the now and not the future.
Feng Alert
For unknown reasons, the Chinese dread the year of the fire horse, believing that children born under this sign will bring disaster to the family. In 1966, it was reported that many Asians opted to abort, causing the birthrate to plummet. The year of the fire horse returns in 2026.
The Sensitive Sheep
Famous Sheep: Andy Warhol, Andrew Carnegie, Michelangelo, Bruce Willis, Barbara Walters, Julia Roberts, John Wayne, Malcolm Forbes, Dan Rather, Robert DeNiro
Ultra-sensitive, altruistic, compliant, sincere, gentle: This is a sheep. Although they make excellent sounding boards, don’t expect the sheep to help you solve your dilemma. They’re there to listen only! Prone to stress and depression, sheep prefer tranquil environments. At their worst, sheep can be pessimistic, withdrawn, and lazy. Any kind of criticism will cause them to brood for days. In the end, their self-pity will give rise to encouragement and support from friends and colleagues. Don’t let a sheep manage your finances. They overspend what they have due to their generous nature. Sheep individuals follow the crowd and seldom lead.
The Mischievous Monkey
Famous Monkeys: Leonardo da Vinci, Charles Dickens, Mick Jagger, Danny De Vito, Tom Hanks, Macauley Culkin, Elizabeth Taylor, Nelson Rockefeller, Princess Caroline of Monaco, Ted Kennedy
Insatiably curious, monkeys will try anything once. Eager to learn new skills, a monkey will enthusiastically perform it over and over until he’s mastered it. This gives credence to the phrase, “Monkey see, monkey do.” Also, monkeys are intensely competitive. They make it their mission to do things better than anyone else. Failure is not in the monkey’s vocabulary. Extremely intelligent, clever, and innovative, the monkey person will excel in any field. He truly believes he is “the top banana.” On the negative side, monkeys are difficult to trust. They tend to be too self-centered to care about anyone else.
The Meticulous Rooster
Famous Roosters: Sergei Rachmaninoff, Elton John, Dolly Parton, Gene Siskel, Prince Phillip, Quincy Jones, Joan Rivers, Pope Paul VI, Emperor Akihito, Katharine Hepburn
Cocky and pretentious, the rooster loves to strut his stuff, showing off his fine feathers. Roosters are proud creatures. Their world is black and white, void of gray. Brutally honest, forthright, and candid; ask a rooster his opinion, and he’ll tell you exactly what he thinks. When he wants your opinion, he’ll give it to you! He is definitely not a diplomat. If the rooster could learn to sweeten his criticism, he’d be much better off. On the positive side, roosters are detail-oriented and perfectionists. Give a rooster your money, and he will account for every penny. Also, roosters are extremely focused. Their organizational skills are superlative.
The Devoted Dog
Famous Dogs: Sir Winston Churchill, Harry Houdini, Elvis Presley, Cher, Bill Moyers, Kevin Bacon, George Gershwin, Andre Agassi, Donald Sutherland, Bill Clinton
A dog is truly a person’s best friend. Compatible, compromising, loyal, and unprejudiced, dogs are there when you need them. The dog person is trustworthy and dutiful, making an excellent (albeit reluctant) leader. Contrary to what you may think, dogs form friendships slowly. First, they must check you out, watch, and wait. You must win their affection. For the most part, dogs are humble animals, caring little about money. Although they can lavish you with unconditional devotion and love, when provoked, a dog can be fiercely mean-spirited, downright nasty. Of all the signs in the Chinese Zodiac, the dog is the most likeable.
The Nurturing Pig
Famous Pigs: Al Capone, Prince Rainier, Ronald Reagan, Lucille Ball, Woody Allen, Alfred Hitchcock, Kevin Kline, Billy Crystal, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Hillary Clinton
Bottom line, pigs are the nicest people on the planet. With hearts of gold, they are honest, patient, and will take every measure to ensure your safety and comfort. A pig will remain your friend for life. But, pigs are often taken for granted. Only when they’re not around do you realize how dependent you are on them. Naturally naive, pigs can be gullible, falling prey to charlatans and swindlers. In all, pigs of both genders are selfless, devoted, and loving. They just can’t say “no.” Because of their overzealous generosity, the pig person has little money. Nevertheless, he has enough, giving credence to the phrase, “the more you give, the more you shall receive.”
These are the general characteristics of the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac. If you’re interested in a more detailed account, many books on the subject are available. One we suggest is Theodora Lau’s The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes (see Appendix C).
In the next chapter, you’ll learn about The Four Pillars of Destiny, a method of Chinese astrology that can help you gain insight about money matters, relations with others, and the focus of your life (among other things).
The Least You Need to Know
The 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac represent cycles of earthly qi.
The Chinese Zodiac system of astrology is superficial, but fun.
Once you determine your animal sign, you’ll know who are your animal friends and foes.
This system is concerned more with personality profiles than fate prediction and prevention.