Although the Chinese signs are the real animals, they

Although the Chinese signs are the real animals, they represent each one a year; while the Western signs are
names of constellation, and are related to the days of the month, we can find certain resemblances in their
character and equivalence between them …
TIGER/ The Water Bearer
They are both of the adventurers and the revolutionists; they like independence, are altruistic, dynamic and
optimistic. They are also found in their associable rebellious nature and their explosive personalities.
Since the dawn of humanity, having subjected to the nature power, the man always sought to bring closer and
harmonize with this energetic cosmos. In various cultures, based under different calendar, the solar one (like
Greece and Egypt) or the lunar one (like China), different astrological systems are founded, which express how
the force cosmic projects the influence on the man at the root of his birth.
Among these systems, the zodiac signs of Greece are the most well-known until today. In Asia, the Chinese
signs of year are the most popular, they consist 12 elected signs also, representing different characters.
WESTERN SIGNS
*** Constellations of the Zodiac
The zodiac is the name of the zone in the skies around the ecliptic where displacements of the Sun as well
as planets are observed. The trajectory of the Sun on the vault of heaven is the ecliptic. The planets and the
Moon deviate some more or less, and one retains like conventional limit of the zodiac a band of eight degrees
of arc on both sides of the ecliptic. The zodiac is traditionally divided into twelve constellations corresponding to twelve signs.
The constellations present in the zodiac are:
1st sign - The Ram (March 21 - April 20)
2nd sign - The Bull (April 21- May 20)
3rd sign - The Twins (May 21 - June 20)
4th sign - The Crab (June 21- July 20)
5th sign - The Lion (July 21– August 20)
6th sign - The Virgin (August 21– Sept. 20)
7th sign - The Scales (Sept. 21 - Oct 20)
8th sign - The Scorpion (Oct 21-Nov 20)
9th sign - Centaur The Archer (Nov 21-Dec 20)
10th sign - «Goat-horned» (The Sea-Goat) (Dec 21-Jan 20)
11th sign - The Water Bearer (Jan 20 - 18 Feb.)
12th sign - The Fishes (19 Feb. - 20 March)
THE CHINESE LEGEND Concerning the 12 Signs of Year
The Jade Emperor (or Buddha) organized a contest to select and determine the order of the signs of the zodiac.
Among all the convened animals, only twelve answered the call. The race was completed by the crossing of a
river. The rat, feared water, had required the assistance of the buffalo, this one transferred it onto its back with
good heart. To the threshold of the ground, the rat jumped and preceded the buffalo, thus it became the first of
the sign Chinese zodiac.
One episode told that the rat forgot to invite the cat for the contest, this explains the absence of the cat in the
elected animals, and has created the hatred of the cat towards the rat; from now on, the rat became the prey of
the cat. Another episode said that the pig was the referee of the contest, not having succeeded of its role, it was
allotted the last place of the competition.
According to the Chinese legend, the psychology of the animal of the year will impregnate in the man during
his birth.
CHINESE SIGNS
1st sign - Rat (1924-36-48-60-72-84-96 – 2008 )
2nd sign - Ox (1925-37-49-61-73-85-97- 2009 )
3rd sign - Tiger (1926-38-50-62-74-86-98-2010 )
4th sign - Rabbit (1927-39-51-63-75-87-99 – 2011 )
5th sign - Dragon (1928-40-52-64-76-88-2000 )
6th sign - Snake (1929-41-53-65-77-89 – 2001 )
7th sign - Horse (1930-42-54-66-78-90 – 2002 )
8th sign - Ram (1931-43-55-67-79-91- 2003 )
9th sign - Monkey (1932-44-56-68-80-92 – 2004 )
10th sign - Rooster (1933-45-57-69-81-93 – 2005 )
11th sign - Dog (1934-46-58-70-82-94-2006 )
12th sign - Pig (1935-47-59-71-83-95 – 2007 )
*** CHINESE CONSTELLATIONS
The Chinese ancestors divided their night sky into 31 areas: three enclosures and twenty-eight houses. The three
enclosures occupy the zone close to the celestial North Pole. The stars in the three enclosures can be seen during
the whole year.
The twenty-eight houses occupy the zodiac band. They can be considered as l’ equivalent of the 12 constellations of the zodiac in the Western astronomy. Contrary to the Western astronomy, Twenty-eight houses reflect
to the movement of the moon in one month lunar, not to the Sun in one solar year.
Among the Chinese constellations, the four symbols are the most well-known, they are four mythological creatures. They represent each a direction and a season of year.
They are :
Blue Dragon of the East, represents the spring
Bird vermilion of the South, represents the summer
White tiger of the West, represents the autumn
Black tortoise of the North, represents the winter
Moreover, each of these mythological creatures was also synthesized in the system of the 5 elements:
Blue Dragon of the East : Wood
Bird vermilion of the South : Fire
White tiger of the West : Metal
Black tortoise of the North : Water
While the 5th element is represented by another legendary animal : Huang long (the yellow Dragon of Center ).
The cardinal direction associated with this animal is « center » , and its element is the Earth.
*** source of text: Wikipedia
the White tiger of the West