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Chinese Astrology and Chinese Zodiac

Knowing and understanding your zodiac sign in relation to Chinese tradition and customs can divulge a lot about your individual personality. Each person is represented by one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac like the goat. These animals are representative of the rotating twelve year cycle that's the core of the Chinese zodiac. It's likely that you've heard people refer to a specific year as the “year of the goat.” According to stories, these were the animals that came to Buddha (or the Jade Emperor, depending on the story) when they responded to an invitation. The animals of the Chinese zodiac correspond to the animals' arrival order. Legends and stories that depict each animal's journey will vary a bit, but the prevailing order is as follows: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, ram, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.

The Chinese calendar not only deals with the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, but also has additional relationships that are more elaborate and complex. Along with the 12 animals, the Chinese Zodiac also entails 5 elements: water, metal, fire, wood and Earth. These elements are associated with the 5 major planets: Jupiter, Venus, Mars, Mercury, and Saturn. The associations that are presented by these 12 animals and the 5 elements actually come together to create the 60-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac calendar. This cycle, as well as Yin and Yang, the moon and sun positioning, a person's date and time of birth, and directions are all used to help foresee a person's future in more elaborate detail than simply using the Chinese zodiac animal as a guide. While the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac are crucial, the way in which the Chinese zodiac elements interact and collaborate have to be utilized to cultivate a clear understanding of a person. To totally appreciate the Chinese Zodiac, it's critical to also understand the relationships between all the Chinese zodiac elements, something most people certainly do not get from a general overview of the Chinese zodiac.

Chinese astrology can be dated back a few thousand years to early Chinese astronomy. The predictions of Chinese astrology are reliant on the Chinese zodiac calendar built by ancient Chinese astronomers. Over time, Chinese astrologists created an elaborate and sophisticated belief system regarding the effect celestial bodies have on people's daily lives.  The Chinese zodiac calendar2 familiar animals and the Chinese zodiac calendar emerge from Ancient Chinese astrology.

The understanding most people have of the Chinese zodiac doesn't usually extend past what they see on the paper place mats that cover the tables Chinese restaurants in their area. But there's really much more to know and understand about this doctrine that dates back more than two millennium. The Chinese zodiac is used as a guide to decide the very best and most compatible matches between people in business and romance. Each of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac has specific animals with which they are thought to be most compatible. Chinese zodiac compatibility is used to make a determination regarding the best romantic match for individuals. It's imperative to remember that there are other features of Chinese astrology beyond which animal you are represented by, that are also considered important in determining people that are most compatible.