Chinese Astrology
(This is an excerpt from a University Of Metaphysical Sciences course at www.umsonline.org,
please feel free to visit the school website)
Twelve-Constellation Chinese Astrology is used by millions worldwide, even today, and should be mentioned as well. Chinese Astrology developed simultaneously with Chaldean and Roman Astrology and are alike in that they use a person's birth date to chart the destiny of the individual. The Chinese zodiac is literally a circle of animals, and isn't very mythological or cosmic at all. Chinese astrology looks to philosophy, the calendar, the cosmos and the rhythms of nature for its interpretations and ideals. It predictions and interpretations of events are heavily mixed with a spiritual Buddhist-Taoist flavor.
The Hindus have long cycles of time they would discern using the calculations of their astrology such as 7, 12, 108, 1000, and 100,000 year cycles they call kalpas. “Kalpa” is Sanskrit for cycle and for vine. The image was that of a wish giving vine granting the long cycles of time as a gift to humans and gods. Elements of this were received from and contributed to Chinese Astrology, and many have been incorporated into Sabean astrology. From Sabian culture through Rome and Greece, European Astrology developed, which is the form used by the Western world today.
Western Astrology, looks heavenward to the stars. Western astrologers chart the positions and movements of the celestial configurations to discern information about the future and the nature of the world and mankind. Western astrological signs are monthly, each having an ancient heaven inspired name corresponding to only a single moon cycle. Each month makes one what he or she is in the cosmological schema. For instance, someone born in a Sagittarius month is a Sagittarian for example.
Chinese Zodiacal Signs, as opposed to the monthly zodiac signs in Western Astrology, are yearly. Each Sign has a different animal name and corresponds to a period equivalent to an entire Chinese Calendar year. The year long period determines the label one is given. For instance, if one is born in the entire year of the Dragon, one is called a Dragon. In actuality, this year long empowerment of one Sign with only minor influences from the monthly cycle, makes Chinese Astrology much simpler than Western Astrology.
In Chinese Astrology intricate charts are written up, consisting of a person's primary Birth Chart. This system doesn't use the elusive ascendant and system of Houses. Most calculation in general astrology goes into the slightly alternating meanings of the interpretations due to the shifting day of the New Year. The New Year can fall as early as mid January or as late as the end of February.
To determine one's sign, match the date of birth with the astrological chart predictions provided below. The Chinese symbols are: Rat, Water Buffalo, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. These animals always appear in the same order. These familiar animals were used by the Sages in order to communicate clearly from the highest to the lowest of a patriarchal agrarian society. The patterns of Chinese Astrology are not yearly, but in a twelve year cycles beginning in 2637 B.C. The twelve year pattern has recurred without surcease since then. In 2637 B.C., the Chinese began dividing celestial history in 60 year cycles, dividing each cycle into 12 years. It may seem odd to someone born in a western, ego-based society that everyone born in an entire year is alike. The practice of doing this stems from an early Chinese legend that was incorporated into Buddhism and Taoism. The legend says that Buddha called an assembly of animals, to teach the dharma to them, in order they might attain precious human rebirth. However, only twelve different species of animals arrived. Buddha then named each of the predominate constellations for each animal who arrived, the animal's characteristics being imbued into the constellation's energetic influence. This legend is an emblem for the real history of Chinese Astrology's deviation from the predominate Egyptian model. Taoist Chinese astrology was practiced for millennium since 4000 B.C. all over the Orient, including India, hence the influences shared with Ayurvedic astrology. It became intensely popular between 2953-2838 B.C. under Emperor Fu Hsi, and again under the immortal Sheng-Nung who was born in 2800 B.C. The Chinese Zodiacal system and its broad interpretations were codified by Ta Nao, a minister of Emperor Huang Ti, born in 2704 B.C. It was made official in 2637 B.C. and was formally inaugurated as an official Chinese system at Huang Ti's accession to the Throne. For 5000 years after, the Chinese Astrological System has always been used.
As with Ayurvedic astrology, the Chinese system grew out of meditation and philosophy. Chinese astrology comes from the Chinese interpretation of unity and the five occult elements along with correspondences from the Chinese Calendar. From supreme emptiness, Wu-Chi arises mysteriously the Tai-Chi, Supreme Ultimate, which emanates as the five elements, fire, water, earth, wood, and metal. From heaven emerges the primal male; from earth arises the primal female and the myriad things of the universe. Water engenders wood, wood engenders fire, fire engenders earth, earth engenders metal and metal engenders water in the patterns of nature.
The characteristics of people born in the different animal's years follow this pattern. People born in pig years are somewhat naive and hate to say no; rats are aggressive and talkative; dogs loyal and anxious; snakes altruistic and attractive; dragons healthy and noisy; horses independent and pragmatic; goats dependent and creative with no sense of time; Water Buffalo slow, but eloquent; tigers rash and magnetic; rabbits flee conflict and love tradition; monkeys are entertaining and giving; roosters resourceful, vain, and bossy.
The Chinese calendar year contains between 12 and 13 moons. Unlike the fixed Roman calendar, the Chinese year is flexible and begins at varied dates each year. Chinese calendars are counted in 60 year periods rather than centuries, each 60 year period separated into 12 year patterns. The elements work by governing each animal sign once through the sixty year period. There is only one correspondence between an element and an animal every 60 years, such as Fire Dragon or Water Rat. This creates 60 base personality profiles for those born on the astrological dates as opposed to the 12 personalities of Western Astrology. When a person is born, the Chinese Astrologer drafts his or her chart according to year, month and season, time of day, weather, and astral configurations at the time of birth. In all, there are traditionally 512,640 different possible personality charts. This means that even those born in the same year have a 1 in 500,000 chance of being divined the same destiny of another. This is one reason why some people consider Chinese Astrology more accurate than all others.