By Leean Lester
This month, let’s take a closer look at Chinese astrology. The basic concepts and intellectual spirit of Chinese astrology differs from the western system in many ways. Chinese astrology does not claim to be a predictive science, and it should not be taken as such. It is meant to be more of a method of practical philosophy, based on the idea that we can make the most of our unknowable fate by seeking to harmonize our thoughts and behaviors with the different forces and elements around us.
The purpose of this astrology is to provide a kind of music theory for living, and it is defined in set patterns of time, heavenly space, earthly space, and the relations among the thousands of things in the universe. In western astrology, things are assumed patterns and are determined by the stars. In Chinese astrology, all things must be in harmony, and it is believed that there are correspondences among the different realms and categories of existence. The principle of yin and yang is reflected in these correspondences and in the great balance of the universe. Another difference between the two systems of astrology is that the Chinese system is more of an interpretive science, helping map the many different behaviors of the human individual, whereas in Western astrology, the use of astronomical calculations is heavily used.
In Chinese astrology, there are twelve animals and five elements associated with different personality types or “signs.” This gives a total of sixty possible types or cycles, as opposed to only twelve zodiac signs in western astrology.
Now each of the animals has a characteristic:
1) the rat/mouse = child, new life, opportunities, success
2) the ox = continuity, strength, sense of humor
3) the tiger = reverence, idealism, respectfulness
4) the hare/rabbit = self-sacrifice, found of children
5) the dragon = an eclipse, concern with the occult
6) the snake = thought , a schemer
7) the horse = mid-day, ambition, may be a revolutionary
8) the sheep/ram = waiting, patience, withdrawal from worldly matters
9) the monkey = stretching, continual development, expansion
10) the rooster/cock = wine bottle, may tend to drink
11) the dog = a weapon , loyalty, defense
12) the pig/boar = darkness, privacy, obscurity
There are also four seasons and 28 star lodges used in the Chinese system. Spring represents the green dragon of the east, summer represents the red bird of the south, autumn represents the white tiger of the west, and winter represents the dark warrior of the north (turtle and snake).
Like western astrology, Chinese astrology also has “stars,” and they move in and out of places. This is known as the “star theory.”
There are seven main stars, and there is a starscape composed of 28 major constellations. Each constellation has its own associations with the yin yang balance and the five elements. These have come to be known as the lodges, or star-spirits. They move about the palaces and are ruled by the seven stars. Each of the palaces is associated with one of the twelve moons of the lunar calendar, which are known as the earthly branches and the 12 zodiac animals.
Each personality type or “sign” in Chinese astrology is associated with one of the zodiac animals and also with an element. Here is a list of the elements that describes their attributes, associations, and correspondences. It also shows the “strongest” and “weakest” of the different animals for each element.
Wood = governs the tiger (strongest wood), rabbit, dragon (weakest wood)
The east
Spring
Azure dragon
The planet Jupiter
The color green
Liver and gall bladder
Generous, warm, persuasive, co-operative, seeks to expand and grow
Idealistic, ethical, enthusiastic, seeks to explore
Fire = governs the snake, horse (strongest fire), ram (weakest fire)
The south
Summer
Vermilion bird
The planet Mars
The color red
Circulatory system and heart
Dynamic, humanitarian, enterprising, adventurous, restless
Competitive, leadership skills, strong, single-minded, loves a good laugh
Earth = governs dragon, sheep, dog, and ox. It is the central balance of the elements and can lend qualities to all twelve animals.
Center
Three enclosures, change of seasons
The yellow dragon
The planet Saturn
The color yellow
Digestive system, spleen and stomach
Powerful, wise, patient, militaristic, prideful, prudent, stable, reliable, hard-working, ambitious, stubborn, seeks to conquer
Disciplined, rigid, controlling, tenacious, logical, governed by service and duty to others
Metal = governs the monkey, dragon (strongest metal), rooster, dog (weakest metal)
The West
Autumn
White tiger
The planet Venus
The color white
Determined, self-reliant, unyielding, strong, tenacious, forceful
Reserved, needs personal space, sophisticated, seeks pleasure, caring, respectful
Water = governs the rat (strongest water), ox, pig (weakest water)
The North
Winter
Black tortoise
The planet Mercury
The color black
Skeletal, excretory system and lungs
Secretive, self-destructive, charming, intuitive, deceptive, passive-aggressive, compassionate, sensitive, creative
Flexible, addictive, manipulative, compliant, eloquent, intellectual
Chinese Astrology Chart Dates 1940 – 2010
Year | Dates |
Animal |
Element Type |
1940 |
Feb 8– Jan 26 |
Dragon |
Metal |
1941 |
Jan 27 –Feb 14 |
Snake |
Metal |
1942 |
Feb15- Feb 4 |
Horse |
Water |
1943 |
Feb 5 – Jan 24 |
Sheep |
Water |
1944 |
Jan 25 – Feb 12 |
Monkey |
Wood |
1945 |
Feb 13 – Feb 1 |
Rooster |
Wood |
1946 |
Feb 2 – Jan 21 |
Dog |
Fire |
1947 |
Jan 22 – Feb 9 |
Pig |
Fire |
1948 |
Feb10 – Jan 28 |
Rat |
Earth |
1949 |
Jan 28 – Feb 16 |
Ox |
Earth |
1950 |
Feb 17 – Feb 5 |
Tiger |
Metal |
1951 |
Feb 6 – Jan 26 |
Rabbit |
Metal |
1952 |
Jan 27 – Feb 13 |
Dragon |
Water |
1953 |
Feb 14 – Feb 2 |
Snake |
Water |
1954 |
Feb 3 – Jan 23 |
Horse |
Wood |
1955 |
Jan 24 – Feb 11 |
Sheep |
Wood |
1956 |
Feb 12 – Jan 30 |
Monkey |
Fire |
1957 |
Jan 31 – Feb 17 |
Rooster |
Fire |
1958 |
Feb 18 – Feb7 |
Dog |
Earth |
1959 |
Feb 8 – Jan 27 |
Pig |
Earth |
1960 |
Jan 28 – Feb 14 |
Rat |
Metal |
1961 |
Feb 15 – Feb 4 |
Ox |
Metal |
1962 |
Feb 5 – Jan 24 |
Tiger |
Water |
1963 |
Jan 23 – Feb 12 |
Rabbit |
Water |
1964 |
Feb 13 – Feb 1 |
Dragon |
Wood |
1965 |
Feb 2 – Jan 20 |
Snake |
Wood |
1966 |
Jan 21 – Feb 8 |
Horse |
Fire |
1967 |
Feb 9 – Jan 29 |
Sheep |
Fire |
1968 |
Jan 30 – Feb 16 |
Monkey |
Earth |
1969 |
Feb 17 – Feb 5 |
Rooster |
Earth |
1970 |
Feb 6 – Jan 26 |
Dog |
Metal |
1971 |
Jan 27 – Jan 15 |
Pig |
Metal |
1972 |
Jan 16 – Feb 3 |
Rat |
Water |
1973 |
Feb 3 – Jan 22 |
Ox |
Water |
1974 |
Jan 23 – Feb 10 |
Tiger |
Wood |
1975 |
Feb 11 – Jan 30 |
Rabbit |
Wood |
1976 |
Jan 31 – Feb 17 |
Dragon |
Fire |
1977 |
Feb 18 – Feb 6 |
Snake |
Fire |
1978 |
Feb 7 – Jan 27 |
Horse |
Earth |
1979 |
Jan 28 – Feb 15 |
Sheep |
Earth |
1980 |
Feb 16 – Feb 4 |
Monkey |
Metal |
1981 |
Feb 5 – Jan 24 |
Rooster |
Metal |
1982 |
Jan 25 – Feb 12 |
Dog |
Water |
1983 |
Feb 13 – Feb 1 |
Pig |
Water |
1984 |
Feb 2 – Feb 19 |
Rat |
Wood |
1985 |
Feb 20 – Feb 8 |
Ox |
Wood |
1986 |
Feb 9 – Jan 28 |
Tiger |
Fire |
1987 |
Jan 29 – Feb 19 |
Rabbit |
Fire |
1988 |
Feb 17 – Feb 5 |
Dragon |
Earth |
1989 |
Feb 6 – Jan 26 |
Snake |
Earth |
1990 |
Jan 27 – Feb 14 |
Horse |
Metal |
1991 |
Feb 15 – Feb 3 |
Sheep |
Metal |
1992 |
Feb 4 – Jan 22 |
Monkey |
Water |
1993 |
Jan 23 – Feb 9 |
Rooster |
Water |
1994 |
Feb 10 – Jan 30 |
Dog |
Wood |
1995 |
Jan 31 – Feb 18 |
Pig |
Wood |
1996 |
Feb 19 – Feb 7 |
Rat |
Fire |
1997 |
Feb 8 – Jan 27 |
Ox |
Fire |
1998 |
Jan 28 – Feb 15 |
Tiger |
Earth |
1999 |
Feb 16 – Feb 4 |
Rabbit |
Earth |
2000 |
Feb 5 – Jan 23 |
Dragon |
Metal |
2001 |
Jan 24 – Feb 11 |
Snake |
Metal |
2002 |
Feb 12 – Jan 31 |
Horse |
Water |
2003 |
Feb 1 – Jan 21 |
Sheep |
Water |
2004 |
Jan 22 – Feb 8 |
Monkey |
Wood |
2005 |
Feb 5 – Jan 28 |
Rooster |
Wood |
2006 |
Jan 29 – Feb 17 |
Dog |
Fire |
2007 |
Feb 17 – Feb 6 |
Pig |
Fire |
2008 |
Feb 7 – Jan25 |
Rat |
Earth |
2009 |
Jan 26 – Feb 13 |
Ox |
Earth |
2010 |
Feb 14 – Feb 2 |
Tiger |
Metal |
2011 |
Feb 3 – Jan 22 |
Rabbit |
Metal |
2012 |
Jan 23 – Feb 9 |
Dragon |
Water |
2013 |
Feb 10 – Jan 3 |
Snake |
Water |
2014 |
Jan 31 – Feb 18 |
Horse |
Wood |
2015 |
Feb 19 – Feb 7 |
Sheep |
Wood |
2016 |
Feb 8 – Jan 27 |
Monkey |
Fire |
2017 |
Jan 28 – Feb 18 |
Rooster |
Fire |
2018 |
Feb 19 – Feb 4 |
Dog |
Earth |
2019 |
Feb 5 – Jan 24 |
Pig |
Earth |
2020 |
Jan 25 – Feb 11 |
Rat |
Metal |
I hope you are enjoying learning about Chinese astrology. Next month, we’ll take a more in-depth look at the elements as well as the animals and other aspects of this complex system. Until next time, may the spirits bless you and watch over you and yours!
If you would like to have a chart prepared, contact me and mention this article for a $10.00 discount. Chart prices vary depending on how detailed of a chart you request and other factors. Contact me for details at the www.thepalmistrylady.com