What is Chinese Astrology?

Answer

The Chinese have a different way of making astrological predictions and do not use the Sun Sighs or Zodiac signs as in traditional astrology. The art of Chinese Astrology is instead based on the 12 animal years and the Five Elements.

Chinese astrology is mainly dependant on the order of the 12 animal years, much like the 12 Zodiac signs. As evident by Chinese legends, Lord Buddha himself realized the need for changing the Chinese nation and thus called a meeting of the entire animal kingdom to this effect. This meeting was called on the day of Chinese New Year, which does not fall on the same day each year, but anywhere from mid- January to mid-February.

In spite of calling the entire animal kingdom, only 12 animals actually turned up for the meeting. These were, the rat, the ox, the tiger, the cat, the dragon, the snake, the horse, the goat, the monkey, the rooster, the dog, and the pig; in that order.

To honor these 12 animals for their attendance, Lord Buddha gave each animal their own year, and also the people born in the same animal year with their individual characteristics and personalities.

Thus, the 12 animal years make the starting point of Chinese Astrology. But, in the same manner that a person’s astrological profile cannot be determined by their Sun Sign alone, in traditional astrology; in Chinese Astrology too, it cannot be determined only by the animal year in which a person was born.

The next step is to differentiate each person born under the same animal year, and this is done through the Five Elements. Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water, are the Five Elements that are read in addition to a person’s animal year, and thus each unique astrological profile is made for every person, based on the techniques of Chinese Astrology.

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