Chinese Astrology - Introduction

Chinese astrology is the divination of the future, and an understanding of self, others, and our environment based on the Chinese calendar and its 12 year cycle of animals known as the Chinese zodiac. Chinese astrology also incorporates the placement and movements of the five major planets, each associated with a natural element. The combination of the animals' characteristics with those of the elements is what guides the astrologer in divination.

According to Chinese Astrology, a person's destiny can be determined by the position of the major planets in relation to the Sun, Moon, and comets, this position serving as a modifier to the characteristics of the zodiac sign associated with the person's time and date of birth. This system originated from observations of the orbit of Jupiter, known in Chinese as the "year star". Following the orbit of Jupiter around the sun, Chinese astronomers identified 12 sections to its full circle, thus the 12 year cycle.

The process of divination is comprised of many components, but can be simplified by understanding the interaction of two separate cycles and their influences on each other. First is the cycle of the heavenly stems Jupiter (wood); Venus (metal); Mercury (water); Mars (fire); and Saturn (earth). Secondly, the Earthly Branches, is the cycle of the earth through all its seasons which we understand in terms of one full year. This cycle is comprised of the 12 animal zodiac signs. They are in order as follows: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.

Yin and yang is an ancient concept of the balance of two opposing, yet complementary aspects of any one phenomenon. Yin-yang philosophy implies that everything has opposing aspects and only when both sides are present, is any phenomenon complete. Each of the five elements of the heavenly stems has a yin and a yang quality. The 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac, one for each year in the cycle, represent 12 different personality types. Traditionally, the cycle begins with the rat (yang) and ends with the pig (yin). This cycle produces a perfect balance of yin and yang.

The balance of yin and yang and the five elements in a person's make-up has a major bearing on the characteristics of the zodiac sign under which a person was born. These are the primary factors considered in the divination of future in Chinese philosophy.

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