Chinese Zodiac Calendar and Zodiac Year Notation> 2012 is the Year of the Dragon <  Origins of the Chinese ZodiacThe actual beginning of the Chinese zodiac calendar, or rather its predecessor, and the origin of the latter seems to be lost in the mist of time (and mythology). One of the earliest known references in written form is from approximately 1500 years ago, possibly from the Northern and Southern Dynasties period. Apparently, at that time the zodiac years were already an integral part of the year counting used in Chinese society. Several countries that had cultural relations with China in the distant past do also use the Chinese zodiac calendar to some degree. These include Vietnam, Korea, Mongolia, Japan. In Japan the zodiac calendar finds no practical use today, despite the zodiac signs being used to some degree for astrology. This is perhaps related to the fact that the lunar calendar was abolished in the 19th century in favor of the solar calendar. The names of the zodiac animals may vary a little from country to country (see "note" below). Due to limitations of the Chinese language, the Chinese names of the zodiac signs can be translated/applied to different animals in other languages. The Chinese zodiac years are based on the lunar calendar and the zodiac signs bear the names of real animals in addition to the mythical dragon. Usually, the lunar calendar year begins either in January or February. See Chinese New Year. The twelve animal signs of the zodiac calendar are combined with the five elements, to form a 60-year cyclic calendar. While the 60-year calendar notation (sexagenary cycle) is not in use anymore, the general population still frequently uses the Chinese zodiac years in the form of the 12 animals for social and astrology purposes. Chinese zodiac years:
When the last year (pig) is reached, the next one starts again with the "year of the rat". Note: The characters of the Chinese language, as used for the zodiac signs, do not make a difference between a sheep and goat, a male or female animal, a mouse or rat, and hare and rabit are also written the same. Thus, the zodiac character for a 'cow' also means 'ox', 'water buffalo', or any type of bovine; a 'sheep' could also be a 'ram', or a goat. In common Chinese there is no difference between these. The top characters in the line below are the same as those shown above. They are still in use today. The characters in parantheses below have the same meaning, but were actually used for the written zodiac year notation according to the Chinese zodiac calendar. Zodiac years are also used on dated porcelain or paintings, respectively. A bit rarer is their use in porcelain marks. These characters are not in general use now except for fortune-telling and social purposes.
Daytime counting - Zodiac hours |
sign of that year, and the zodiac sign of birth of the person concerned.