The History of Chinese Astrology

Find your Chinese Sign: The year of your birth need not just indicate your age! According to the chinese system of Astrology the year of birth indicates a certain phase or aspect of a sixty year cycle of time. Three systems are used for counting and classifying the years. The ten Heavenly Stems, the twelve Earthy Branches, and the twelve animals. The exact origins of the twelve animal system remain unknown. However, legend has it that, once upon a time, the Jade King was absolutely bored with having nothing to do in Heaven. He did not see what was happening on earth, as he had servants satiating every wish and desire. He decided that he wanted to see the animals that habitated the earth so he sent word to his advisers to bring him twelve (which he considered to be a good sampling). The adviser first sent an invitation to the rat,telling him to also bring the cat. But,the rat's jealousy prevented the cat from actually receiving the invite. Further invitations were sent on to the ox, the tiger, the rabbit, the dragon, the snake, the horse, the ram, the monkey, the rooster and the dog, asking for their presence at the palace the following day. As they lined up in front of the king, there were only eleven instead of twelve, the king sent his servant down to earth to retrieve a twelfth animal. The servant ran into a man carrying a pig, so he grabbed it, and delivered it to the king. The animals stood in front of the king in no particular order. The rat, being smaller than the rest hopped on the ox's back and preceded to play the flute. The king, being very impressed by this, gave the rat first place. The second was given to the to the ox for its good sportsmanship, and the third to the courageous appearing tiger. The rabbit was given fourth place, the dragon fifth, the snake sixth,the horse seventh, the ram eighth, the monkey ninth, the rooster tenth, the dog eleventh and by default, and his just nature, had no choice but to give the twelfth place to the pig. After the awarding concluded, the cat (who missed the invitation) begged the king to reconsider. He was told it was too late. The Chinese system of Astrology is associated with one of the twelve animals and each year begins early in the calendar year on a new moon. Their qualities "animate" the year and color it with their distinct natures. Which one are you? Find your Chinese Sign: Rat 1900 1912 1924 1936 1948 1960 1972 1984 1996 Ox 1901 1913 1925 1937 1949 1961 1973 1985 1997 Tiger 1902 1914 1926 1938 1950 1962 1974 1986 1998 Cat/Rabbit 1903 1915 1927 1939 1951 1963 1975 1987 1999 Dragon 1904 1916 1928 1940 1952 1964 1976 1988 2000 Snake 1905 1917 1929 1941 1953 1965 1977 1989 2001 Horse 1906 1918 1930 1942 1954 1966 1978 1990 2002 Goat/Sheep 1907 1919 1931 1943 1955 1967 1979 1991 2003 Monkey 1908 1920 1932 1944 1956 1968 1980 1992 2004 Rooster 1909 1921 1933 1945 1957 1969 1981 1993 2005 Dog 1910 1922 1934 1946 1958 1970 1982 1994 2006 Pig 1911 1923 1935 1947 1959 1971 1983 1995 2007