Many local residents — as well as those around the world — will be celebrating the Vietnamese New Year, or set, this weekend. And by doing so, will usher in the year of the Dog. What are the meanings behind the Asian zodiac signs. Community member Adrian Dang offers us some insight.
The Asian Zodiac was originated in China unknown number of millennia ago. Some people believe that it came about during the Han’s Dynasty. Some folks call it “the Chinese Zodiac,” which is not inappropriate. Although the Chinese people invented it, much of Eurasia observes the Asian Zodic which includes such countries as Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. It is an astrological system or scheme to assign an animal sign to each year following the sequence of 12 animals. The 12 animal signs in proper sequence are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit/Cat, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat Monkey Rooster, Dog, and Pig/Boar. For example: if this year is the year of the Rat, next year will be the Ox to follow the proper order.
There are 10 modifiers, let us call them Mods for lack of an accurate translated term, to prefix the signs. These Mods serve to modify the signs in much of the way an adjective modifies a noun. For example: a Canh Rat is different from a Tan Rat. The Mods are as follows in proper order: Canh, Tân, Nhâm, Quý, Giáp, Ất, Bính, Đinh, Mậu, Kỷ.
As the sign changes each year, the Mod also changes in the right sequence to give unique characteristics to the sign and the year under the subject sign. For example, if this year is Canh Rat, next year will be Tân Ox, the following year will be Nhâm Tiger, and so on and so forth… In a cycle of sixty (60) years, the same Mod and Sign will repeat again. For example: the year of 1960 was Canh Rat; We will see Canh Rat again in year 2020.
This 12-animal system is also employed to identify time of the day in 2-hour increments. The first time-period is the Rat Period beginning with 23:00 (or 11:00 PM) and ending at 00:59 (or 0:59 AM). Incidentally, the next time period is the Ox Period running from 1:00 AM until 2:59 AM. The last is the Pig Period from 9:00 pm TO 10:59 PM.
The Time Diagram
- • Rat Period: 23:00 to 00:59. This is the time when Rats are most active in seeking food. Rats also have a different number of digits on front and hind legs, thus earning Rat the symbol of “turn over” or “new start”.
- • Ox Period: 01:00 to 02:59. This is the time when Oxen begin to chew the cud slowly and comfortably.
- • Tiger Period: 03:00 to 04:59. This is the time when Tigers hunt their prey more and show their ferocity.
- • Rabbit/Cat Period: 05:00 to 06:59. This is the time when the Jade Rabbit is busy pounding herbal medicine on the Moon according to the tale.
- • Dragon Period: 07:00 to 08:59. This is the time when Dragons are hovering in the sky to give rain.
- • Snake Period: 09:00 to 10:59. This is the time when Snakes are leaving their caves.
- • Horse Period: 11:00 to 12:59. This is the time when the sun is high overhead and while other animals are lying down for a rest, Horses are still standing.
- • Goat Period: 13:00 to 14:59. This is the time when Goats eat grass and urinate frequently.
- • Monkey Period: 15:00 to 16:59. This is the time when Monkeys are lively.
- • Rooster Period: 17:00 to 18:59. This is the time when Roosters begin to get back to their coops.
- • Dog Period: 19:00 to 20:59. This is the time when Dogs carry out their duty of guarding the houses.
- • Pig Period: 21:00 to 22:59. This is the time when Pigs are sleeping sweetly.
This system is also assigned to seasons of the year.
Spring: Tiger, Rabbit/Cat, and Dragon.
Summer: Snake, Horse, and Goat.
Autumn: Monkey, Rooster, and Dog.
Winter: Pig/Boar, Rat, and Ox.
The Asian Zodiac signs also serve to determine directions and bearings on the compass.
Tiger: 314˚ – 329˚, Rabbit/Cat : 344˚ – 359˚, Dragon: 14˚ – 29˚, Snake: 44˚ – 59˚, Horse: 74˚ – 89˚, Goat: 104˚ – 119˚, Monkey: 134˚ – 149˚, Rooster: 164˚ – 181˚, Dog: 194˚ – 211˚, Pig/Boar: 224˚ – 244˚, Rat: 251˚ – 271˚, Ox: 284˚ – 299˚.
Each sign has its own characteristics and personality that may affect the people born under it. The details of a person’s personalities and his/her pre-conceived destiny would depend on many other aspects such as exact time of birth and positions of satellite planets, and the like. This article does not focus on horoscope; the author intends solely to share overall information about the Asian Zodiac.
There are four groups of signs that are similar in characteristics who are, therefore, compatible. These groups are also known as “trines.” These signs are the fourth slot from each other as we go around the circular pattern of the Zodiac. For example: the Rat – – – the Dragon – – – the Monkey would be in the same trine.
The First Trine: includes the Rat, the Dragon, and the Monkey. The signs in this trine are believe to be powerful, intelligent, dynamic, charismatic, authoritative, manipulative, persuasive, and confident; they make great leaders. On the softer side, these signs can be artistic, charming, magnanimous, and jealous.
The Second Trine: consists of the Ox, the Snake, and the Rooster. The characteristics of the signs in this group show energy, endurance, energy. They are detailed oriented, meticulous in planning, but they tend to be opinionated. These signs are intelligent, diligent, industrious, philosophical, egoistical, vain, judgmental and narrow or small-minded. On the soft side, they can be good-hearted, modest, morally sound, and loyal.
The Third Trine: has the Tiger, the Horse, and the Dog. The three signs in this trine tend to seek true love, humanitarian causes; they try to be idealistic in their own ways. These signs are independent, engaging, dynamic, honorable, loyal where they choose to be; they are sometimes overly protective of their loved ones to the point of being dictatorial and controlling. On the more unfavorable side, these signs may be rash, argumentative, quarrelsome, nervous, disagreeable and/or stubborn.
The Fourth Trine: includes the Rabbit/Cat, Goat and Pig/Boar. The three signs of this trine are believed to be calm in nature; they have a somewhat reasonable approach. They are artistic and seek beautiful things. They possess good manners and are compassionate, yet they may be detached and resigned to their condition. These signs are obliging, caring, self-sacrificing, sensible, empathetic, tactful and prudent. On the negative side, people under the signs of this trine may be naïve, inflexible, insecure, selfish indecisive, or pessimistic.
There are also three groups of four signs that are incompatible. Any two signs that are opposite of each other on the chart would be highly incompatible. The other two signs in the foursome are also not compatible, but they do not clash seriously as the two opposites. For example: the Rat is directly across the chart from the Horse; these two do not get along and are not kind to one another. The Rabbit/Cat and the Rooster are also in the same group of four signs; they are not compatible to the Rat and the Horse but not grave as the Rat vs the Horse.
Compatibility does not only mean personality clash. It may also mean that the people under these signs may experience one or more, or all of the following. They:
- • Cannot stand each other’s personalities.
- • Cannot reside together.
- • Cannot do things together such as running business or sharing a project.
- • Cannot be married.
- • Cannot go into investment together, including gambling together, bad luck!
- • Cannot have mutual agreement, cannot have a peaceful conversation.
The First Incompatible Quartet: This group include the Rat, the Horse, the Rabbit/Cat, and the Rooster. The Rat is the opposite of the Horse, and the Rabbit/Cat is the opposite of the Rooster.
The Second Incompatible Quartet: This group include the Tiger, the Monkey, the Snake, and the Pig/Boar. The Tiger is the opposite of the Monkey, and the Snake is the opposite of the Pig/Boar.
The Third Incompatible Quartet: This group include the Ox, the Goat, the Dragon, and the Dog. The Ox is the opposite of the Goat, and the Dragon is the opposite of the Dog.
