How understanding the Chinese lunar zodiac can help you achieve peace in your interpersonal relationships.

What is the Chinese Zodiac?

“The Chinese zodiac, or Sheng Xiao (生肖), is a repeating 12-year cycle of animal signs and their ascribed attributes, based on the lunar calendar. In order, the zodiac animals are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig.”

Find out more about the Chinese New Year here.

This means that every year in a twelve year cycle has a specific animal dedicated to it, and people born in that year are said to be likely to display certain specific attributes.

For a full list of years, with their corresponding animals, click here

Now that you’ve figured out what you are, and who you share your life with, lets explore what that means:

“Rat: quick-witted, smart, charming, and persuasive

Ox: patient, kind, stubborn, and conservative

Tiger: authoritative, emotional, courageous, and intense

Rabbit: popular, compassionate, and sincere

Dragon: energetic, fearless, warm-hearted, and charismatic

Snake: charming, gregarious, introverted, generous, and smart

Horse: energetic, independent, impatient, and enjoy traveling

Sheep: mild-mannered, shy, kind, and peace-loving

Monkey: fun, energetic, and active

Rooster: independent, practical, hard-working, and observant

Dog: patient, diligent, generous, faithful, and kind

Pig: loving, tolerant, honest, and appreciative of luxury”

Want to delve a bit deeper then read more 

How to manage your menagerie:

Let’s say that you have three or four different animals in one household. It could be fun to figure out which animals pair up well and to see who grinds each other’s gears.

Who fits where?

The 3 animals which are evenly spaced from one another in the zodiac circle are generally considered to be good matches.

Rat, Dragon and Monkey; Ox, Snake and Rooster; Tiger and Horse and Dog; Rabbit, Sheep and Pig are suitable for one another.

Animals on opposite sides of the circle are poor matches. Dog and Dragon, Rooster and Rabbit for example.

Image Source: https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/chinese-zodiac/

All in good fun!

Yes, this might be a bit mystical, a bit airy fairy and not completely scientific…But hey – its fun, its light-hearted and it might just make those family get togethers a bit less stressful if the Ox and the Goat aren’t left alone at the braai for too long.

2023

The Chinese New Year was celebrated on Sunday, 22 January 2023.  According to the Gregorian calendar, we are now entering the year of the fourth animal in the Chinese zodiac, the Rabbit.