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Chinese Astrology - a overview
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Brenda Keener


Lesson 1: Introduction To Chinese Astrology - The Basics


This lesson will give an overview of the history of Chinese astrology and the Chinese calendar systems used in its construction.
Next, it will examine the twelve animal signs, the concepts of yin and yang, and the five elements as they present a foundation for our further study.

Chinese Astrology - First Things First

China has a long and colorful history, and represents one of the most ancient civilizations still intact. While a great deal of ancient wisdom from the Western world has been lost or destroyed, the wisdom of the ancient Chinese is still available to us in many forms, one of which is its wealth of astrological information. Chinese astrology dates back further than Western astrology; in fact, the first bits and pieces of information archaeologists have found were inscriptions located on Oracle bones!

A great deal of colorful and interesting mythology surrounds the Chinese astrological tradition - whenever possible, I have included either stories in my lectures or links to these fascinating stories for your reading enjoyment.

Chinese astrology differs from Western astrology in many ways. Western astrology is very accurate, but analysis focuses on profiling the character of an individual rather than his or her fortune or fate. In contrast, much of Chinese astrology focuses on a person's life path and what fortunate and unfortunate events may befall them. Feng Shui is intimately tied to Chinese astrology, as inauspicious "stars" in a chart or home location can be remedied with "cures" such as a wind-chime in a carefully chosen location, or a fishbowl containing nine fish in another. As we will learn in a later lesson, combinations of stars in a sector of your home are contrasted with your "signature" stars to determine how spending time in that location will affect you.

An astrologer can improve accuracy and usefulness of his or her readings by learning BOTH systems well enough to blend them into a rich composite of information. Many attempts have been made to map one into another - we will also discuss the similarities and differences between Western and Eastern astrology in a later lesson.

Chinese astrology also centers around the concept of balance, not only between elemental correspondences, but also between the opposite concepts of "yin" and "yang" as we will learn in the rest of this course.

Imbalances in any way are thought to be responsible for all ills that befall us.Chinese astrology and Feng Shui are used in Chinese medicine, acupuncture, and many forms of fortune telling and business analysis. Just like Western astrology, "real" Chinese astrology differs greatly from the pop books or Chinese restaurant napkins that only concentrate on your animal sign. In this class, we will learn several methods of analysis that result in a unique description of every person.

Don't be surprised also if you find web sites and books that give different names to terms we use - there are MANY schools of thought in Chinese astrology. I will attempt in my explanations to provide all the
different names and terms that I am familiar with for things that have multiple correspondences.

Until a few short years ago, thein formation available on this subject was limited in the English
language - and in the entire Western world. Only recently has information about the more advanced topics of Chinese astrology been available here. I have been lucky enough to travel to both China and
Hong Kong - where I was able to procure some additional material. These will not be used in this class as I cannot expect you to fly across the ocean to purchase textbooks, but I will use "pearls of wisdom" from
them in my lectures from time to time.

We are about to embark upon a magnificent journey into this ancient and amazingly accurate
topic I hope you all find this newly available subject as fascinating as I do!

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Lesson 1: Introduction To Chinese Astrology - The Basics


The Chinese Calendar


In order to truly understand Chinese astrology, we first must look at the Chinese calendar - or calendars as they use both a Lunar and a Solar calendar.

Western civilization uses only one calendar, a solar calendar that was devised by Julius Caesar in 46 BC and modified by Pope Gregory in AD 1582 - but a solar calendar is not fully accurate as the rotation of the Earth around the Sun is not an even number of days. This is why we have a leap year every four years.

The Chinese blend a combination of the solar and lunar calendar- and use both in various applications of astrology. Popular astrology uses the lunar calendar, which is why we have the Chinese New year starting on different days every year. Most Feng Shui astrology (including 4 Pillars analysis) uses the solar calendar.

Evidence of the earliest calendars was dated to the Shang Dynasty (1800-1200 BCE) and was inscribed on Oracle bones. This calendar established the solar year at 365 1/4 days and lunation at 29 1/2 days.
An interesting history of the Chinese calendar (as well as calendars of other civilizations) can be found at http://webexhibits.org/calendars/calenda... .

According to the Chinese lunar calendar, the Winter Solstice must occur in the 11th month of the year, and the Chinese New Year on the second new moon after the solstice. Chinese years, months, and days are also assigned a name based upon the Chinese system of Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches in both solar and lunar calendars. In this cyclical system, each year, month, and day is associated with one of the 10 Heavenly Stems and 12 Earthly Branches.
A week is counted off by these 10 days or stems, and also by 12 days, or branches. Each successive time period will have a new Stem and Branch, until one has been going through the Stems 6 times and the Branches 5 times, to give a total of 60 unique combinations.

The 60 year period is a very important concept in Chinese astrology - we have just entered a new period which began in February of 2004; the 8th period. This means that many of the popular Feng Shui books which gave guidance based on auspicious circumstances for the 7th period are now out of date!

In the case of years and dates, the Stem and Branch method gives a continuous cycle for thousands of years. This is similar for months, but in the case of a leap month, it is assigned its previous month's Branch/Stem combination with the leap designation added. A leap month is added to compensate for the facts that there
isn't an even number of days in a moon cycle, there isn't an even
number of moon cycles in a year, and there are at least three ways of
measuring the length of a moon cycle!

The Chinese also divide time differently than we do in Western culture; a day consists of 12, 120 minute hours.

The solar calendar is called the Hsia calendar, and is used by the farmers as the Sun rules the seasons.
The solar calendar breaks down the year into 24 "mini-seasons" or ch'i chieh. These subdivisions relate to the equinoxes and solstices.

By now, you should have a strong sense of the complexity and accuracy of
the Chinese calendar systems and have a solid basis for understanding
this system of astrology.

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Lesson 1: Introduction To Chinese Astrology - The Basics


The Yearly Animal Signs and Their Characteristics


Many pop Chinese astrology books as well as Chinese restaurant napkins show your animal sign as "all there is" to Chinese astrology. Just like a sun sign in Western astrology, the yearly animal sign is a very important component of an analysis but not the ONLY component.

According to Chinese legend, Buddha invited all of the animals together for a meeting, but only twelve arrived. To honor them, he named a year after each of them. Still another legend replaces Buddha
with the Jade King, giving the rat first place as he so impressed the king by playing the flute. To determine your Chinese animal sign, use the chart on page 6 of the Charts book in your Chinese
Astrology kit. Make careful note of the date the year began if your birthday is in early February or late January. Now that you have your year animal and element - here are the basic characteristics of each sign:

• The Rat
  - Asian cultures do not denigrate the humble rodent as we do in the
  West, the rat is seen as a very clever and intelligent animal. Rats are
  quick witted and nimble. They are very expressive and aggressive, and
  confident, strong business people. They are most loyal to their few
  friends, and make devoted family members.
  
• The Ox - Oxen are very stable, persistent and stubborn
  people with more strength and fortitude than any other sign. They have
  remarkable memories and are highly creative. They are not the most
  social, and prefer being with a few friends rather than at large
  gatherings. They are also patient and very loyal to those close to them
  
• The Tiger - Flamboyant and aggressive, the Tiger is
  also charming and hard to resist. Tigers are always in a hurry,
  pursuing some cause, or passionately involved with a latest interest.
  Tigers are born leaders, but need to learn moderation in all things.
  They can have bad tempers and need to learn to control their passions.
  
• The Rabbit - Whereas the Tiger conquers by force, the
  Rabbit conquers by diplomacy. A Rabbit is very calm, kind, and sweet
  and has many friends. He detests confrontations, and may also be
  insecure and afraid of expressing himself. Rabbits are very deep
  emotionally, and have a strong artistic or poetic streak.
  
• The Dragon - The natural sign of nobility to the
  Chinese people, Dragons are noble in nature and commanding in presence.
  They are aggressive, determined, self-confident and dominant, and can
  also be snobs if they choose to. They love power, but usually handle it
  well. Most Chinese parents aspire to have a Dragon child - as they are
  good luck.
  
• The Snake - Despite the Western negative connotations
  - the Asian snake is a charming intellectual, full of grace and
  intelligence. He is never loud, but very diplomatic and graceful.
  Snakes are philosophers and deep thinkers. A bit lazy, the snake enjoys
  luxury and has an excellent sense of humor.
  
• The Horse - Born to run, Horses are active, physical
  people with lots of energy. They are very productive, hard working
  people as well. Horses love social events, and love the spotlight.
  Innately rebellious, they hate to be pressured or told what to do. The
  horse is cunning and full of "street-smarts". He is also hot-blooded
  and hot tempered.
  
• The Goat - The most creative of all the signs, the
  Goat is also the most insecure. Goats are gentle, artistic, romantic
  and fond of nature. They are not the most organized people, but tend to
  succeed in creative pursuits. They tend to be charming dreamers that
  shy away from confrontations and heavy decision making.
  
• The Monkey - The most fun-loving of all the signs, the
  Monkey loves to be the center of attention. Clever and cheerful, he can
  also be opportunistic and a bit selfish. Monkeys are great at problem
  solving and enjoy listening to the problems of their friends. They also
  cannot hide how they are feeling, and tend to wear their hearts on
  their sleeves.
  
• The Rooster - The perceptive rooster misses nothing,
  and because of his strong analytical skills and fierce determination,
  makes a great business person. Forthright and straightforward, he does
  not play games, rather "what you see is what you get". Roosters have
  strong emotional natures and are fond of social activity.
  
• The Dog - Faithful, loyal and sincere, the Dog is the
  most honest friend to have. He reveres duty, tradition, and honor. He
  shows great courage in adversity, is very reliable, and is a great
  listener. He can also be very righteous and judgmental under adverse
  circumstances.
  
• The Pig - Probably the most generous and honorable
  sign of the Chinese zodiac, Pigs are highly intelligent and have hearts
  of gold. Sadly, they can be taken advantage of by others not so
  generous. Pigs love luxury and have impeccable manners. They also can
  tend to see things through rose colored glasses.
  

Full compatibility analysis of each sign in relation to each other is given in your textbook - this applies not only to other individuals, but also to the year, month and day signs as you will see in future lessons.

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Lesson 1: Introduction To Chinese Astrology - The Basics


The Five Elements and Their Characteristics


Another extremely important concept in Chinese astrology is the concept of the five elements - wood, earth, fire, water and metal. This differs from the Western concept of the elements, which is air, fire, water and earth. Elemental representations are used extensively in Feng Shui as "cures", and each animal sign is accompanied by a yearly element as well.

For example we are now in the year of the Wood or Green Monkey.A brief description of each element is:

• Wood
  - The wood element represents the creative force of nature and all
  things green and growing. It is associated with Spring and new life,
  and the colors green and blue. Wood people are creative, strong and
  resilient - seeking growth and new creation in all that they do. All
  flowers, plants, trees, and things made of wood represent this element.
  The natural shape representing wood is rectangular.
  
• Earth - The earth element nurtures all that we do, and
  represents solidity and grounding. Earth people are firm and resolute -
  we can say they are "down to Earth" - just like in Western astrology.
  They are also practical, hard working and very conservative. The color
  for earth is yellow, just like the loess soil of central China. Natural
  stones, rocks, tiles, bricks, and flat or rectangular shapes represent
  the earth element
  
• Metal - Metal symbolizes autumn, and the tools used in
  the harvest and reaping of produce. The evening also represents the
  metal element - with the golden sunset. Metal people are forceful,
  strong and determined - and can often be driven by a need to succeed.
  All round shapes, knives, jewelry, and tools represent the metal
  element.
  
• Fire - Fire is very similar to the Western
  astrological definition, and symbolizes the life force. It is an
  element of summer, and of the south. Optimism, enthusiasm and
  motivation are governed by fire, as is anger and war. Fire people are
  quite intelligent, impulsive, fervent, and dynamic - true leaders. The
  colors of Fire are orange and red, and the shape associated with fire
  is triangular. Stoves, candles, and hearths all represent the fire
  element.
  
• Water - Also similar to the Western definition, water
  represents emotions and emotional depth. Water is considered cleansing
  in Chinese astrology, and governs all forms of communications and
  travel as well. Water people are fluent, have deep feelings and often
  strong intuitions or psychic powers as well. The colors of water are
  blue and black, and this element is represented by any irregular or
  wavy shape. Fountains, fish ponds, aquariums, and tinkling bells all
  represent the water element.
  

Blending these elements together with our yearly animal sign gives us one more piece of the
puzzle in our interpretations - for example, my husband is a Fire Tiger and I am a Water Tiger - he very enthusiastically initiates tasks that I plan and communicate to others. In many ways we are similar, and in
many others we are different as I have the stronger intuition and communication skills and he has the stronger drive and enthusiasm.

Each animal also has a predominate natural element assigned to it - compatibility between this natural element and the yearly element is a key factor in determining whether a year will be auspicious or not. It
is also very important to understand how the elements relate to each other by looking at the cycle of construction and destruction, as follows: <blockquote>Constructive Elemental Cycle
Wood -> Fire -> Earth -> Metal -> Water -> WoodDestructive Elemental Cycle
Water -> Fire -> Metal -> Wood -> Earth -> Water </blockquote>In the constructive cycle, we say that wood creates fire which creates earth and so forth. This uses the positive manifestations of each of the elements and shows basic compatibility. For instance, a person born in a wood year would have an elemental compatibility with a water or fire year. In the reverse, water puts out fire, which destroys metal, which chops wood, which depletes the earth, which is washed away by water. Two elements next to each other in this cycle are NOT compatible. Pages 16 and 17 of your text detail these cycles as well, and also discuss the concept of a buffer element - if an element is in
between two destructive elements it can lessen their impact.

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Lesson 1: Introduction To Chinese Astrology - The Basics


Yin and Yang: The Need for Balance


The concept of yin and yang is central to Chinese astrology; each year not only has an animal and an element - but also a yin or yang polarity. Chinese astrology emphasizes the concept of balance - one way of calculating your "lucky" element is to look at your 4 Pillars chart (which we will examine in detail in the next lesson) and determine which element you are most lacking. This becomes the element you most need to bring into your life.

Nowhere is the concept of balance more graphically illustrated than in the concepts of yin and yang. Polar opposites, no yin can exist without yang and vice versa. Everything negative that happens to an individual is attributed to a lack of balance between yin and yang and the five elements, and everything that goes right, because a proper balance has been achieved. All changes in the universe occur through the workings of Yin and Yang, and the five elements as they flow through their creative and destructive cycles. This principle correlates with what we learn in modern science - all systems tend towards an equilibrium and will act to return to it if disturbed.

In Chinese literature, the Sun is known as the Great Yang and the Moon, the Great Yin.
Yang represents the masculine principle, and signifies activity, aggressiveness, heat, hardness, and things that are illuminated and evident. Yin represents the feminine principle, and signifies things that are dark, hidden, passive, receptive, yielding, cool, and soft. Light is considered yang, and shadow, yin.

Six animals of the Chinese zodiac are naturally yang, and six are naturally yin. A normally yin animal will manifest more aggressively if found in a yang year. For example, the sign of the Goat is normally yin, but as there are yang goat years there are more assertive goat people to be found. Likewise, a yin Tiger or Dragon will be more subdued than the typical yang Tiger or Dragon.

Each element can also be either Yin or Yang - for example, yin metal would be soft and pliable like silver
while yang metal would be hard like steel. In "real" Feng Shui - it is necessary to add elemental representations of the right polarity as well to correct imbalances. Feng Shui books tell us that the reason
many people remain single is because they have too many representations of one or the other polarity in their home decor (Ex. the single female with ALL flower paintings in the bedroom). A few more examples of items that represent each elemental polarity are:

• Yin Wood - Dried plants, bamboo, paper
  
• Yang Wood - Plants that are green and healthy
  
• Yin Water- Paintings of water, wavy shaped curtains
  
• Yang Water -Fish tanks, fountains
  
• Yin Metal - Silver, trinkets, jewelry
  
• Yang Metal- Knives, swords, steel
  
• Yin Fire - Candles, soft lighting, clove and cinnamon incense
  
• Yang Fire - Fireplaces, stoves, ovens
  
• Yin Earth - Semiprecious and precious stones, dirt
  
• Yang Earth - Rocks, tile, brick
  

In Zi Wei Dou Shu astrology, which we will address in a later lesson, each "palace" of an overall chart is assigned a yin or yang polarity as well. The effect of the stars in each house will vary based on this olarity. Chinese medicine also attributes many diseases to an imbalance of yin or yang - overly yin diseases include obesity, lethargy, depression, or abnormalities of the female organs. Yang diseases are nervous disorders, heart disease, high blood pressure, and fevers/flu. To correct the disorder, the patient is recommended to correct the imbalance in diet and surroundings.

Yin foods are soft and bland, such as rice, milk, oatmeal and pasta. Yang foods are meat, all spices, wine, and tomato sauces. Obviously, an upset stomach is considered a yang condition!

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Lesson 1: Introduction To Chinese Astrology - The Basics


Putting it All Together - The Natural Correspondences of the Animals to Element and Polarity


Now that we have more of the basics under our belts, here is a list of the natural correspondences of each animal sign with respect to element and polarity:

• The Rat - Yang Water
  
• The Ox - Yin Earth
  
• The Tiger - Yang Wood
  
• The Rabbit - Yin Wood
  
• The Dragon - Yang Earth
  
• The Snake - Yin Fire
  
• The Horse - Yang Fire
  
• The Goat (called Sheep in your text)- Yin Earth
  
• The Monkey - Yang Metal
  
• The Rooster- Yin Metal
  
• The Dog- Yang Earth
  
• The Pig - Yin Water
  

What does just the polarity and element tell you about each sign? First of all, the yang signs are more assertive and aggressive than the others. You can expect that a Rat, Tiger, Dragon, Horse, Monkey or Dog will stand up for their beliefs and fight more readily than will the Ox, Rabbit, Snake, Goat, Rooster or Pig! Secondly, as Fire is more aggressive, the Snake is more likely than the other yin signs to be expressive and assertive. Next in line is the yin metal sign - the Rooster, which is known for expressiveness. You may think it is counterintuitive that the Rooster is a yin sign - but look at how the Rooster communicates. The Rooster always has a special finesse about him - which makes him yin.

Now, if we look at the animals that have the same element- we will see that they are yin and yang
manifestations of that element. For instance, the Rat is yang water and the Pig is yin water. Both are communicative, but the Rat is more assertive and aggressive while the Pig is more serving and supportive.

The natural element of each animal is called its Branch element - this is never changing and is also taken into consideration when analyzing a 4 Pillars chart as we will see in the next lesson.

Yet another way of looking at the animal signs is by natural house, as described on page 14 of your Chinese Astrology kit. The six houses are Creativity, Development, Spirituality, Sexuality, Career, and Home Life. A summary of these houses and animal signs within is as follows:

• Creativity: Yang - Rat, Yin-Ox. The Rat is the starter, and the Ox, the finisher
  
• Development: Yang - Tiger, Yin - Rabbit. The Tiger conquers by force, and the Rabbit through negotiation and diplomacy
  
• Spirituality: Yang - Dragon, Yin - Snake. The Dragon is the magician and the Snake, the mystic
  
• Sexuality: Yang - Horse, Yin - Goat. The Horse represents the masculine principle, and the Goat the feminine
  
• Career: Yang - Monkey, Yin - Rooster. The Monkey has dexterity and the Rooster, flair and expressiveness
  
• Home Life: Yang - Dog, Yin - Pig. The Dog builds and protects, the Pig furnishes and makes the home comfortable.
  

It is considered beneficial if a person has two of the same members of a house in their 4 pillars chart, or if their spouse's or business partner's sign completes a house for them even if the natural compatibility between the two signs is not there.
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