Chinese astrology has fascinated people for thousands of years. It is deeply rooted in Chinese tradition and is still very popular. Even today, even if younger generations are more skeptical, many families and businesses choose a wedding, store, move or even birth date based on astrological recommendations.
Entering Chinese culture therefore means knowing a minimum about its astrology.
Unlike the western zodiac, which is based on the movement of the Sun and divided into twelve signs over a year, Chinese astrology is based on a 12-year lunar cycle, with each year represented by an animal.
A birth year is linked to an animal.
So it's easy for you to know your Chinese sign:
But be careful, it's not that easy!
Because the Chinese year, as you know, does not start on January 1 as in the West but, depending on the year (depending on the moon) between the end of January and the beginning of February. Think of Chinese New Year! So, if you were born in January or early February, your Chinese sign may correspond to the animal from the previous year.
Here is a simple example: If you were born on February 15, 1988, your Chinese zodiac sign is the Dragon because Chinese New Year started on February 17, which is after your birth date. But if you were born on January 10, 1988, your Chinese zodiac sign will be Rabbit, because you still belong to the previous Chinese year.
To go further in understanding the Chinese zodiac, you should know that each animal is associated with personality traits.
We, MandarinMaster, will be happy to reveal the traits of each of these animals in future blogs.
You are also one of the 5 elements of the cosmos (PUT) as seen by the Chinese: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal or Water.
These 5 elements are dynamic forces that combine with zodiac animals to create more complex cycles of influence on personality, destiny, and interactions.
These elements of nature interact with each other in a specific order, in two cycles:
1 - Wood (which feeds the fire)
2 - Fire (which creates Earth - ashes enrich the soil)
3 - Earth (which produces Metal - ores are found in the ground)
4 - Metal (which enriches Water: the minerals in water come from metal)
5 - Water (which nourishes Wood - water allows plants to grow)
A year on the Chinese calendar is therefore not only linked to an animal but also to one of these 5 elements.
Also remember that an element does not only cover one year but two consecutive years: an even year called YANG () and an odd year called YIN ().
So it's easy for you to know your Chinese element:
To remember the element of your year, remember that:
Now you understand that:
2023 was the year of the Water Rabbit (yin)
2024 is the year of the Wood Dragon (yang)
2025 will be the year of the Wood Snake (yin)
To fall exactly on the sign + specific element of your year you will have to wait... 60 YEARS!
We will soon be presenting to you:
Yes MandarinMaster is above all a platform for learning the Chinese language but we are committed to opening you to this fascinating culture, whose horoscope is one of the doors to access.
