Teach Yourself Japanese
Message Board

Subject: Re: The Chinese Zodiac
From: TAKASUGI Shinji (tssf.airnet.ne.jp)
Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2001 05:00:45 GMT
References: 1

> By my year of birth, I'm an Ox, but by month I'm a Dragon. Which one do people usually use?

Use your birth year's animal. As you know, two of the animals are different in China and Japan.

OrderSymbolPronunciationAnimalDirectionTimeMonth*Season#
MandarinJapaneseChinaJapan
1子zĭね, ねずみRat0°
(North)		12 a.m.
(Midnight)		November
(Winter solstice)		Winter
2丑chŏuうしOx30°2 a.m.December
3寅yínとらTiger60°4 a.m.JanuarySpring
4卯măoう, うさぎRabbit90°
(East)		6 a.m.February
(Vernal equinox)
5辰chénたつDragon120°8 a.m.March
6巳sìみ, へびSnake150°10 a.m.AprilSummer
7午wŭうまHorse180°
(South)		12 p.m.
(Noon)		May
(Summer solstice)
8未wèiひつじGoatSheep210°2 p.m.June
9申shēnさるMonkey240°4 p.m.JulyAutumn
10酉yŏuとりChicken270°
(West)		6 p.m.August
(Autumnal equinox)
11戌xūいぬDog300°8 p.m.September
12亥hàiい, いのししPigBoar330°10 p.m.OctoberWinter

* The ancient Chinese calendar is about one month behind the Western calendar.
# The seasons are defined by the position of the sun, not temperature.


Reply to this message

Show this thread
Return to the index


Program Copyright(C) TAKASUGI Shinji (tssf.airnet.ne.jp)