The Chinese measure time using an epoch of 3,600 years as the base unit. This consists of 60 X 60 year cycles, which contains all 12 animal signs in combination with each of the 5 elements, or Stem-Branch. This basic cycle has been constructed from two cycles: the 10 heavenly stems and the 12 earthly branches. The Year of the Brown Rat, 2008, is the 4705th Chinese year. The Brown Rat is the 23rd Stem-Branch in the cycle.

To make life a little easier when dealing with economics etc, the Imperial Calendar was devised which has the imperial year beginning on the 4 February each year. This is not the one we are concerned with here. (Some say the first day of the Earth Rat Year is February 4th, 2008, because this is the first day of the Tiger month and in the Chinese Fortune-Telling calendar, the first day of the Tiger month, is called the "Start of Spring", which is when the sun enters the 315th degree (15 Aquarius) on the tropical zodiac. Most popular systems however consider the Chinese New Year begins on the New Moon, with each successive month also commencing on the corresponding new moon).

Chinese astrology is a very complex system, rich with symbolism and connected to a strong belief system. The most common form, especially for westerners is the Chinese zodiac consisting of 12 animals. For more on the origins read Ed Tamplin’s article. The 12 animals rotate through a 60-year cycle, where each animal appears once in the cycle with each of the 5 elements.

This 60-year cycle is the common link between occidental and oriental astrology, based on the Saturn/Jupiter cycle. Jupiter is related to the animals, while Saturn is the element. The cycle commences with the year of the wood Rat and this current cycle began on the 2nd February 1984.

The animals are also assigned to each of the 12 months and then a sub division of the day. These are also used when looking at character traits and the most auspicious times for undertaking any venture. (See tables below).

Each of the animals is friend or foe to others and this is how we determine your prosperity etc for the year ahead. As you can see this is way too complex to cover on any web site but you can order your own personal Chinese horoscope, incorporating all 4 pillars etc for the year ahead. Delivered to your computer via email, this comprehensive report will tell you all you need to know to manoeuvre through the Year of the Rat.

As this is an earth year, those born under an earth year can expect a little luck on their side, with those born under the animals that are friends of the Rat gaining the greater share. The Rat itself is considered to be of the water element, so water is also favoured in 2008. Earth and water in combination do create some instability, with the earth over the water, so things may not always be as they seem in 2008.

There is also a Yin and Yang cycle, which expands the five elements to a cycle of 10. Even years are yang, odd years are yin.

Years ending in 0 are Yang Metal.
Years ending in 1 are Yin Metal.
Years ending in 2 are Yang Water.
Years ending in 3 are Yin Water.
Years ending in 4 are Yang Wood.
Years ending in 5 are Yin Wood.
Years ending in 6 are Yang Fire.
Years ending in 7 are Yin Fire.
Years ending in 8 are Yang Earth.
Years ending in 9 are Yin Earth.

(find more on your element in the tables below

The last year of the Earth Rat was 10 February 1948– 13 February 1949 and this saw, Ceylon (Sri Lanka) become independent, Hell's Angels were formed in California USA and the World Health Organisation was also formed. It also saw the first Summer Olympics to be held since the beginning of WWII and the establishment of the Republic of Korea. In this year Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands abdicated and the USA armed forces ended segregation and Israel declared itself independant. Also in this year Harry S Truman was elected President Of the USA. There is likely to be similar events throughout 2008 and also we may hear more of some of these events and people during the year. more.....

Month animals and Hour animals

Most westerners are familiar with the singular animals assigned by year but this is only a part of the picture. There is also an animal for each month, which gives relating ability and another which rules the time of birth, which is referred to as the ‘Companion in life’. These yearly cycles characterize what others perceive you as being: while a person might show others the face of the monkey (year), they could be a tiger in relationships (month) and an ox underneath it all (hour).

When combined with 5 elements, this makes for 8640 possible combinations; 5 elements X 12 animals X 12 months X 12 times of day. The inner animal is assigned by the month and this determines your relationship skills and inner persona and is essential to a proper understanding of your compatibility with other signs. It shows what an individual aspires to, or believes to be their true identity. The ‘Companion in life’ is determined by the exact time of birth and shows the deep inner motivation. As this is determined by the earth sun relationship on any day at any location, it is important to adjust for daylight savings etc.

The time of birth gives a 3rd part to the persona (a little like the ascendant in western astrology but not exactly the same). Using the table below you can now look to the other parts of your personality and start to unleash your ‘inner animals’. See table below to find your month and hour animal