Chinese Calendar in Simple Language
Why were these 12 animals chosen for the calendar and what customs and examples await people born in their year?
The calendar is a system of timekeeping. The history of the Chinese calendar is more than 4000 years old. The source of information for us today is the Beijing Chinese Observatory (1442), where four centuries ago the entrance to ordinary people was prohibited.
There are currently three calendar systems used in China:
- solar calendar (Gregorian)
- lunar
- Gan Zhi (Agricultural Calendar)
According to the solar calendar, the earth revolves around the sun. One revolution equals one calendar year or almost 365 days, which also equals 12 months. Each year begins on January 1.
According to the lunar calendar, the moon revolves around the earth and one full revolution equals one month. Twelve revolutions make up a year, which consists of almost 354 days.
To bring this system into line with the Gregorian calendar, an extra month appears once every three years, twice every five years, and seven times every nineteen years.
The beginning of the year is considered from the first day of the first month - this is the spring holiday. Therefore, the New Year in Russia and the New Year in China are celebrated in different months.
The agricultural calendar is a combination of the heavenly pillars and earthly branches: the decimal and duodecimal cycles that form the year, month, day and hour. Each year consists of a decimal set - shi gan 十干 ("ten stems") and a duodecimal set - er shi zhi 十二支
("twelve branches").
The Chinese calendar is invariably associated with twelve animals.
| Zodiac sign | Zodiac Year (Starts with Chinese New Year) |
| Rat | 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 |
| Bull | 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021 (February 12) |
| Tiger | 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022 (February 1st) |
| Rabbit | 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023 (January 22) |
| Dragon | 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024 |
| Snake | 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025 |
| Horse | 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026 |
| Goat | 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027 |
| Monkey | 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028 |
| Rooster | 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029 |
| Dog | 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030 |
| Pig | 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031 |
The calendar animal was used for chronology in ancient times probably because people had a predominantly figurative way of thinking, there were no Arabic numerals, and emperors often changed the names of the years, so it was very difficult for ordinary people to remember. Therefore, the idea of designating years with animals appeared.
Liu Huayuan (Folklore Specialist)
These included those that were closer to people, and as for the order of their location, there is no reliable explanation, but it can be assumed that it is associated with the biological rhythms of these animals, continues Liu Huayuan. Mice are most active at night. At dawn, farmers take bulls out to the fields. Tigers follow the bulls out to hunt. From 5 to 7 in the morning, rabbits eat grass, that is, each task has its own time. From 7 to 9 and when the fog rolls in, this is the time of the dragon. From 9 to 11, snakes go hunting, and at noon, this is the time for horses to rest and have lunch. The second half of the day is the best time to herd goats. At three o'clock in the afternoon, monkeys like to play and frolic. After three, work ends, everyone goes home. Chickens and roosters walk in the yards. Bulls and goats return to the barns. A classic picture of happy village life is observed.
Thus, more than two thousand years ago, the Chinese used 12 zodiac animals for time and chronology. In ancient China, one day was divided into 12 big hours. Each big hour was equal to two hours and was designated by some animal. Chronology using 12 calendar animals is conducted in the same order.
23:00-01:00 Rat
01:00-03:00 Bull
03:00-05:00 Tiger
05:00-07:00 Rabbit
07:00-09:00 Dragon
09:00-11:00 Snake
11:00-13:00 Horse
13:00-15:00 Goat
15:00-17:00 Monkey
17:00-19:00 Rooster
19:00-21:00 Dog
21:00-23:00 Pig
If a person was born in the year of the monkey, does it mean a lucky year for him?
Everything is just the opposite, we believe that our year is not the best, there will be a lot of trouble. Buy yourself red clothes or jewelry, you can also buy a talisman to ward off trouble, but do not worry.
Beijing Folklore Museum Tour Guide
The year of fate is the year of the calendar animal to which a person belongs. Why is the year of fate considered dangerous? People watched the death of animals, ended with another 12-year cycle and this could not but instill fear in the souls of the people, so they asked for blessings in ways known to them. For example, they wore red clothes, red socks, and so on.
Red symbolized fire, it was fire that gave impetus to the development of human civilization, so wearing red clothes was equal to success. In fact, the danger of the year of fate has no scientific confirmation. Wearing red clothes today is just a tribute to tradition.
The material was prepared on the basis of a report CCTV Russian
