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三

一二

四Chinese Animal Zodiac

Know More about “Monkey”

Chinese Traditional Calendar

What does the Monkey Year Mean？

What a Year of the Monkey Is

• 2016 (on the Chinese calendar) is a year of the Monkey, starting from February 8 (Chinese New Year), and ending on January 27, 2017 (Chinese New Year’s Eve).

The Monkey is ninth of the 12 animals in the recurring 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle. Every 12 years there is a Monkey year.

2016 Is a Fire Monkey Year • In Chinese astrology, each year is

associated with a Chinese zodiac animal sign and one of the Five Elements: Gold (Metal), Water, Wood, Fire, or Earth.

• Both the sign and element of your birth year are said to affect your personality and destiny.

• Element-sign combinations recur every 60 years.

The Five Monkeys Born Character

Fire Monkey ... 2016, 1956, ... Ambitious and adventurous, but irritable

Wood Monkey ... 2004, 1944, ... Always ready to help others; compassionate, with strong self-esteem, but stubborn

Water Monkey ... 1992, 1932, ... Smart, quick-witted, fond of being in the limelight, but haughty

Gold Monkey ... 1980, 1920, ... Smart, quick-witted, and confident, but also irritable and stubborn

Earth Monkey ... 1968, 1908, ... Frank, optimistic, and fearless

Are You a Monkey?Monkey Year Start End

2016 February 8, 2016 January 27, 2017

2004 January 22, 2004 February 8, 2005

1992 February 4, 1992 January 22, 1993

1980 February 16, 1980 February 4, 1981

1968 January 30, 1968 February 16, 1969

1956 February 12, 1956 January 30, 1957

1944 January 25, 1944 February 12, 1945

1932 February 6, 1932 January 25, 1933

1920 February 20, 1920 February 7, 1921

1908 February 2, 1908 January 21, 1909

The Lucky Things for "Monkeys"

• Lucky numbers: 4 and 9• Lucky days: the 14th and 28th of any Chinese

lunar calendar month• Lucky colors: white, blue, gold• Lucky flowers: chrysanthemum, crape-myrtle• Lucky directions: north, northwest, west• Lucky months: Chinese lunar months 8 and 12

The Monkey's Traits: Sharp, Smart• People born in a year of the Monkey are witty,

intelligent, and have a magnetic personality. • Personality traits, like mischievousness, curiosity,

and cleverness, make them very naughty. • Monkeys are fast learners and

crafty opportunists.• They have many interests and need partners who

are capable of stimulating them.• Monkeys like to take challenges and they prefer

urban life to rural.

Love Compatibility: Is She/He Compatible with You?

Love compatibility within the Chinese zodiac takes into account the unique characteristics of each animal. Only those whose characteristics match each other well can be good partners.

The Chinese ZodiacGeorge Fox International Center

The Chinese animal zodiac The zodiac is a diagram used by

astrologers to represent the positions of the planets and stars. It is divided into twelve sections, each of which has its own name and symbol. The zodiac is used to try to calculate the influence of the planets on people's lives.

The Chinese animal zodiac, or shengxiao (/shnng-sshyaoww/ ‘born resembling’), is a repeating cycle of 12 years, with each year being represented by an animal and its reputed attributes.

Traditionally these zodiac animals were used to date the years.

What is Your Chinese Zodiac

Animal Sign Rat: 2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960 Ox: 2009, 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961 Tiger: 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962 Rabbit: 2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963 Dragon: 2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964 Snake: 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965 Horse: 2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966 Goat: 2015, 2003, 1991, 1979, 1967 Monkey: 2016, 2004, 1992, 1980, 1968 Rooster: 2017, 2005, 1993, 1981, 1969 Dog: 2018, 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970 Pig: 2019, 2007, 1995, 1983, 1971

Your Chinese Zodiac sign is derived from your birth year,

according to the Chinese lunar calendar

Origins — Why 12 Animals?

• The 12 animals were chosen deliberately, after many revisions. The zodiac animals are either closely related to ancient Chinese people’s daily lives, or have lucky meanings.

• For example, the ox, horse, goat, rooster, pig, and dog are six of the main domestic animals raised by Chinese people; and tiger, rabbit, dragon, and monkey are all loved by the Chinese people.

Origins — Why in That Order?

The 12 Chinese Zodiac animals are in a fixed order according to Chinese Yin and Yang Theory and perceived attributes.

The yin or the yang of the animals is defined based on the odd or even number of their claws (or toes, hoofs). The animals are then arranged in an alternating (complementary) yin-yang sequence.

Usually an animal has is the same number of claws on its front and rear legs. However the rat has four toes on its fore legs and five on its hind legs. As the old saying goes, “a thing is valued in proportion to its rarity”, so the Rat ranks first of the 12 zodiac animals. It uniquely combines the attributes of odd (yang) and even (yin). 4+5=9, and yang is dominant, so the Rat is classified as odd (yang) overall.

Zodiac Animal Toes Per Limb Odd/Even Yin/Yang

Rat 4 front; 5 back (even and) odd (yin and) yangOx 4 even yin

Tiger 5 odd yangRabbit 4 even yinDragon 5 odd yangSnake 0 even yinHorse 1 odd yangGoat 4 even yin

Monkey 5 odd yangRooster 4 even yin

Dog 5 odd yangPig 4 even yin

Origins — Why in That Order?

• Each animal has symbolic meanings given to it by the ancient Chinese.

• These animal attributes comes in six contrasting pairs that must be harmonized, like yin and yang, and are the primary factor governing the order of the zodiac. (Presumably the attributes most valued by ancient Chinese are first and so on.)

• The strong yang attribute comes first, then the balancing yin attribute.

Zodiac Animal Attribute Saying

Rat Wisdom Wisdom without industriousness leads to triviality.

Ox Industriousness Industriousness without wisdom leads to futility.

Tiger Valor Valor without caution leads to recklessness.

Rabbit Caution Caution without valor leads to cowardice.

Dragon Strength Strength without flexibility leads to fracture.

Snake Flexibility Flexibility without strength leads to compromise.

Zodiac Animal Attribute Saying

Horse Forging ahead Forging ahead without unity leads to abandonment.

Goat Unity Unity without forging ahead leads to stagnation.

Monkey Changeability Changeability without being constant leads to foolishness.

Rooster Being constant Being constant without changeability leads to woodenness.

Dog Fidelity Fidelity without amiability leads to rejection.

Pig Amiability Amiability without fidelity leads to immorality.

Chinese Zodiac Hours• In Chinese culture the 12 zodiac animals are also associated with

hours of a day.

• In ancient times, in order to tell the time, people divided a day into twelve 2-hour periods, and designated an animal to represent each period, according to each animal’s “special time”.

• According to Chinese astrology, a person’s personality and life is more decided by his/her birth hour than year. The zodiac hour is widely used for character and destiny analysis.

Rat: 11pm to 1am. This is the time when Rats are most active in seeking food.

Ox: 1am to 3am. This is the time when Oxen begin to chew the cud slowly and comfortably.

Tiger: 3am to 5am. This is the time when Tigers hunt their prey more and show their ferocity.

Rabbit: 5am to 7am.This is the time when the Jade Rabbit is busy pounding herbal medicine on the Moon according to the tale.

Rat Ox Tiger Rabbit Dragon Snake

11pm 1am 3am 5am 7am 9am

to to to to to to

1am 3am 5am 7am 9am 11am

Dragon: 7am to 9amThis is the time when Dragons are hovering in the sky to give rain.

Snake: 9am to 11am.This is the time when Snakes are leaving their caves.

Dog: 7pm to 9pm.This is the time when Dogs carry out their duty of guarding the houses.

Pig: 9pm to 11pm. This is the time when Pigs are sleeping sweetly.

Horse: 11am to 1pm. This is the time when the sun is high overhead and while other animals are lying down for a rest, Horses are still standing.

Goat: 1pm to 3pm. This is the time when Goats eat grass and urinate frequently.

Monkey: 3pm to 5pm. This is the time when Monkeys are lively.

Rooster: 5pm to 7pm.This is the time when Roosters begin to get back to their coops.

Horse Goat Monkey Rooster Dog Pig

11am 1pm 3pm 5pm 7pm 9pm

to to to to to to

1pm 3pm 5pm 7pm 9pm 11pm

Chinese Zodiac Love Compatibility

• People born in a certain animal year are believed to have attributes of that animal, which could either help or hinder a relationship.

• An important use of the Chinese Zodiac is to determine if (the signs of) two people are compatible, in a romantic relationship or any kind of relationship.

Chinese Traditional Calendar

• The Chinese traditional Calendar is Called “Lunar Calendar”. Unlike Gregorian calendar, Lunar calendar is based on lunar cycles or phases of the moon instead of the orbit of the Earth around the sun.

Chinese Traditional Calendar-Lunar Calendar

• The Chinese calendar is still used to determine the days of traditional festivals, such as Chinese New Year and Mid-Autumn.

• It is used by some for celebrating birthdays, and even for agriculture (when to plough, plant, harvest, etc.) .

• The Chinese calendar is still popular among the Chinese people for Chinese zodiac horoscopes and choosing auspicious days for weddings, funerals, relocation, etc.

The 24 Solar Terms

• The 24 solar terms, based on the sun's position in the zodiac, were created by farmers in ancient China to guide the agricultural affairs and farming activities.

• The 24 solar terms reflect the changes in climate, natural phenomena, agricultural production, and other aspects of human life, including clothing, food, housing, and transportation.