The zodiac

The original use of the Zodiac was to record the years. The zodiac is the name given to the imaginary band of the ecliptic encircling the earth. According to astrologers, it is like a belt in the space, about 15 degrees wide, across which the planets move and form their geometrical relationships. And astrologers understand the movement of the planets and the sun through the zodiac as a method to explain and predict events on earth. They divide the circle of the ecliptic into twelve parts.

Signs of the Zodiac

Related but mot exactly identical to the constellations of the same name, the twelve divisions are called the signs of the zodiac in the west. The 12 signs of the zodiac are Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. They circle yearly in this sequence.

Chinese Zodiac

In Chinese astrology we have a 12-year cycle of animal signs. Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Boar are the twelve Chinese animal signs. They have greatly influenced Chinese lifestyle for thousands of years. The people born under different animals are believed to display certain traits and qualities. For example, people born in the year of the Dragon are regarded as having the most power, authority, and leadership qualities for success by the Chinese.

Zodiac around the World

Zodiac beliefs are not exclusive to China. It is said that Japanese, Korean and Cambodian zodiacs are the same as the Chinese because of ancient cultural influences. Vietnam, ancient Babylon and Africa also had similar systems of twelve zodiac animals. The animals are not identical though. The Vietnam system has Cat instead of Rabbit, while the Babylonian signs for Aries, Taurus, Scorpio etc. became matched with the western system of constellations. An age-old tribe in Africa, though has a system identical to the Chinese one, apart from having a crocodile in the place of the dragon. Is this a case of “great minds thinking alike” among different peoples, or was it that the zodiac originated in one place then spread from there? It still remains a mystery.

黄道十二宫

黄道十二宫图

黄道十二宫图最初是用来记录年份的。它是一条假想的环绕地球的黄道带的名称。根据占星家们的说法，它就像宇宙中的一条带子，大概15度关，行星运行时通过此带并构成它们之间的几何关联。占星家们推定行星和太阳穿越黄道带的运动，把它作为一种解释并预言地球上事件的方法。他们将黄带区分为12个区。

星座

这12 个分区在西方被称为黄道的标志（现称为星座），它们与相同名称的星座相关联，但并完全相同。十二星座是牧羊座、金牛座、双子座、巨蟹座、狮子座、处女座、天秤座、天蝎座、射手座、魔羯座、水瓶座和双鱼座。它们按照这个顺序以年为周期循环，周而复始。

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