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How to Calculate Chinese Astrology

Chinese astrology is a telling study of character based upon time of birth. It is similar to Western astrology in that 12 signs are considered, as well as a consideration of the elements. The signs in Chinese astrology are represented by animals for both the main astrological sign and some sub-influences. The most frequently used calculation in Chinese astrology is derived from the year of birth, while other influences on the personality are based on month and hour of birth.

Instructions

- 1
  Begin the calculation of the sign in the 20th century by listing multiples of 12 in the last two digits of the 1900 to 2000 years. They are 00, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84 and 96. Subtract the last two digits of the year you are looking for from the multiple of 12 that falls below it. For example, if you were looking for 1953, you would use 1948. 53 minus 48 equals 5.
- 2
  Find out the person's sign. The year of the Rat was 1900. Each year for the next eleven years is assigned an animal in this order: Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. At 1912, the cycle repeats.
  
  Using the example, the fifth animal sign after the Rat is the Snake, so the person's sign is the Snake.
- 3
  Correct for the difference between the Julian calendar and the Chinese calendar. Those born in late December or January may have the sign of the year ahead or prior, respectively. This is because the Chinese New Year starts every year on the second day after the winter solstice. (See Resources for a calculator, if you are unsure of the sign.)
- 4
  Find out the hour-of-birth animal, which colors the main animal sign. Every two hours from 11:00PM beginning with the Rat, the sign changes in the same order as listed above. Thus, from 1:00AM to 2:59AM is the hour of the Ox and from 3:00AM to 4:59AM is the hour of the Tiger. Calculate the hour of 2:30 PM to be the Goat.
- 5
  Calculate the elements that also color the horoscope. In Chinese astrology, they are metal, wood, fire, water and earth. Each element rules two years. Note the last digit of the year for which you want to find the element. The years that end in 0 and 1 are ruled by the element metal; 2 and 3 are ruled by water; 4 and 5 are ruled by wood; 6 and 7 are ruled by fire; and 8 and 9 are ruled by earth.

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