The shengxiao, or animals of the Chinese zodiac, forms a method of numbering the years based on the names of 12 different animals. In sequential order, these animals are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. For over three millennia, China has followed the lunar calendar to record time. To count the years, the lunar calendar uses the 10 Heavenly Stems (jia, yi, bing, ding, wu, ji, geng, xin, ren, and gui) and the 12 Earthly Branches (zi, chou, yin, mao, chen, si, wu, wei, shen, you, xu, hai). Each person is assigned one of the 12 animals to correspond with, and represent, the Earthly Branch of the year in which he or she was born. The 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac thus are used to number the years, record and measure time, and determine each person's zodiac sign. An essential and deep-rooted part of China's traditional culture, the shengxiao has had a profound impact on Chinese people. The shengxiao culture permeates every aspect of Chinese social life and is intimately connected with the lives of the Chinese people. The zodiac animals are used to inquire about the age of others, and shengxiao-related folktales, customs and even games can be found throughout China. The Chinese zodiac animals also play a prominent role in fortune-telling, and are beautifully illustrated and depicted in works of art and literature.
Table of Contents
THE ZIRAT NIPS THE WORLD Zodiac Animal File The Rat and Personality The Rat and Blood Type The Rat and Fortune Lifetime Fortune: Overview Fortune and the Five Elements Fortune by the Year The Rat and the Western Zodiac Fengshui and the Rat Interpreting Rat Dreams THE CHOU OX OPENS THE EARTH Health Secrets Zodiac Animal File The Ox and Personality The Ox and Blood Type
The Ox and Fortune Lifetime Fortune: Overview Fortune and the Five Elements Fortune by the Year The Ox and the Western Zodiac Fengshui and the Ox Interpreting Ox Dreams Health Secrets THE YIN TIGER WHISTLES THROUGH THE WIND Zodiac Animal File The Tiger and Personality
The Tiger and Blood Type The Tiger and Fortune Lifetime Fortune: Overview Fortune and the Five Elements Fortune by the Year The Tiger and the Western Zodiac Fengshui and the Tiger Interpreting Tiger Dreams Health Secrets THE MAO RABBIT PLAYS WITH THE MOON Zodiac Animal File The Rabblit and Personality The Rabblit and Blood Type
The Rabblit and Fortune Lifetime Fortune: Overview Fortune and the Five Elements Fortune by the Year The Rabblit and the Western Zodiac Fengshui and the Rabblit Interpreting Rabblit Dreams Health Secrets
THE CHEN DRAGON DARTS ACROSS THE SKY Zodiac Animal File The Dragon and Personality The Dragon and Blood Type
The Dragon and Fortune Lifetime Fortune: Overview Fortune and the Five Elements Fortune by the Year The Dragon and the Western Zodiac Fengshui and the Dragon Interpreting Dragon Dreams Health Secrets THE SI SNAKE ABOVE THE CLOUDS Zodiac Animal File The Snake and Personality The Snake and Blood Type
The Snake and Fortune Lifetime Fortune: Overview Fortune and the Five Elements Fortune by the Year The Snake and the Western Zodiac Fengshui and the Snake Interpreting Snake Dreams Health Secrets THE WU HORSE FLES ABOVE THE SKY THE WEI SHEEP CREATES PROSPERITY AND PEACE THE SHEN MONKEY HAS SPECIAL PROWESS THE AUSPICIOUS YOU ROOSTER THE XU DOG BRINGS PROSPEROUS WEALTH THE HA/PIG DELIVERS THE LUCK APPENDIX EPILOGUE
