| Astrology is one of the most ancient of Chinese | | | | motivates a person. |
| philosophies. With a complex mix of calendar cycles | | | | Since this sign dictates the person's love life and inner |
| and associations to animals, Chinese astrology is as | | | | persona, it is critical to a proper understanding of the |
| mysterious as it is effective. Unlike other disciplines, the | | | | individual's compatibility with other signs. These are all |
| culture embraces astrology with bright, wonderful | | | | critical for the proper use of this Asian astrology. |
| celebrations and integrates beliefs into their everyday | | | | Like in western astrology, each sign is linked to a |
| lives. In this article, we'll examine the roots of this Asian | | | | month of the solar year. However, in Chinese |
| tradition and how other cultures have come to respect | | | | astrology, the signs are also related to a season and |
| it. | | | | the elements are believed to transfer some of its |
| Chinese astrology is the divination of the future from | | | | characteristics to the sign concerned. In the 60 year |
| the Chinese calendar. This basic cycle has been | | | | cycle, the fixed element, which is concerned with the |
| constructed from two cycles: the 10 heavenly stems | | | | year, month and hour signs, is separate from the cycle |
| (the five elements in their yin and yang forms) and the | | | | of elements which interact with the signs. |
| 12 earthly branches, or the 12-year cycle of animals | | | | The Chinese zodiac is also used to label times of day, |
| referred to as the Chinese zodiac. | | | | with each sign corresponding to a "large-hour," which is |
| The Chinese animal zodiac also operates on a cycle | | | | a two-hour period (24 divided by 12 animals). It is |
| of months or 'moons' and of hours of the day. The | | | | therefore important to know the exact time of birth to |
| animal signs assigned by year represent how others | | | | determine it. The secret animal is thought to be a |
| will perceive you as being, or how you present | | | | person's truest representation, since this animal is |
| yourself. | | | | determined by the smallest denominator: a person's |
| It is a common misconception that the animals | | | | birth hour. It is a person's own true sign, upon which |
| assigned by year are the only signs, and many | | | | their personality is based. |
| western descriptions of the Chinese version draw | | | | Chinese new year celebrations are renowned for the |
| solely on this system. In fact, there are also animal | | | | bold displays of Asian tradition and symbols from |
| signs assigned by month (called inner animals) and | | | | Chinese astrology. Most societies don't practice |
| hours of the day (called secret animals). While a | | | | astrology as openly as the Chinese do. Businessmen |
| person might appear to be a dragon because they | | | | won't make deals on some days, couples try to have |
| were born in the year of the dragon, they might also | | | | babies in certain years and particular addresses are |
| be a snake internally and an ox secretively. | | | | believed to be good luck. This is an example of how |
| In total, this makes for 8,640 possible combinations that | | | | deeply people can believe in the impact of stars and |
| a person might be. An individual's monthly animal sign is | | | | planets. |
| called their inner animal and is concerned with what | | | | |