The Chinese Zodiac
Most stories seem to agree that the 12 animals that represent the signs in the Chinese Zodiac were animals that appeared because they were invited by Buddha. As a reward the 12 animals were included on the Chinese Zodiac. However, there’s much more to the origin of the Chinese Zodiac.
Regardless of the specific version of Chinese Zodiac history to which you subscribe, the Chinese Zodiac has amazed and entertained people around the world for thousands of years.
Chinese Zodiac History
The Chinese Zodiac Story
The most well-known legend states: Buddha invited animals to participate in a race to win a place on the Chinese Zodiac calendar. The first 12 animals to cross the river would appear on the Chinese Zodiac calendar in the order in which they completed the race.
The first animal to make it across the finish line according was the rat. The rat used his brain rather than his brawn and hitched a ride on what it perceived was the mightiest swimmer, the Buffalo. Just before the reaching the shore, the rat jumped off the buffalo’s back, crossing the finish line first. The buffalo came in second and was placed second on the Chinese Zodiac.
The tiger came in third because he was a strong animal. The rabbit jumped his way across the river and was helped by the dragon. They finished in third and fourth, respectively.
The snake, also using his brain, hid in a hoof of the horse which is how it managed to cross the river. He jumped off at the last minute finalizing his spot in sixth place; however, he scared the horse who finished in seventh place.
The sheep, monkey and rooster helped one another across and earned their spots correspondingly on the calendar. The dog insisted a bath was more important than his position; he came in eleventh. Finally, the pig appeared and is listed twelfth because he stopped, rested and ate half-way through the race.
Other Legends
There is another legend which states that the animals received an invitation to a grand feast by Buddha for either a birthday celebration, a New Year celebration, or a celebration for his departure from this world. Only 12 animals showed up which is how they ended up being featured on the Chinese Zodiac calendar.
Another of the legends of the Chinese Zodiac states that instead of Buddha, it was the Jade Emperor who invited the animals.
Older Than Buddah
Even though Buddha is the main character in most of the legends pertaining to the Chinese Zodiac, there is evidence that the Chinese Zodiac predates the era of Buddha. The 12 earthly branches, devised by early Chinese astronomers, existed long before Buddhism was established. The astronomers monitored the orbit of the planet Jupiter, referred to as the “Year Star.” They realized that Jupiter’s orbit occurred every 12 years, which is probably why the Chinese Zodiac is based years, not months.
Other evidence that the Chinese Zodiac predates Buddhism is use of the 10 heavenly stems. An early cycle number system used during the Shang Dynasty (1600 BC – 1027 BC), the 10 heavenly stems are based on the belief that 10 heavenly suns each appeared in 10-day cycles. Each cycle was given a name and the names were supposedly based on the clans that made up the ruling class at that time.
Regardless of the origin of the Chinese Zodiac, its future is a fun and effective method of determining a person’s destiny and is likely to live on for years.
Chinese Zodiac Elements - Five Elements
Much of Chinese philosophy is built around the five Eastern elements (wood, fire, Earth, metal and water). They believe in the ability to create relationships between natural phenomena. The five elements have been part of Chinese culture for a very long time. Few people outside the Asia understand the importance of the five elements, and how each relates to the workings of the Chinese Zodiac.
Each of the five elements are associated with five major planets: Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Venus and Mercury.
The five elements are naturally-occurring, and they are believed to have an influence on one another (IE: wood generates fire, water generates wood, water overcomes fire, fire overcomes metal, etc.).
Other correlating factors of the five elements
The characteristics of the five elements impact the twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac because they impact the characteristics of the animals. Since the twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac actually represent a year, in this case assigning one of the five elements to each of the twelve animals which creates 60 different combinations and changes the twelve year cycle to 60-year cycles. The Chinese believe your birth year does not represent your age but rather your position within this 60-year cycle.
The five elements of the Chinese Zodiac are also correlated with direction, color, season, body parts, tastes, and senses. Wood correlates to the direction East, the season of Spring, the color blue or green, the taste of sour, the sense of sight, and the body parts gall bladder, liver and ring finger. The other four elements have their own correlations.
The animal traits and the five elements are what combine to determine “good” years and “bad,” “great” fortune and “misfortune,” “good” ages and “bad” and all the other lifestyle details that have enabled the Chinese Zodiac to be relied upon as a powerful tool of determining one’s destiny.
Five elements plus Yin and Yang
Another important concept in Chinese philosophy is Yin and Yang or the ability to compare as well as balance that which exists in life. The concept of Yin and Yang also affect the five elements and the Chinese Zodiac by assigning opposing forces or characteristics to each. There is Yin wood and Yang wood, Yin metal/Yang metal, etc.
When Yin and Yang are applied to the five elements, they create a total of ten elements, each one having an alternate reading. (FYI: odd years are Yin years and even years are Yang years.)
Chinese Zodiac Chart
Along with birth year animals, the Chinese Zodiac also has inner animals and secret animals; it is they who actually tell the most about who we are and what our futures hold.
The inner animals are associated with a person’s birth month (of which there are 12), and the secret animals are determined by a person’s hour of birth (based on astrology, this is calculatedin 2-hour increments to coincide with the position of the sun in the sky; not the time your local clock). When combined, the 12 animals, the 5 elements, the 12 birth months and 12 birth segments create 8,640 personality combinations.
The animal representing your birth year determines the “outer” you, the animal representing your birth month determines your “inner” you (the person you wish you could be and helps determine which of the other animals you are/are not compatible with.), and the animal representing your time of birth determines your “secret” you (the person you are but you prevent the rest of the world from knowing about).
Chinese Zodiac and Feng Shui
What is Feng Shui?
Feng Shui is based in the belief that balanced internal and external environments can cure the body and the soul, which also means when the body and soul are in harmony a person be successful. The basic principles involved with Feng Shui include the 5 elements, yin and yang, compass positions, the environment and the solar system... in other words, it’s complicated unless you study and know how to use it.
Feng Shui tries to harness the Earth’s good fortune in an effort to determine destiny. It is very real and not as superstitious as some might think; many homeowners and business owners alike are seeking Feng Shui experts to help create environments that eliminate negative energy (or Chi) and promote the positive.
The Importance of Birth Infomation
The Chinese horoscope is integral to the workings of Chinese Feng Shui which is why the individual requesting Feng Shui needs to provide their birth date, location and time. The birth year will correspond with one of the 8 numbers representing the 8 different compass directions (or Patzu).
The expert will consult the Chinese horoscope using the birth information to determine more specific details about the different objects and materials that should be included in the room design to promote the most positive energy for their client. Based on the traits the person’s animal, they calculate the elements for that individual including colors, numbers and proper positioning (north, south, east or west) of the elements.
The Feng Shui expert uses a specialized tool, the Ba Gua, which is an octagon-shaped chart. The expert places the bottom at the front door of space to be worked on, and the chart helps determine the positioning of the colors, water sources, other elements, and furnishings within that space.
The underlying principles of Chinese Feng Shui and the Chinese Zodiac are somewhat difficult for most people to understand and implement properly. If you’re interested, the best approach is to find someone who understands how the different principles interact with one another and allow that person to create “Feng Shui” in your space. After a few months you can decide for yourself whether or not it has worked for you.