By Sadaf Hassan
FEATURE
Years , Animals & Interpretations :
The Chinese Zodiac
By Sadaf Hassan
Since ancient times , an analogy has existed between animals and personalities of human beings . This is evident in the different zodiac systems followed around the world . For instance , the Chinese believe that an animal represents each year , and the person born in that year is most likely to exhibit characteristics similar to the animal that represents it .
Birth Of The 12-Year Zodiac Cycle
Some cultures , like Chinese , have different beliefs regarding numbers . In traditional Chinese society , the number 12 plays a significant role when calculating time . Ancient observers noted that there were 12 full moons in a year . They also observed that the day could be divided into 12 equal parts . These observations led to the development of the 12-month lunar year and the 12-day watch . The Chinese began grouping years into twelve-year cycles , assigning each year an animal symbol .
The Chinese Zodiac , known as Sheng Xiao , is based on a twelve-year cycle , each year in the cycle is related to an animal sign . These animal signs are the rat , ox , tiger , rabbit , dragon , snake , horse , sheep , monkey , rooster , dog and boar . It is calculated according to Chinese lunar calendar . The animal year , or the birth year , of a person is called his Benming Nian . The distinctive zodiacal way of calculating years based on the lunar calendar decides that once in every 12 years , every person will be reunited with his sign of birth .
The Grand Meeting Of Animals
The exact origins of the twelve animal systems , remains a mystery and there have been various legends mentioned relating to the possible philosophy behind the animal signs . However , the most common is the chronicle of animals being called for a meeting by Buddha .
Legend is that Buddha called a meeting of all the world ’ s animals to determine how to restore order to the world , but only 12 took note of his call . They came to be a symbol of the 12-year cycle , with each animal residing over a year . The order that they arrived in determined the order of the zodiac .
As they travelled to the meeting , the tough ox was much ahead of the rest and just had a river to cross to come in first . If only the ox knew that the sneaky rat had snagged a ride on the ox ’ s back , turning out to be the first one to arrive by jumping off the ox ’ s back as soon as he was about to leap from the river onto the land . Thus , ranking the rat first on the Chinese zodiac .
Chinese Zodiac In Popular Culture
A number of literature and movies have been made on the theme . Most popular amongst them being Jackie Chan ’ s movie “ Chinese Zodiac ” that tells the story of the Old Summer Palace and its looting of treasure and destruction by British and French soldiers in the Second Opium War . Among the treasures
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