Zodiac Symbolism From China
The symbols that make up the Chinese Zodiac calendar are images of different animals. The Chinese have been using this 12 year cycle for dating the years since ancient times. Unlike the western linear idea of time the Chinese lunar calendar represents a cyclical concept of time.
The western calendar is governed by the sun and is called solar calendar whereas Chinese calendar being based on cycles of moon is called lunar calendar. When the New Year is calculated the Chinese calendar is quite different from that of the west where they have New Year starting around the end of January and beginning of February.
The modern day China even now follows the lunar calendar for its traditional events and festivities though officially it had adopted the western calendar by’11. To give an example the Chinese New Year is still celebrated as per the lunar calendar. The calendars which are printed in China today show both lunar and solar dates.
The Chinese followed the idea of popular folk tradition of representing each year physically with some animal. A particular animal will represent a particular year. Thus twelve years show twelve different animals with their own characteristics. As the calendar is cyclic the same animals keep coming back once in every twelve years.
The animals that represented the years took on the connotation that is similar to the concept of monthly or daily horoscopes in the west. The only distinction was that the Chinese zodiac symbols determined were for the entire year. Hence people born in the year of a particular animal were supposed to have the characteristics associated with that animal.
Apart from the personality traits that Chinese zodiac symbols are meant to portray which may or may not be taken seriously; they play another important function. One can use the Chinese lunar calendar to decide the age of an individual. Once you know the person’s animal sign then you can simply calculate their age by using a bit of common sense and basic math.
Chinese lunar calendar is very useful in calculating the age of a person. Once you know the type of the animal to which the person belongs with a bit of intelligence and little mathematics this can be done.
As the Chinese legend goes once there was a struggle between twelve animals to enforce some control over the cycle of years. Finally it was determined that there would be a race of the animals in which the animal to reach the opposite bank of the river would lead and the rest would follow as they finish. Thus the practice of representing each year with one animal sign came into being.
As the legend goes the Ox was in the lead in the race to the opposite bank with a rat on its back. When it was about to reach the finishing line the rat being smart jumped off its back and became first to finish. Therefore the months too start with rat in the lead with ox taking the second position and pig in the last.
Chinese zodiac symbolism are fascinating in their meaning. To learn more about Chinese New Year symbols follow the hyperlinks.
categories: china,astrology,culture,history,tattoo,art,education,writing,language
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