February 7, 2008. Today is the first day of the first Chinese lunar month in the Chineses lunar Calendar System. The exact new moon time is 11:44 AM in China Time Zone (same as Philippine Time zone) which is GMT +8. Year 2008 or the year of the Brown Earth Rat is the 4705th in the Chinese calendar. The Chinese believe that the first king of China was the Yellow King (he was not the first emperor of China). The Yellow King became king in 2697 B.C., therefore China will enter the 4705th year on February 4th, 2008. Also, the Chinese Year uses the cycle of 60 Stem-Branch counting systems and the Brown Rat is the 25th Stem-Branch in the 78th cycle. Since 4705 = (60 *78) + 25, therefore this Brown Rat Year is the 4705th Chinese Year. Some web sites say the year 2008 is the 4706th Chinese year. If you cannot find the explanation, here is a possible answer for you: The Yellow King's inauguration was held in the spring of 2697 B.C. But the day that was used as the first day of the year was the winter solstice, which was around December 23rd, 2698 B.C. Today's January 1st meant nothing to the Yellow King. If we count that extra eight days in 2698 B.C., then year 2008 is the 4706th Chinese year.
First there was a Rat
Rat ranks number 1 in the 12 calendar animals. A connecting tale is as follows: Once the God of Heaven wanted to choose 12 animal names as the sequence of the calendar. He announced to hold an animal racing to determine the order. When the racing date is closing, Cat forgot the time and asked Rat the schedule. Alert Rat gave Cat the wrong time on purpose. Smart Rat stayed on the horn of Ox while crossing the river, then jumped over the bank to reach the final line to win the champion. Cat missed the racing time and swear to kill Rat for generations. That's why Cat always chase Rat forever.
The Rat Personality
The Rat hour is from 23:00 P.M. to 1:00 A.M., which cover late night and early morning. Rat is rank number one, which is Yang (odd) number. But contains Female Water, according to Chinese astrology calendar. Water in Chinese astrology represents cold, black, wisdom and lust. Rat is a very alert, coward, quick, sly, ambitious and smart animal. Human still gain knowledge from rats. When all rats run away from a building with no reason, we should run and leave the building soon too. Ancient Chinese won't get on a ship without rats, because that's not normal. Rat is in the Water group. Snake and the horse are in the group of Fire. Fear of fire is water. They said Horse died after eating Rat waste. Weasel like Rat can fight and kill Snake.
As the Chinese astrological cycle begins with the year of the Rat, those born under this category to be first, the pioneers, at the forefront of the action. Because of this, they tend to see themselves as a cut above the rest. Interested and curious, those born under the influence of the Rat are active, both physically and mentally, and tend to lead busy lives. Challenge is essential for them because they love the thrill of living dangerously, easy to adapt to different environments and survive against all odds. With insight, intuition, vision and an eye for details, rats are great problem solvers, the search for viable solutions to the knottiest problems. Travelling is one of his favorite pastimes. They have a natural talent for the arts, especially writing.
The Rat Year
This is a year of abundance, bringing opportunities and good prospects. It is characterized by speculation and fluctuations in raw material prices and the stock market, the world economy in general boom. Business will be expanded; it can make a fortune and will be an easy time to accumulate wealth. However, this is also the time to make long-term investments, such as plans for the boom years will see Rat door through ruthless years, which may be followed. All companies started at this time will be a success if it is well prepared. But they do not have the opportunity or unnecessary risks: the Year of the Rat is still governed by the cold of winter and the dark of night.
Those who speculate indiscriminately and overextend themselves will come to a sad reckoning. Taken together, this will be a happier year than most: free from explosive events and wars and with far less catastrophes than, say, the year of the Tiger or the Dragon. However, it will be spicy. What promises are a lot of bickering, bargaining and petty arguments that do little damage.. It promises a lot of bickering, bargaining and petty arguments that will do little harm. A congenial time that will find most of us socializing and enjoying ourselves.
The Techno Rat
Of course, every blogger knows what a Techno Rat is. Don’t you? This is the cause of incessant Rat Race. Relax! Worry is a waste of your precious time. What you worry about today will certainly not happen. And what will happen is something you might have been worrying about but didn't even know existed. Just be more prudent than usual about wasting -- both time and money. Be generous. Enjoy Blogging!
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ReplyDeleteWow. That's a hell of an explanation on the Year of the Rat. I don't think Wikipedia has an article that long!
ReplyDeletewow~~~ tht's a good explanation of the lunar new year...
ReplyDelete