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 Western
and Eastern astrology both have twelve signs, but the Chinese signs do
not mirror those of the Western zodiac. The Chinese use a lunar calendar
based on the moon's cycle. As a result, the dates that the signs encompass
change yearly. But just like Western astrology, each sign has its own
definitive characteristics and traits.
The 12 Animal Signs
The twelve signs of the Chinese horoscope are symbolised by twelve animals.
It is believed that a person takes the characteristics of the animal in
whose year they are born. There is also a cycle of five elements - wood,
fire, earth, metal and water. Therefore a complete Chinese horoscope cycle
takes 60 years.
From Dragon to
Snake
On 24 January, 2001, the volatile Year of the Golden Dragon gives way
to the Year of the Snake. While the sixth animal of the Chinese zodiac
is nowhere near as flamboyant as the Dragon, the year ahead promises to
be anything but dull. Find out what the Year of the Snake has in store
for you.
How it all began
It is believed that the Chinese Lunar Calendar dates back to 2637 BC.
Every complete Chinese astrological cycle passes through each of the twelve
signs five times, each of which has one 'golden' year. The entire cycle
therefore takes 60 years. Legend has it that the Lord Buddha summoned
all the animals to come to him before he departed from Earth. Only twelve
of the animals came to bid him farewell, so Buddha honoured each of them
with a year. The order was taken from the sequence in which they appeared
to him - first the Rat, then the Ox, the Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake,
Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.
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