Astro*Dictionary
by Michael Erlewine

2 articles for
"Chinese"

The twelve signs of Chinese astrology differ from those used in Western astrology, as does their basis, which is not the Sun's transit through the sky but yearlong periods in a cycle of twelve years. Chinese astrology makes use of five elements: water, fire, earth (as in Western astrology), metal, and wood. The elements are given a cycle of ten years, two years to an element (following an order of metal, water, wood, fire, and earth). The elements are ruled by planets and have familiar Western interpretations: metal-Venus; water-Mercury; wood-Jupiter; fire-Mars; earth-Saturn.

The order of signs (or zodiac symbols) in Chinese astrology, given with recent year intervals and elements, is as follows. (Every 60 years, the same sign-element pairings repeat.)

 

See also:
Astrology

Based on the lunar cycle, the time between two New Moons being a month. Astrologically, there are 28 lunar houses, one for each day's passage of the Moon. Since the time between New Moons (synodic period) is not exactly 28 days, some months are given a day or two more to keep the cycle in balance. There are twelve months in the Chinese year. Sometimes one intercalary month is added to the twelve to maintain a rough synchrony between the solar and lunar cycles. Chinese New Year is the second New Moon after the Winter Solstice.

 

See also:
♦ Synodic Period