Happy Chinese New Year

[CHUNG Yoon-Ngan <chungyn@mozart.joinet.net.au>]

Chinese New Year is on Saturday.
This year is the year of the Dragon.
So I wish "Happy Chinese New Year to all my Hakka Friends."
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How the Chinese Calendar works 

The Chinese Calendar runs in cycles of sixty years. 
Each year is distinguished by two characters, one a 
Celestial stem Tian Gan (¤Ñ¤z) signifying one of ten planets, 
the other a Terrestrial branch Di Zhi (¦a¤ä) representing one
of twelve animals. The ten Celestial stems and the twelve
Terrestrial branches rotate in a regular sequence and, as
the lowest common multiple of ten and twelve is sixty, the 
cycle recurs every sixty years.  

The first cycle started in 2697BC with the reign of Huang Di (¶À«Ò) 
or Yellow Emperor and the same reconking has continued ever since.
This year Y2K is the 78th cycle which can be calculated as follow:
2697 plus 2000 = 4697 divides by 60 = 78 and a remainder of 17.

The Ten Celestial Stems are:

¥Ò   (Jia)      = first        = 1 
¤A   (Yi )      = second       = 2
¤þ   (Bing)     = third        = 3
¤B   (Ding)     = fourth       = 4 
¥³   (Wu)       = fifth        = 5
¤x   (Si)       = sixth        = 6
©°   (Geng)     = seventh      = 7
¨¯   (Xin)      = eighth       = 8
¤Ð   (Ren)      = ninth        = 9
„   (Gui)      = tenth        = 10

The Twelve Terrestrial Branches:

¤l  (Zi)         =  ¹«  Rat        = A
¤¡  (Chou)       = ¤û   Ox         = B 
±G  (Yin)        = ªê   Tiger      = C
¥f  (Mao)        = ¨ß   Hare       = D
¨°  (Chen)       = Às   Dragon     = E
¤v  (Ji )        = ³D   Snake      = F
¤È  (Wu)         = °¨   Horse      = G
¥¼  (Wei)        = ¦Ï   Sheep      = H
¥Ó  (Shen)       = µU   Monkey     = I
¨»  (You)        = Âû   Cock       = J
¦§  (Shu)        = ª¯   Dog        = K
¥è  (Hai)        = ½Þ   Boar       = L
  
The calculation of the sixty cycles (from top to bottom
and from left to right) by using numbers and alphabet 
to make it easier:
   
1A     1K     1I     1G     1E    1C
2B     2L     2J     2H     2F    2D
3C     3A     3K     3I     3G    3E
4D     4B     4L     4J     4H    4F 
5E     5C     5A     5K     5I    5G
6F     6D     6B     6L     6J    6H
7G   ((7E))   7C     7A     7K    7I
8H     8F     8D     8B     8L    8J
9I     9G     9E     9C     9A    9K
10J    10H    10F    10D    10B    10L

The next cycle begins from 1A (¥Ò¤l) 2B (¤A¤¡)   and so on....
Y2K year (2000) will be Geng Chen (©°¨°) or year of the Dragon or 7E.
Year Y2K can be calculated as:
The reign of Yellow Emperor started in 2697BC plus 2000 = 4697.
4697 divides by 60 = 78 remainder of 17 i.e 78th cycle plus 17 year
The reminder 17 is Geng Chen or 7E or year of the Dargon (Às¦~).


What animal year were you born under ?

Rat        born 1900, 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996.  

Ox         born 1901, 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997.

Tiger      born 1902, 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998.

Hare       born 1903, 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999.

Dragon     born 1904, 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000.

Snake      born 1905, 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001.

Horse      born 1906, 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002.

Sheep      born 1907, 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003.

Monkey     born 1908, 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004. 

Cock       born 1909, 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005.

Dog        born 1910, 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006.

Boar       born 1911, 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007.


This is what the fortune-teller said about the Twelve Horary Characters:
 
RAT
Rats are adventurous, ambitious and imaginative. Also easily angered.
You are compatible with Dragons and Monkeys. Be wary of Horses.

OX
Oxen are gentle, quiet and patient. Watch that stubborn nature. Snakes and
Roosters are your partners, with Goats your worst.

TIGER
Tigers have courage, independence and sensitivity. A suspicious nature as
well. Great with Horses and Dogs. Stay away from Monkeys.

RABBIT
Rabbits are affectionate, placid and maternal. Possessiveness is a
problem. You are most happy with Goats and Pigs.

DRAGON
Dragons possess strength, vitality and passion. You also have a short
temper. Best with Rabbits and Monkeys, worst with Dogs.

SNAKE
Snakes are wise, attractive and helpful. Vanity is a downfall. You get
along well with Oxen and Roosters, not Pigs.

HORSE
Horses are cheerful, popular and have a sense of well being. Also over
zealous. Compatible with Tigers and Dogs, not Rats. 

GOAT
Goats are stylish and elegant with a gentle nature. Shy as well. Rabbits
and Pigs make you happy. Oxen don't.

MONKEY
Monkeys are multi talented, intelligent and charming. You can also become
easily bored. Seek out Rats and Dragons. Avoid Tigers.

ROOSTER
Rooters are pioneering enthusiastic and brave. Moody as well. You'll find
contentment with Oxen and Snake, not Rabbits.

DOG
Dogs are loyal, dependable and sincere with a tendency to be selfish.
Happy with Tigers and Horses. Careful of Dragons.

PIG
Pigs are chivalrous, gallant and strong willed. Also critical of others.
Look for Rabbits and Goats. Give Snake a miss.


Sincerely

CHUNG Yoon-Ngan.