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The Chinese Lunar Calendar


According to Chinese astrology, the year of birth tells not only your age but also indicates a certain phase or aspect of a sixty year circle of time.

Legend has it that Chinese Astrology and the order of the twelve Chinese lunar Calendar animals that define it were determined thousands of years ago by Lord Buddha himself. According to ancient scripts, Buddha realized that the Chinese nation needed a reorganization. So on the occasion of the Chinese New Year (which occurs on different dates from mid-January to mid-February), Buddha called upon the entire animal kingdom for a meeting. But only twelve animals (rat, buffalo, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and boar) showed up for this meeting.

Buddha then honored them in the order of their arrival by endowing upon them with a year of their own. From then on, each successive year of the Chinese calendar bore that character of the animal that gave it a name and so, those born in specific animal years are marked by the nature of their natal animal.

Yet, all people born in the same animal are not the same literally and do differ from each other in certain aspects. These differences are determined by the various elements of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. Each of these elements distinguishes one person of the same animal from the other.

In the Chinese system of astrology, each year begins early in the calendar year on a new moon and relates to one of the twelve animals. Their qualities "animate" the year and color it with their distinct natures.

Therefore you may find yourself born in the year of the Rat or of the horse or even of the dragon as the lore says it. People born in a particular animal year share certain common traits in the same manner as people born in common zodiac do.

Thus it is necessary to know not only about the astrological relevance of different types of animals which represent the years but also about the methods used to predict the future in Chinese astrology.

Chinese Lunar calendar is used for gender prediction (to determine the sex of a child/baby as male or female), being a popular tool in Chinese Astrology and believed world wide.

Comments

Madalina said…
From what I've read before, I am a Rooster in the Chinese zodiac. I think this animal reflects really well my personality.
Nico said…
at the beginning of last year I had a friend read my future for the year of the dragon Which is my animal. I have never had astrology be so precise. The funny thing is you always realise how correct it was when after things that have been foretold have happened already.
penni d said…
I am Dragon, beware my temper! lol.
Unknown said…
I am a monkey from what I understand. A real party animal at that lol.
Unknown said…
I've always liked the Chinese zodiac more than the European one. I just find it more interesting and fascinating. I'm an earth dragon!
Unknown said…
I'm not sure what animal I am according to the Chinese Lunar calendar but this is still most interesting.
Unknown said…
I always wondered how the Chinese Astrology was figured so I am finding this very educational. My sign in Chinese Astrology is a goat but I really don't have anything in common with a goat!
Unknown said…
I was born in the year of the Dragon. :)
Unknown said…
Astrology is interesting. It can really say a lot about a person. I too was born in the year of the Goat.

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