WELCOME TO THE YEAR OF THE TIGER

The Chinese believe that the first king of China was the Yellow King (however he was not the first Emperor of China).

The Yellow King became king in 2697 B.C. therefore China will enter the 4707th year on 14th February 2010.

The Chinese Year uses the cycle of 60 Stem-Branch counting system, and the Metal Tiger is the 27th Stem-Branch in the cycle. Since, (60 x 78) + 27 = 4707, therefore 2010 is the Metal Tiger year, which is the 4707th Chinese Year.

Jiǎzǐ (甲子) sequence 27	Stem/ branch 7/3	Gānzhī (干支) Gēngyín (庚寅)	Year of the Metal Tiger	Continuous 4707	Gregorian 2010

New Year's Day (Chūnjié, 春節) 14th February

Some folks may insist that the year 2010 is the 4708th Chinese year.

This is a possible explanation as to why this is:

The Yellow King's inauguration was held in the spring of 2697 B.C.

The day which was used as the first day of the year was the Winter Solstice, which was around 23^rd December 2698 B.C. Today's New Year’s Day on 1^st January was unknown at the time of the Yellow King.

If we were to count those extra eight days in 2698 B.C., then year 2010 is the 4708th Chinese year.

2010 is the year of Tiger.

Some people say 2010 is a Golden Tiger, White Tiger or Metal Tiger year.

HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE

May the year ahead be healthy, joyful, harmonious, peaceful, prosperous, unequivocally wholesome and kind.

Gong Xi Fa Chai

Emitte lucem et veritatem
Send out light and truth





Bona fortuna
Good luck!





Liberae sunt nostrae cogitationes
Our thoughts are free

Gong Xi Fa Chai

Rats are said to be imaginative, charming and very generous to those they love although they do have a tendency to be quick-tempered and over-critical. They are supposed to make good writers, critics and publicists.

Years of the Rat

1912, 1924, 1936, 1948,

1960, 1972, 1984, 1996,

2008 or 4706

Those born in the Year of the Rat are noted for their charm and attraction for the opposite sex.

They are hard workers, who are aiming to achieve their goals, acquire possessions; they are likely to be perfectionists.

They are basically thrifty with money.

Rat people are easily angered and may be over critical.

They are imaginative, have big ambitions and are usually successful.

They are most compatible with people born in the years of the Dragon, Monkey, and Ox.

Looks like me and sounds like me?

This year 2008 / 4706 is the year of Wu Zi

Wishing all readers of this blog,

A Very Happy, Prosperous and Healthy Year of the Brown Earth Rat 2008

新年快樂

Xīnnián kuàilè; Sin-nî khòai-lo̍k; San nin faai

過年好

Guo Nian Hao

恭喜發財

Gōng Xǐ Fā Cái; Keong Hee Huat Chye;

Kiong-Hí Hoat-châi; Kung Hei Fat Choi

Gan bei
Kong chien!

In Latin sex is six, sexagenary is sixty

The Chinese sexagenary cycle, lunisolar calender, (Chinese: 干支; pinyin: gānzhī) is a cyclic numeral system of sixty combinations of the two basic cycles, the ten Heavenly Stems (天干; tiāngān) and the twelve Earthly Branches (地支; dìzhī). These have been traditionally used as a means of numbering days and years, not only in China but also in other East Asian nations like Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. It is also an important part of Chinese astrology.

The sixty-year cycle consists of two separate cycles interacting with each other. The first is the cycle of ten heavenly stems, namely the Five Elements

(In the order of:- Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water) in their Yin and Yang forms.

The second is the cycle of the Twelve Animals Representing Years (生肖 shēngxiāo) or Earthly Branches. They are, in correct order, as follows:

Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep (Ram or Goat), Monkey, Rooster, Dog, & Boar.

This combination of 5 elements × 12 animals creates the 60-year cycle, which always starts with Wood Rat and ends with Water Boar.

Since the representing animal cycle of 12 is divisible by two, every zodiac sign can also only occur in either yin or yang: the dragon is always yang; the snake is always yin, etc. The current cycle began in the year 1948.

When trying to calculate the relevant year, an easy rule to follow is that the years (Chinese year or year Anno Domini) which end in an even number are yang, those that end with an odd number are yin. The cycle is as follows:

• If the year ends in 0 it is Yang Metal.
• If the year ends in 1 it is Yin Metal.
• If the year ends in 2 it is Yang Water.
• If the year ends in 3 it is Yin Water.
• If the year ends in 4 it is Yang Wood.
• If the year ends in 5 it is Yin Wood.
• If the year ends in 6 it is Yang Fire.
• If the year ends in 7 it is Yin Fire.
• If the year ends in 8 it is Yang Earth.
• If the year ends in 9 it is Yin Earth.

Note: since the (traditional) Chinese zodiac follows the (lunisolar) Chinese calendar, the switch over date is the Chinese Lunar New Year, not on 1st January as in the Gregorian calendar.

This year, 2008, [or year 5706] the Lunar New Year begins on 7th February in the Gregorian calender.

Gan Bei!