Chinese Astrology

Each year also is assigned one of the five Chinese elements. The element stays two years, through a Yang then a Yin year.

Every 12 years, the zodiac completes itself and the year of your birth animal comes round again. This 12 year period is called a Great Year. After 5 Great Years, a Cycle is complete.

As each of the 5 elements remains for two years, first in a Yang year, then in a Yin year, it takes 10 years for all 5 elements to complete their round. Obviously, this is a different rate from the animals, revolving in 12 year periods. It takes 60 years to get back to the same element and animal. A 60 year period is therefore known as a Cycle. If you are 60 this year, then it is special. Not only do you get your bus pass, but the animal and the element for the year are the same for the first time since your birth. A grandchild born this year will be a child of your heart in all ways. Once 60 Cycles have gone by, that is an Epoch of 3,600 years, but that’s enough!

If the last digit of the western year in which your Chinese birth year began is an even number, or zero, your year was Yang. If odd, it was a Yin year. This will not vary through the cycles. Metal years end in 0 or 1. Water years end in 2 or 3. Wood years end in 4 or 5. Fire years end in 6 or 7. Earth Years end in 8 or 9. You can find out what you are by checking the colour code with the table above.

Yang people are more outgoing and thrusting characters, whereas Yin people are more introverted, receptive and nurturing. The animal years are already designated as Yin or Yang, and there is no change during the cycles.

Each animal has its own basic element, but the traditions do not agree and I will not set them out; unlike in western astrology, the original element is not important as compared to the element of the year. What does matter is that the element of the year modifies the behaviour typical of the animal. The character of each element is almost self explanatory:

Earthpeople are stable, solid, nurturing, reliable and great planners. They can get into a rut

Metalpeople are determined, strong and brave, with an ability to hang on to money. They can be domineering and if too rigid, can break

Waterpeople are good communicators and infiltrate rather than dominate. They tend be too passive

Woodpeople are ethical and compassionate. With many interests they can branch out, but may overextend themselves.

Firepeople are born leaders. They are excitable, enthusiastic and intuitive, and can be destructive if their energies are not channelled

The elements emphasise different facets of the animal character. An Earth Monkey would be less of a trickster, and a Wood Snake would be more open. A Fire Ox would be more playful, a Metal Goat less tearful, and a Water Rooster more able to understand people, and less likely to peck and harry them into submission.

Have you thought that your Chinese Year Animal does not fully represent you, even after you have applied the corrective of the element? In that case, look for your Secret Animal, the “animal in your heart”

This is the equivalent of the Western Rising Sign, and you need to know your Chinese hour of birth. A rough idea is all you need, because the 12 animals progress through the 12 double hours of the day. What you might find unusual is that the first hour, the Hour of the Rat, begins at 11pmthe night before. The Hour of the Ox then starts at 1am, and the animals follow through at two hourly intervals in the order shown above, with the Hour of the Pig ending just before 11pm at night.

For example, you might be puzzled that you are a Monkey. You are not a trickster and you are a pretty steady person, although you will admit to the flashes of wit and charm and you do sometimes feel restless. If you were born in the Second Hour, the Hour of the Ox, then your reliability and steadiness come from the Ox in your heart.

There is also an equivalent to the moon sign, and that is the animal of your month of birth. For greatest accuracy you should use the lunar month from the Chinese calendar, and for this you will need tables. You cannot be sure that the Western month is a true equivalent. Please do not believe those Western astrologers with no background or training in Chinese astrology who try to say that Aries is equivalent to the Rat, and so on. The Ox is not Taurus, however attractive the comparison might seem. I have also seen a Chinese astrologer I otherwise respect insist that Virgo is equivalent to the Rooster because of the flamboyant tendencies of both. The words “flamboyant” and “Virgo” do not normally belong in the same sentence. There is also the problem that despite the Rat’s being the first animal in the zodiac, the lunar month of the Rat must always contain the winter solstice, which brings it towards the end of the lunar year.

There are many theories about the compatibility of animals and many folk stories. For example if your animal is the Tiger’s dinner (a hare, for example), then beware of Tigers! However, the easiest way to check compatibility is this:

Write the names of the animals on separate cards. Then lay them out in a clock face in the order Rat, Ox, Tiger, Hare, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig, but for greatest east, put your own Year animal at 12 0’clock. Your most compatible signs are at 4 and 8 o’clock, with other friendly faces at 10 and 2. You do not get on well with those at 3 and 9 o’clock. Your “bitter enemy” is at 6o’clock, but because opposites attract, you might well have a wild love affair with an opposite number.

Animals are not the whole story. Look also at elements. Elements are in dynamic balance and show how you tend to react to other elements. Examine your family dynamics!

If you are Metal, Earth nurtures you, Fire restricts you, and you nurture Water.

Chinese Astrology

This page is dedicated to Chinese Astrology, rather than our Western Zodiac. With an expert to help me (Carole Chui), you can find out all about The Chinese Zodiac on this page. You may know your Western Astrology Sun Sign, but do you know what animal you are?

First of all, let's take a look at the basics of the Chinese system so you can find out who you are - and work out how this year is likely to pan out for you. Over to you, Carole!

Chinese Astrology revolves around 12 animals.

The twelve animals that appear in the Chinese Zodiac are a mixed bunch. Which one are you? To calculate your Chinese Zodiac animal, you will need to find your birthdate in the table below.