The Handbook Of Chinese Horoscopes

by LAU THEODORA

• ISBN13: 9780060777777
• ISBN10: 006077777X
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-01-12
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publications

Summary

Now in its fifth edition, this classic book celebrates its 25th anniversary with an updated look and all new lunar horoscopes through to the year 2008! The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes remains the definitive, classic work on this fascinating subject and artfully combines the Eastern lunar calendar with Western solar-based astrology. Discover which of the 12 animal signs you are and how 'the animal that hides in your heart' influences your outlook on life and your relationships with others. Find out the effects of the five elements, the four seasons, and the ascendant signs based on the hour of your birth. Look to the future and learn how you are likely to fare in the upcoming years. Read the personality profiles of East and West combinations, as well as the chapter on the 144 marriage combinations to see the relationships between the 12 lunar signs.

Table of Contents

Introduction: The Animal That Hides in Your Heart	xiii
The Origin and Nature of the Lunar Signs	xiii
How to Use This Book	xvi
Tables and Charts
1. The Lunar Signs from 1900 to 2007	xxi
2. The Exact Lunar Years from 1900 to 2007	xxi
3. The Interaction of the Five Elements	xxv
4. The Animal Signs and Their Fixed Elements, Seasons and Stems	xxvi
5. Ascendants: The Twelve Animal Signs and Their Hours	xxvi
6. The Months of the Lunar Signs and Their Matching Solar Astrological Signs	xxvii
7. Long and Short Lunar Years and the Influence of the Li Chun	xxviii
Special Section: Understanding the Five Elements	xxix
Special Section: The Influence of the Moon's Four Phases	xxxvi
Chapter 1: The Rat
The First Sign of the Lunar Cycle	1	(1)
The Rat Personality	2	(6)
The Rat Child	8	(1)
The Five Different Rats	9	(3)
Compatibility and Conflict Charts for the Rat	12	(3)
The Rat and His Ascendants	15	(4)
How the Rat Fares in the Lunar Cycle	19	(2)
When Moon Signs Meet Sun Signs	21	(5)
The Seasons of the Rat	26	(2)
Famous Persons Born in the Year of the Rat	28	(1)
Chapter 2: The Ox
The Second Sign of the Lunar Cycle	29	(1)
The Ox Personality	30	(5)
The Ox Child	35	(1)
The Five Different Oxen	36	(3)
Compatibility and Conflict Charts for the Ox	39	(5)
The Ox and His Ascendants	44	(3)
How the Ox Fares in the Lunar Cycle	47	(3)
When Moon Signs Meet Sun Signs	50	(5)
The Seasons of the Ox	55	(1)
Famous Persons Born in the Year of the Ox	56	(3)
Chapter 3: The Tiger
The Third Sign of the Lunar Cycle	59	(1)
The Tiger Personality	60	(5)
The Tiger Child	65	(1)
The Five Different Tigers	66	(3)
Compatibility and Conflict Charts for the Tiger	69	(4)
The Tiger and His Ascendants	73	(4)
How the Tiger Fares in the Lunar Cycle	77	(2)
When Moon Signs Meet Sun Signs	79	(5)
The Seasons of the Tiger	84	(2)
Famous Persons Born in the Year of the Tiger	86	(1)
Chapter 4: The Rabbit
The Fourth Sign of the Lunar Cycle	87	(2)
The Rabbit Personality	89	(5)
The Rabbit Child	94	(1)
The Five Different Rabbits	95	(3)
Compatibility and Conflict Charts for the Rabbit	98	(4)
The Rabbit and His Ascendants	102	(4)
How the Rabbit Fares in the Lunar Cycle	106	(2)
When Moon Signs Meet Sun Signs	108	(6)
The Seasons of the Rabbit	114	(1)
Famous Persons Born in the Year of the Rabbit	115	(2)
Chapter 5: The Dragon
The Fifth Sign of the Lunar Cycle	117	(1)
The Dragon Personality	118	(6)
The Dragon Child	124	(1)
The Five Different Dragons	125	(4)
Compatibility and Conflict Charts for the Dragon	129	(4)
The Dragon and His Ascendants	133	(3)
How the Dragon Fares in the Lunar Cycle	136	(3)
When Moon Signs Meet Sun Signs	139	(5)
The Seasons of the Dragon	144	(2)
Famous Persons Born in the Year of the Dragon	146	(1)
Chapter 6: The Snake
The Sixth Sign of the Lunar Cycle	147	(1)
The Snake Personality	148	(5)
The Snake Child	153	(1)
The Five Different Snakes	154	(3)
Compatibility and Conflict Charts for the Snake	157	(5)
The Snake and His Ascendants	162	(4)
How the Snake Fares in the Lunar Cycle	166	(2)
When Moon Signs Meet Sun Signs	168	(6)
The Seasons of the Snake	174	(2)
Famous Persons Born in the Year of the Snake	176	(1)
Chapter 7: The Horse
The Seventh Sign of the Lunar Cycle	177	(1)
The Horse Personality	178	(6)
The Horse Child	184	(1)
The Five Different Horses	185	(4)
Compatibility and Conflict Charts for the Horse	189	(4)
The Horse and His Ascendants	193	(4)
How the Horse Fares in the Lunar Cycle	197	(2)
When Moon Signs Meet Sun Signs	199	(5)
The Seasons of the Horse	204	(1)
Famous Persons Born in the Year of the Horse	205	(2)
Chapter 8: The Sheep
The Eighth Sign of the Lunar Cycle	207	(1)
The Sheep Personality	208	(5)
The Sheep Child	213	(1)
The Five Different Sheep	214	(3)
Compatibility and Conflict Charts for the Sheep	217	(5)
The Sheep and His Ascendants	222	(4)
How the Sheep Fares in the Lunar Cycle	226	(2)
When Moon Signs Meet Sun Signs	228	(6)
The Seasons of the Sheep	234	(1)
Famous Persons Born in the Year of the Sheep	235	(2)
Chapter 9: The Monkey
The Ninth Sign of the Lunar Cycle	237	(1)
The Monkey Personality	238	(6)
The Monkey Child	244	(2)
The Five Different Monkeys	246	(3)
Compatibility and Conflict Charts for the Monkey	249	(4)
The Monkey and His Ascendants	253	(5)
How the Monkey Fares in the Lunar Cycle	258	(2)
When Moon Signs Meet Sun Signs	260	(5)
The Seasons of the Monkey	265	(2)
Famous Persons Born in the Year of the Monkey	267	(2)
Chapter 10: The Rooster
The Tenth Sign of the Lunar Cycle	269	(1)
The Rooster Personality	270	(8)
The Rooster Child	278	(2)
The Five Different Roosters	280	(3)
Compatibility and Conflict Charts for the Rooster	283	(4)
The Rooster and His Ascendants	287	(4)
How the Rooster Fares in the Lunar Cycle	291	(3)
When Moon Signs Meet Sun Signs	294	(6)
The Seasons of the Rooster	300	(2)
Famous Persons Born in the Year of the Rooster	302	(3)
Chapter 11: The Dog
The Eleventh Sign of the Lunar Cycle	305	(1)
The Dog Personality	306	(6)
The Dog Child	312	(1)
The Five Different Dogs	313	(3)
Compatibility and Conflict Charts for the Dog	316	(5)
The Dog and His Ascendants	321	(4)
How the Dog Fares in the Lunar Cycle	325	(2)
When Moon Signs Meet Sun Signs	327	(6)
The Seasons of the Dog	333	(2)
Famous Persons Born in the Year of the Dog	335	(2)
Chapter 12: The Boar
The Twelfth Sign of the Lunar Cycle	337	(1)
The Boar Personality	338	(6)
The Boar Child	344	(1)
The Five Different Boars	345	(3)
Compatibility and Conflict Charts for the Boar	348	(5)
The Boar and His Ascendants	353	(5)
How the Boar Fares in the Lunar Cycle	358	(2)
When Moon Signs Meet Sun Signs	360	(6)
The Seasons of the Boar	366	(1)
Famous Persons Born in the Year of the Boar	367	(2)
Chapter 13: Choosing Wedding Dates by the Lunar Almanac	369	(4)
Chapter 14: The 144Marriage Combinations	373	(44)
Index	417

Excerpts

The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes 5e

Chapter One

The First Sign of the Lunar Cycle

The Rat

I am the self-proclaimed acquisitor.

I am a link yet I function as a complete unit.

I aim at encompassing heights and strike my target, sure and steady.

Life is one joyous journey for me.

Each search must end with a new quest.

I am progress, exploration and insight.

I am the womb of activity.

I Am the Rat.

If you were born on the day before the start of the lunar year of the Rat, e.g., 27th January 1960, your animal sign is the one before the Rat, the Boar, the twelfth lunar sign.

If you were born on the day after the last day of lunar year of the Rat, e.g., 15th February l961, then your sign is the one after Rat, the Ox, the second lunar sign.

The sign of the Rat rules the two-hour segment of the day from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. This period of time closes the day at midnight as well as heralds in a new day. Persons born during this two-hour segment are said to have the Rat sign as their ascendant and will display many of the characteristics peculiar to this sign and have great affinity for persons born under this sign.

The direction appointed to the Rat is directly north; its season is winter and its principle month, December. The Rat corresponds to the Western astrological sign of Sagittarius which rules winter from November 22nd to December 21st. Water is its fixed element and the Rat has a positive stem or is considered a yang or male sign.

The Rat Personality

The charm and innovative personality of the Rat is legendary. He did not become the first sign of the cycle without good reason. I have woven a tale about how this might have come to pass. According to my story, when the Lord Buddha gave out the summons for all the animals to come to him before he departed the Earth, he entrusted the rat with the mission to get the word around. It is entirely possible that the Rooster was also chosen to announce the same message and both did their utmost to reach as many of their fellow beasts as possible. The Rooster worked days and did most of its crowing during the sunlight hours while the Rat worked during the night. In its intense diligence to round up as many animals as possible, the Rooster was delayed and the 10th animal to arrive. After the Rooster came the Dog and lastly, the Boar.

One can imagine the Rat rushing about with the good news. He went from place to place, encouraging all the other animals to meet the Buddha at the appointed time and place. However, being the resourceful and practical animal that it is, the Rat decided to save energy by asking for a ride from other animals since it was tired from running about conveying the Great Sage's invitation. And, he certainly did not want to be late.

Knowing the Horse was the swiftest of the lot, the Rat tried to get a free ride from it. But the temperamental Horse would have none of it. Fiercely independent and proud, the Horse decided that no one could tell it what to do and when to do it. There was plenty of time to trot to the appointment when it was ready. It told the Rat to get a ride somewhere else. From that time on, the Rat and the Horse never got along. The Rat thought the Horse was selfish and thoughtless while the Horse felt that the clever Rat was too manipulative and demanding.

Nonetheless, the Rat was too intelligent to be discouraged for long and used its wits again. This time it approached the sturdy and kind-hearted Ox who was more than happy to carry the little Rat on its back. Furthermore, the dutiful Ox was early for the appointment and therefore the first animal to arrive on the scene. But, when the Lord Buddha said he was going to honor the Ox by naming it the first sign of the lunar cycle, the Rat jumped down from the Ox's back and claimed that privilege. The Ox did not oppose the Rat as it felt the Rat had done more than its fair share by bringing the news to all the animals. So the Buddha justly conferred the esteemed first place and leadership of the lunar cycle to the crafty Rat. This was how the Rat got its free ride and also got to be number one.

The Rat can be forthright, inquisitive and intrusive but always in such a disarmingly honest way that we find ourselves at a disadvantage. It is in business that this sign really excels. I remember seeing a young man in the streets of London one summer promoting some security or time-saving gadget. He presented quite a novel image of himself and his wares, but above all else, everyone noticed the T-shirt he had on. It read: "Be Alert! England needs Lerts!" That sense of humor combined with keen business acumen summarizes the Rat's inborn entrepreneurial sense. Yes, the Rat is always alert to any opportunity for making money.

Remarkably easy to get along with, hard working and thrifty, he will be generous only to those he is inordinately fond of, so if you get an expensive gift from him, you know he holds you in high esteem. Yet, in spite of his penny-pinching ways, the Rat will never be found wanting for admirers as he emits such fantastic appeal.

On the surface, some Rats may appear reserved, even placid, but they are never as quiet as they may seem. Something is always going on inside that sharp mind. Actually, the Rat is easily agitated but able to maintain self-control, which explains why he is so popular and has such a multitude of friends.

The Rat person is usually a bright, fun-loving and sociable character. Occasionally, you may come across a supercritical or grouchy, fault-finding one. But on the whole, he enjoys parties and other large gatherings. He will endeavor to join exclusive clubs and as a rule can be found in a close circle of friends or fellow conspirators. He is very outgoing and likes getting involved. How else is he going to be in the thick of things and amass all that information he has about everyone?

The Rat really cherishes his friends, associates and family relations; at times he gets hopelessly tangled in other people's affairs because he cannot easily rid himself of strong emotional attachments once he makes them. His capacity to love can only be overruled by his shrewdness and love of money.

A Rat boss may demonstrate great concern about whether his employees are getting enough exercise or eating a balanced diet. In his heart, he sincerely cares about their welfare; he will visit them when they are sick and make their problems his problems. Yet when it comes to giving them that well-deserved raise, he will hedge and be a little stingy. A lot of arm twisting and collective bargaining is needed when it comes to parting a Rat from his money.

The Rat lady may continually amaze you by being a model of frugality. She is forever distributing old clothes, recycling toys, buying or selling secondhand items, and stretching meals, leftovers and the budget until the family could scream. However, she may not care to apply these same penny-pinching standards when dealing with her precious offspring. If her children know how to get around her, she will find it hard to deny them anything. Rat people are rarely tightwads where their loved ones are concerned. Strange how every time a Rat mother cuts a cake, her child will get the largest slice, no matter whose birthday it is. Rat females are also voted most likely to recycle a Christmas gift, which gives new meaning to the saying: What goes around, comes around.

Rats are by nature decidedly clannish. Maybe there is some truth about safety in numbers. The Rat never worries about having another mouth to feed and will allow his relatives, in-laws and friends to stick around his house and live off him. Why? Because the crafty Rat will always find something for them to do to earn their keep. Laggards, professional bums and freeloaders will all get put to work swiftly in his household. Charity has its limits. Trust the efficient and practical Rat.

The Rat native keeps his own secrets well but he can be an expert at weeding other people's gardens. He has few qualms about using vital confidential information or capitalizing on the mistakes of others. Trust him to investigate stock tips and follow through on privileged information. What do you mean, insider trading? That couldn't possibly apply to him. After all, one certainly cannot expect the Rat to ignore opportunity's knock, especially when his ear is glued to the door so much of the time! A wink, a nod, or the tiniest move of an eyebrow is all you need to signal the Rat that something's afoot. He will track it all the way to its source.

As much as the Rat likes to camouflage or hide his feelings, one can always tell when he is upset. He becomes edgy, curt and impertinent. Some may even become absolute nags. Inefficiency, idleness, waste and tardiness go against his active and industrious nature and cause him to harp at the subject of his displeasure until things are done right. The Rat loves to run the show and everyone and everything had better look sharp under his stewardship.The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes 5e. Copyright © by Theodora Lau. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Available now wherever books are sold.

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Excerpted from The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes by Theodora Lau
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.