Chinese Zodiac

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=175 BGCOLOR="#003333" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="447bbc00dduajq.jpg"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="70" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 76 WIDTH="66"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="76" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="66" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Joanne Wickenburg, Astrologer"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="joanne_wickenburg__astrologer.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Joanne"><U><B>About Joanne</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Correspondence Courses in Astrology"><U><B>Correspondence Courses</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="books_by_joanne_wickenburg.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Books by Joanne"><U><B>Books by Joanne</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="TAPED LECTURES"><U><B>Lectures by Joanne</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Articles by Joanne"><U><B>Articles by Joanne</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id85.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Astrology Software"><U><B>Astrological Software</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id67.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Book Store"><U><B>Book Store</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Free Resources"><U><B>Free Resources</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id79.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="_"><U><B>"Learning" Links</B></U></A></div> <div> <B>Great </B><A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Great Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id29.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Order Form"><U><B>ORDER FORM</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="_"><U><B>E-mail Joanne</B></U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFBF0" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Joanne Wickenburg, Astrologer</B></FONT>    |     <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Joanne Wickenburg, Astrologer"><U>home</U></A></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Chinese Zodiac</B></div> <div> by Joanne Wickenburg</div> <bR> <div> Unlike our Western zodiac which divides the year into twelve months or signs, the Chinese zodiac is based a twelve year cycle --- each year being represented by an animal.</div> <bR> <div> There are several legends about how and why the specific animals of the Chinese zodiac were picked. One legend has it that Buddha summoned all the animals to visit him before he departed from earth. Only twelve came, and as a reward for their obedience he named a year after each one in the order they arrived. </div> <bR> <div> Another legend says that when Buddha summoned the animals, the cat notified his friend, the rat. They made a pact that the one woke up first the next morning would awake the other and together they would respond to Buddha's call. However, the rat broke his promise and arrived at the meeting alone. When the cat woke up and hurried there, the meeting was over. The cat was too late, and was never given the name of a zodiac sign. It is said that is the reason why cats kill rats </div> <bR> <div> The twelve animals selected for "zodiac-ship" quarreled as to who was to be given the first year, so Buddha asked the lower gods to decide the order of the animals. The gods chose to organize a competition. The animals were told to find their way across the bank of the river. Whichever animal made it to the opposite side first would be the leader of the zodiac, just as Aries leads the  tropical zodiac. The rest of the order would follow according to their finish.</div> <div> The next morning, the animals gathered at the river bank and jumped in. Unknown to the ox, the rat had jumped upon his back. As the ox was about to jump ashore, the rat jumped off the his back and won the race. Then ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig arrived one after another in that order.</div> <bR> <div> The Chinese believe the animal ruling the year in which a person is born has a profound influence on personality, saying:</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>"This is the animal that hides in your heart."</B></div> <bR> <div> Many also believe that the characteristics of the Chinese zodiac animals affect events that happen during the year it rules. In addition,  people born in a certain year will have the qualities of that year's animal. The animal ruling the year of a person's birth is the primary factor in determining that person's personality traits, physical and mental attributes and degree of success and happiness throughout his or her lifetime. To find what Chinese zodiac animal rules you year of birth, find your year of birth in the Table below:</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="546" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 ><NOBR><div> Birth Year</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="77"><div> Animal</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="372"><div> Characteristics</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 197 WIDTH="71"><div> <B>1900</B></div> <div> <B>1912</B></div> <div> <B>1924</B></div> <div> <B>1936</B></div> <div> <B>1948</B></div> <div> <B>1960</B></div> <div> <B>1972</B></div> <div> <B>1984</B></div> <div> <B>1996</B></div> <div> <B>2008</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="77"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="197" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="77" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="372"><div> <B><U>RAT:</U></B> You are imaginative, charming, and truly generous to the person you love. However, you have a tendency to be quick-tempered and overly critical. You are also inclined to be somewhat of an opportunist. Born under this sign, you should be happy in sales or as a writer, critic, or publicist.</div> <bR> <div> The Rat, 1996's animal, was the first to attend Buddha's meeting, and thus the first animal in the zodiac cycle. Considered assertive, and somewhat of an opportunist, the Rat also is said to be quick tempered and overly critical.. The positive rat is honest  generous, and has a sense of fair play. Those born under the sign of the Rat play to win, but not at the cost of cheating</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="77"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="77" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="372"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="372" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="77"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="77" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="372"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="372" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="77"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="77" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="372"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="372" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="77"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="77" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="372"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="372" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="77"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="77" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="372"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="372" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="77"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="77" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="372"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="372" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="77"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="77" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="372"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="372" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="77"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="77" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="372"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="372" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="77"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="77" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="372"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="372" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="77"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="77" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="372"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="372" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div>   <a href="http://s13.sitemeter.com/stats.asp?site=s13astrologer" target="_top"> <img src="http://s13.sitemeter.com/meter.asp?site=s13astrologer" alt="Site Meter" border=0></a>   </div> <div>   <script language="JavaScript" src="http://www.ytrack.com/cgi/main.cgi?2455"></script>   </div> </td> </tr></table></body>