I was going to say it’s a lunar calendar, but then decided to look it up. It’s actually a lunisolar calendar. From Wikipedia: The Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar, incorporating elements of a lunar calendar with those of a solar calendar. It is not exclusive to China, but followed by many other Asian cultures as well.
And…
The 12 animals representing the 12 Earthly Branches are, in order, the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. The legend of The Great Race explains the order of the animals.
Zeldar
May 5, 2013, 12:19pm
122
I was going to say it’s a lunar calendar, but then decided to look it up. It’s actually a lunisolar calendar. From Wikipedia: The Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar, incorporating elements of a lunar calendar with those of a solar calendar. It is not exclusive to China, but followed by many other Asian cultures as well.
And…
The 12 animals representing the 12 Earthly Branches are, in order, the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. The legend of The Great Race explains the order of the animals.
By “basis” I meant the orbital period of Jupiter, and the animals are the zodiac constellations in Chinese nomenclature. The retrograde passage of Jupiter through those signs accounts for the almost 12 years it takes Jupiter to complete an orbit. And while Jupiter is within that particular sign it makes that the “year of whatever sign.”
Check Chinese astrology - Wikipedia Background to see
According to Chinese astrology, a person’s destiny can be determined by the position of the major planets at the person’s birth along with the positions of the Sun, Moon and comets and the person’s time of birth and Zodiac Sign. The system of the twelve-year cycle of animal signs was built from observations of the orbit of Jupiter (the Year Star; simplified Chinese: 岁星; traditional Chinese: 歳星; pinyin: Suìxīng). Following the orbit of Jupiter around the sun, Chinese astronomers divided the celestial circle into 12 sections, and rounded it to 12 years (from 11.86). Jupiter is associated with the constellation Sheti (simplified Chinese: 摄提; traditional Chinese: 攝提- Boötes) and is sometimes called Sheti.
Zeldar
May 5, 2013, 12:33pm
123
For even more trivia and astronomy and astrology details I recommend an old Dover book Star Names: Their Lore and Meaning
Glazer
May 5, 2013, 1:29pm
124
I was born in the best of the Eastern (Dragon) and Western (Sagittarius) Zodiacs.
Zeldar
May 5, 2013, 2:27pm
126
campp:
1957
<<<< 1957: campp, CateAyo, Cheez_Whia, Czarcasm (slythe), DfrntBreign, Frank, gardentraveler, jali, Julius Henry, kapri, kittenblue, Napier, sahirrnee, Who_me?, ~Olive~
Zeldar
May 5, 2013, 3:49pm
128
Buttercup_Smith:
1959
<<<< 1959: AHunter3, ajaye, Bin-Gay, Buttercup Smith, BwanaBob, CanvasShoes, For You, Hakuna Matata, Icarus, Johanna, Landshark, lieu, Mattie Blue, penultima thule, Quixie in Dixie, Ruby, seosamh, ShermanAter, SmartAleq, Sternvogel
you have me in the '56-'60 group. You may move me to 1958.
Zeldar:
By “basis” I meant the orbital period of Jupiter, and the animals are the zodiac constellations in Chinese nomenclature. The retrograde passage of Jupiter through those signs accounts for the almost 12 years it takes Jupiter to complete an orbit. And while Jupiter is within that particular sign it makes that the “year of whatever sign.”
Check Chinese astrology - Wikipedia Background to see
Would you do me a favor and post the Chinese for “I don’t speak Chinese” in Chinese characters? Thanks.
I was born in a cross-fire hurricane.
Zeldar
May 5, 2013, 6:54pm
133
<<<< 1958: amarone, Boyo Jim, CairoCarol, casdave, chiroptera, Cub Mistress, DistendedPendulousFrenulum, Emily Litella, fishbicycle, freckafree, Gail*, Gary “Wombat” Robson, Kilvert’s Pagan, Mean Mr. Mustard, Qadgop the Mercotan, Rico, rsat3acr, Satchmo, Spectre of Pithecanthropus, Tinkertoy, VernWinterbottom
Moi, 1956. I don’t post much, but you never know. I could go on a massive posting binge at any moment. And no one would know my birth year!
Zeldar
May 5, 2013, 7:32pm
135
Perish the thought! Well, they should be able to find it now.
<<<< 1956: BobLibDem, brachyrhynchos, Bumbershoot, Dallas Jones, Encinitas, Equipoise, JimOfAllTrades (RJKUgly), legalsnugs, LurkMeister, Mikkel, not what you’d expect, ouryL, Oy!, PoorMarie, racer72, Sassy, shiftless, Shodan, TriPolar, Yllaria
To be more specific: 1947 (flashes Medicare card)
Zeldar
May 5, 2013, 8:10pm
137
<<<< 1947: ChefGuy, OttoDaFe, RunSilent, SandyHook, UncaStuart
1946 it was a very good year
Zeldar
May 6, 2013, 1:18am
140
BobArrgh:
1962 for me.
<<<< 1962: ASAKMOTSD, BACI, BigDadWolf, BobArrgh, chela, Chimera, eleanorigby, Enright3, h.sapiens, Leaffan, Le Ministre de l’au-delà, mack, ming the merciless, Mrs. Cake, nonacetone, Onomatopoeia, ShibbOleth, Shinna Minna Ma, Shoeless, squeegee, suranyi
<<<< 1946: Fir na tine, KayT, MLS, Ruby Slippers
