(Beijing Weekend)
Updated: 2007-02-19 10:16

12 zodiac animals

Many young couples are keen to have kids this year, as they believe babies born in the year of the pig will be extra lucky in life.

Traditionally, Chinese have associated 12 symbolic animals to denote the year of a person's birth. The 12 animals that make a 12-year cycle are lined in an order rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. The general name given to these 12 animals is shengxiao (birth resemblance), or shuxiang (belonged feature).

The origin of why the 12 animals were lined up as they are remains a mystery, but there are some legends about the signs. One has it that the emperor in heaven decided to select 12 palace guardians from the animals kingdom. They were lined up according to their respective arrival times.

Another legend has it that the 12 animals are later adopted to associate with the 12 two-hour periods into which the day was formerly divided, before the introduction of western chronology. They are ordered according to their habit of work and rest during the day. For example, the rat reigns between 11pm-1am, as it is most active then; the tiger reigns between 3am-5am, when it begins to look for prey; the chicken reigns between 5pm-7pm, the time when it comes back to roost; The pig reigns between 9pm-11pm, when it sleeps and all is quiet and peaceful.

Birth year

Every person has his/her benmingnian (self fate year), which is every 12th year after the year of one's birth).

It is believed that one has to be very careful and cautious during their benmingnian, as it is deemed to be a "bad, precarious year". To ensure that they have a smooth year, people wear auspicious red garments, like red belts, red socks, red pants or red decorations such as a red-stringed bracelet, to make sure that they are protected and they stay safe and sound. Only when the year passes can they stop wearing these special red items.

This custom remains strong, even in today's modern China, as people always hope for the best and try to steer away from any danger so as to have a peaceful year.

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