 Your Chinese Horoscope
Following the example of the Western zodiac, the Chinese zodiac is an imaginary band comprising twelve signs symbolised by animals. These animals play an important part in the Chinese mythology which is very different from the Mesopotamian, Egyptian and Greek mythologies - sources of inspiration for the Western zodiac. It was the Buddha, around 600BC, who changed the complex and abstruse astrological signs in use to the twelve mythical animals that we know today.
The Buddha, knowing that he had reached the end of his life, invited the twelve animals of the zodiac to come and say goodbye to him before he left for the other world. The first one to arrive was the Rat. This is why the Rat is the first sign of the zodiac during the Chinese solar year. Then came the Ox, then the Tiger, followed by the Rabbit and the Dragon. The snake was next, with the Horse and the Goat. Then the Monkey arrived, together with the Rooster and the Dog. Finally, the Boar (Pig) which was the last animal th see Buddha alive.
The principal of Chinese astrology lies on a solar-lunar cycle, but also on the cycle of Jupiter whose zodiacal revolution - the time it takes for Jupiter to travel round the zodiac - is twelve years. Each year is dominated by the animal sign through which Jupiter is travelling.
The animal ruling the year of your birth has a major influence on all aspects of your life. The time of day and the season of birth also have some influence.
To discover what the Chinese horoscope says about you click on your year of birth: |
