A Back Glimpse at the Chinese Zodiac

By: johnlloyd
Nothing in specific could the answer be when asked why they get hooked with horoscope
reading and the like. Walking along downtown China, one could sense the spirit of a well
retained cultural heritage attached way back centuries ago. Along the streets are sumptuous food,
china wares, dry goods and even shops like psychic reading. As the year unfolds, each coming
year would always be associated with Chinese characters that stand to represent the year. These
characters determine and are interpreted to gage how the year would be.... struggling or on its
top.
A Look at History
The long and winding Chinese Zodiac fad can be traced dating from 2637 B.C. When it's first
cycle was introduced. It takes 60 years to complete the cycle, and each is made up of five cycles
of twelve years each. The 78th will end on February 2044, it started on February 1984. For each
of the twelve years, a specific animal is assigned to it. Legend says that, Lord Buddha summoned
all the animals to come to him before he departed from earth. Only the twelve, came to bid him
goodbye. To reward the animals, he named a year after each one in the order that it arrived. The
order is as follows; Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, monkey, Rooster, Dog and
Boar. According to ancient beliefs, the animal that rules in the year to which they are born has a
profound influence on their life.
Looking Deeper
Five main elements, Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water is combined with each of the animal
signs during the complete 60-year cycle. What exercises influence on once life is the element of
the lunar sign.
A primal part of Oriental philosophy is the relationships among the five elements. These are
divided into Conducive and Controlling interrelationships, and are as follows:
Conducive and contributing factor
We get water from metal. This implies that metal could be a container or any vessel for holding
water. Corollarily, we can say that metal catches water. One idea to be deducted, is the feature of
metal as the only element changeable into liquid when heated.
Woods existence can be attributed from water. The water in this sense is the dew or rain that
enables plants to grow into life, thus it produce wood.In order to produce fire, wood is necessary.
Fire cannot independently exist and necessitates the existence of burning wood. Ashes comes
from the remnants of fire which becomes part of the earth again. It can be gainsaid that from fire
we get earth. For metal to exist, it must be extracted from the earth, thus from earth we get metal.
Controlling

The existence of the five elements are interdependent of each other and each is controlled by
another. It is thus presumed that; Since metal can be forged or melted with heat. Metal is
controlled by Fire. Water is the only means to put out fire easily, thus it can be concluded that
fire is controlled by water. Water is controlled by Earth. Canals are dug in the earth to irrigate
fields or construct dikes to keep out or absorb water. Earth is dominated by Wood. Trees and
their roots hold the soil together and get their food from the earth. Wood is controlled by Metal.
Even the largest tree can be felled by the metal blade of an Axe.
In a nut shell
Anchored form the interpretations, Luna or the moon being the closest heavenly body on earth
has shown visible power to man since the dawn of man's existence.
The interrelation of these elements and beliefs as apart of human existence drives mankind to
continuously attached to this belief. Reliance to its implication to ones living has been looked
after since time immemorial. Man's innate character to be connected with natural phenomena
explains the continuous patronage and belief with signs. As far as Chinese Zodiac crazes is
concern, there is nothing wrong with believing. Time tested passed from generation s to
generations made it more intriguing and interesting. The interest to divulge what concerns the
forthcoming year with elements and Chinese Zodiacs is just a natural and spontaneous reaction
of humans. As long as we are living, we get crazy over anything. Crazy but sane.
The Writer johnlloyd used to write for Universal Psychic Guild the online psychics and astrology
sites which offer live tarot reading, free daily horoscope, numerology and more.