Chinese Astrology

So, if anyone knows anything about the 4 Pillars method of Chinese astrology (BaZi in Chinese), you will very quickly surmise that I am no expert. I’m barely even a novitiate. Maybe a tenderfoot would be more accurate description.

However, I thought it could be helpful to some - including me - to talk about what astrology really is, what it is not, and how it has been used for many many centuries, but instead of hearing it from a Chinese Master, I could post some explanation from my own level of understanding (which, again, let me reiterate, is the low level for dummies).

Astrology has kind of a hokey rap.
(he's awesome. Epidermis! But Sun/ Western astrology isn't what the Chinese used - they used the Moon, which is about a million times closer, in dog years.)

People seem to think it’s some sort of new age-y means of divination or fortune telling, but in fact it is an ancient technique, used by Emperors and Generals for centuries to predict and plan moves that affected China's foreign & domestic policy.

The technique is really more like a Farmer’s Almanac than anything, rather than something you read in the newspaper for kicks (or as Bill suggests, determining if you are a Sexy Whatever). It’s looking at seasons in a given year and determining what types of things are beneficial to act upon in that season, and likewise what types of personalities are usually the product of that season. It gets specific right down to the day and hour – just like things like solar eclipses, meteor showers and full moons.

So, all of these specific things that the ancient astronomers/astrologers (the field wasn’t really separated in those days by much and it was kind of a given, if you knew about one you were at least versed in the other) were given quick-reference names to make them easily recognizable and discussable. Like how we call the hot time of the year Summer or, more specifically July. July is still hot - it was 2,000 years ago, and it will be 2,000 years from now. BILL.

So there are 12 animals they came up with to quickly reference a given set of characteristics present at given times.

1. Rat
2. Ox
3. Tiger
4. Rabbit
5. Dragon
6. Snake
7. Horse
8. Goat
9. Monkey
10. Rooster
11. Dog
12. Pig

People always kind of moan and groan things like, “Ew, I don’t want to be a pig, gross.” But really, it’s just the name of an animal that would have been common to Chinese life and culture about 4000 years ago. All of the animals have cool, boring, fun and lame traits so none is any “better” than another to be (except Rat.)

(images property of Darku Angel, not me)

Each animal is said to represent a given set of traits, or elements. As in wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Or if you’ve ever seen The Craft --witch elements! (no offense to my wiccan readers – go sage!). Roll over each animal above to see its elemental traits.

The animals sharing elements are grouped together by season:

• Tiger, Rabbit & Dragon fall into the Spring or Wood season.


• Snake, Horse & Goat fall into the Summer or Fire season.


• Monkey, Rooster & Dog fall into the Autumn or Metal season.


• Pig, Rat & Ox fall into the Winter or Water season.

You’re probably going “ok, where’s the earth season?” Well, each Season has 3 animals – the third is often called the “storage” or “graveyard” animal, since it represents the end of the season. Those 4 animals at the end of the Season all have the Earth element. So earth is represented at different points throughout the whole year.

Feel free to begin asking me questions (either through comments to posts or email) on who you should marry /if your boss will always hate you types of stuff any time. Who knows if I’ll have the answer, but we’ll find out together!

(images property of Yuna Kagezaki, not me)

Remember – I’m a “low level for the noobs” novice, but I will try to update regularly with more information that has been helpful to me and I hope it is helpful to you!