While Western Astrology is based upon the months of the year, Chinese Astrology is based upon a twelve year lunar cycle. Your sign is determined by the year in which you were born (to be accurate you must use a Chinese calendar). Each sign and those born under it, are represented by one of twelve animals, and are ascribed a set of attributes the Chinese believe comprise the nature of each particular animal.
Legend has it the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac were chosen by Buddha. When Buddha was near death he invited all the animals to visit him. Only 12 came: the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. For visiting him, Buddha honored each by using them to represent the 12 phases of the Zodiac. One of the most interesting uses of the Chinese Zodiac is exploring the compatibility of signs. That is, which duos will make good lovers? friends? partners? Use the tools below to discover how different signs match, to find your sign, or to learn more about any of the 12 signs.
The development of Chinese astrology is tied to that of astronomy, which came to flourish during the Han Dynasty (2nd century BC to 2nd century AD).
Chinese astrology has a close relation with Chinese philosophy (theory of the three harmony, heaven, earth and water) and different "principles" to Western: the wu xing teachings, yin and yang, astronomy: five planet, the 10 Celestial stems, the 12 Earthly Branches, the lunisolare calendar (moon calendar and sun calendar), the time calculation after year, month, day and shichen.
According to Chinese astrology, a person's destiny can be determined by the position of the major planets at the person's birth along with the positions of the Sun, Moon and comets and the person's time of birth and Zodiac Sign. The system of the twelve-year cycle of animal signs was built from observations of the orbit of Jupiter. Following the orbit of Jupiter around the sun, Chinese astronomers divided the celestial circle into 12 sections, and rounded it to 12 years (from 11.86). Jupiter is associated with the constellation Sheti and is sometimes called Sheti.
Introduction
The horoscope serves as a stylized map of the heavens over a specific location at a particular moment in time. In most applications the perspective is geocentric (heliocentric astrology being one exception). The positions of the actual planets (including Sun and Moon) are placed in the chart, along with those of purely calculated factors such as the lunar nodes, the house cusps including the midheaven and the ascendant, zodiac signs, fixed stars and the lots. Angular relationships between the planets themselves and other points, called aspects, are typically determined. Which elements are used or emphasized over others varies by traditions.
Etymology
The word Latin horoscopus, ultimately from Greek ὡρόσκοπος “nativity, horoscope”, literally “observer of the hour [of birth]“, from ὥρα “time, hour” and σκόπος “observer, watcher”. In Middle English texts from the 11th century, the word appears in the Latin form, and is anglicized to horoscope in Early Modern English. The noun horoscopy for “casting of horoscopes” has been in use since the 17th century (OED). In Greek, ὡρόσκοπος in the sense of “ascendant” and ὡροσκοπία “observation of the ascendant” is in use since Ptolemy (Tetrabiblos 33, 75).
* There are four primary angles in the horoscope (though the cusps of the houses are often included as important angles by some astrologers). The ascendant is the eastern point where the ecliptic and horizon intersect; the ascendant is generally considered the most important and personalized angle (along with the midheaven) in the horoscope by the vast majority of astrologers and the placement of its ruler, called the chart ruler is considered to be greatly important. Its opposite point in the west is the descendant. In creating a horoscope the ascendant is traditionally placed as the left-hand side point of the chart. During the course of a day, because of the Earth’s rotation, the entire circle of the ecliptic will pass through the ascendant and will be advanced by about 1°. This provides us with the term rising sign, which is the sign of the zodiac that was rising in the point on the ecliptic that is furthest above the plane of the horizon (not to be confused with zenith, which is normal to the horizon and so directly above the horoscope location). Its opposite point is known as the imum coeli (not to be confused with nadir, which is the opposite point of the zenith on the reverse side of the horizon). For events occurring where the planes of the ecliptic and the horizon coincide, the limiting position for these points is located 90° from the ascendant.
This powerful combination promises that 2010 will be anything but dull! Under this influence, gentle souls will enjoy extra self-confidence, and adventurous types can be especially
outgoing and brave. Tiger energy contributes a welcome dash of excitement and promise to a world that has been buffeted by change.
People usually feel more determined and stubborn under the influence of metal. This energy must be handled with care. Knives, made of metal, demonstrate both the capacity to injure or to heal when skillfully used. It is especially important this year to avoid sudden, impulsive choices. For Rats, this year will be similar to a rafting trip through white water rapids. Happiness will be found in simplicity, and ambitious Rats must make every effort to go with the flow if they do not want periodic cases of "nerves." The steady and reliable Ox is likely to find ongoing challenges to the usual way they do things. High-energy displays of emotion can be difficult to bear. The secret to happiness is to be very adaptable and, above all, keep your sense of humor!
This is Tiger's year and brings numerous opportunities to build a better future. Wise Tigers must keep things in perspective. You will be smart to surround yourself with a close circle of trusted advisers.
Gentle Rabbits will enjoy both the admiration and encouragement of others. Tiger energy helps you overcome fears and surrender worries. Make it a policy to accept any invitation that allows you to show off your creative talents. Power-loving Dragons can expect a lucky year. Tiger encourages calculated risks and breaking new ground. Your confidence allows you to develop skills and show your strengths to the best advantage. An uncompromising attitude will slow progress. For cautious and careful Snakes, Tiger energy encourages impulsive choices on the part of others. As a result, Snakes may prefer working independently as much as possible. You will be happiest in the company of people you trust and know well.
Horse natives are particularly compatible with Tiger. Expect events to start moving in positive directions. People will be interested in helping you get ahead. Family problems can be less troublesome. This is a lucky time to do anything you passionately enjoy. This can be a fantastic year for gentle Goats. Buoyant Tiger energy encourages a more social and optimistic view of life. This is a lovely time to plan parties and find new friends. Make your home a peaceful haven for the people you like best. Talented and analytical Monkeys can be frustrated in a Tiger year by unexpected changes and other people's uncompromising attitudes. There can be complicated power struggles, especially in the summer months. For the best results, you will have to demonstrate patience. Tiger brings innovative Roosters to a crossroads. Challenges will help you decide what matters most. Arguments and conflicts have an ultimately positive outcome in any area you feel passionately about. Do your best to diplomatic.
Tiger energy brings good luck to loyal Dogs. You can find true love or learn to express your feelings in a more passionate way. Expect to make a big difference in your community if you follow your humanitarian interests. This can be a very happy year for Pig natives. Tiger energy encourages a spirit of cooperation and a desire to have fun. You may be particularly effective stepping up to help others. Expect to find joy in love. Want a more detailed forecast for your animal sign? Select your sign and read more about your upcoming year. May the Metal Tiger bring you the courage and skill to achieve your greatest dreams!
In astrology, a horoscope is a chart or diagram representing the positions of the Sun, Moon, planets, the astrological aspects, and sensitive angles at the time of an event, such as the moment of a person’s birth. The word horoscope is derived from Greek words meaning “a look at the hours” (horoskopos, pl. horoskopoi, or “marker(s) of the hour.”) Other commonly used names for the horoscope in English include astrological chart, astro-chart, celestial map, sky-map, star-chart, cosmogram, vitasphere, radical chart, radix, chart wheel, or simply chart.
It is used as a method of divination regarding events relating to the point in time it represents and forms the basis of the horoscopic traditions of astrology. However, no studies have shown any scientific support for the accuracy of horoscopes, and the methods used to make interpretations are, at best, pseudo-scientific.
In common usage, horoscope often refers to an astrologer’s interpretation, usually through a system of Sun sign astrology or based on calendar significance of an event, as in Chinese astrology. In particular, many newspapers and magazines carry predictive columns based on celestial influences in relation to the zodiacal placement of the Sun on the day of a person’s birth, identifying the individual’s Sun sign or “star sign” based on a conventional zodiac (which is not the celestial one). Such a concept is distinct from horoscopes as typically employed, where only the traditional zodiacal placement of the Sun is considered in interpretation[1]. While this modern usage is perhaps the most popular in the colloquial lexicon, this article will focus primarily on the traditional concept.
The zodiac refers to the 16° wide band on the celestial sphere containing the signs. It is centered on the ecliptic, occurs at the exact moment that the Sun crosses the celestial equator and enters the zodiac sign of Aries. Astrologers in India and some Western astrologers use the sidereal zodiac, which corresponds to the ancient position of the constellations as they were viewed thousands of years ago. Many people are confused regarding the difference between the sidereal constellations and the tropical zodiac signs. Because of a “wobble” in the Earth’s axis of rotation over a period of about 26,000 years (this 26,000 year period is often called a “great year”), the point at which the vernal equinox advances in the sky rate is approximately 0 deg, 0 min, 50.23 seconds a year. Precession of the equinoxes thus occurs at a rate of roughly 5 arc minutes of a degree every 6 years. Sidereal and so the signs relate to the seasons and not the stars. Here is an example: a person born on, say August 28, 2002 would come to understand that his/her Sun sign was Virgo according to western astrology (conventional Sun sign dates August 23, to September 22, of every year), but Sun on that same calendar date of the year 2002 was in the constellation Leo (where it had been since August 10, 2002 and would remain until September 15, when it would then finally cross into Virgo).
It is also important to note that some astrologers don’t use the signs of the zodiac at all, focusing more instead on the astrological aspects and other features of the horoscope.