The Chinese Zodiac and the Chinese Astrology Calendar

Understanding and knowing your zodiac sign relating to Chinese tradition can explain a great deal about your personality. Everybody is represented by one of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals such as the rooster. These 12 animals are representative of the rotating 12-year cycle which is the core of the Chinese zodiac. You have probably heard reference to a particular year being the “year of the rooster.” According to stories, these were the animals that came to The Jade Emporer (or Buddha, depending on the story) in response to an invitation. The animals of the Chinese zodiac represent the order of the arrival of each animal. The legends and stories portraying each of the 12 animal's pilgrimage differ slightly, but the predominant order is the following: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, ram, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.

Chinese astrology dates back more than two thousand years to early Chinese astronomy. The predictions of the Chinese rely on the Chinese zodiac calendar made by these ancient Chinese astronomers. Over time, Chinese astrologists built an advanced belief system about how the celestial bodies effect people's day to day lives.  The Chinese zodiac calendar familiar zodiac animals and the Chinese zodiac calendar arise from Chinese astrology.

The understanding most people have of the Chinese zodiac doesn't usually extend very far beyond what they read on the place mats covering the tables Chinese restaurants in their area. But there really is a lot more to know about this ancient doctrine that dates back more than two millennium. The Chinese zodiac is used as a guide to make a determination about the most compatible and very best matches between people in both business and romance. Each of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac has other specific animals with which they are thought to be most compatible. Chinese astrology compatibility can make a determination regarding the best romantic match for individuals. It is critical to remember there are other features of Chinese astrology beyond which animal represents you, that also are thought to be important in making a determination regarding the most compatible people.

The Chinese calendar doesn't only deal with the 12 Chinese zodiac animals, but also has additional relationships that are more complex and intricate. Along with the animals, the Chinese Zodiac also entails 5 elements: wood, fire, water, metal and Earth. These elements are connected with the 5 major planets: Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, and Saturn. The combinations that are presented by the 5 elements and the animals actually combine to produce the 60-year rotation of the Chinese calendar. This rotation, along with the positions of the moon and sun, Yin and Yang, directions, and a person's date and time of birth are all used to help predict the future of a person in more elaborate detail than simply using one's Chinese zodiac animal as a guide. While the animals of the Chinese zodiac are important, how the elements of the Chinese zodiac chart connect and interact really have to be utilized to cultivate a clear understanding of a person. To totally appreciate the Chinese Zodiac, it's important and necessary to also understand the relationships between all the Chinese zodiac elements, which is something that most don't get from a basic Chinese Zodiac overview.