As a result, understanding the tradition's origins can be a bit confusing. There are several theories and popular stories explaining the origin of China's zodiac animals. However, it wasn’t until the Han Dynasty (202 BCE to 202 CE) that the popularity of the Chinese astrological calendar began to grow. Scholars believe the Chinese Zodiac originated during China's Warring States Period (475 BCE to 221 BCE), or 战国时代 (Zhànguó Shídài). Chinese Zodiac Origin Story (or rather, stories) As they do so, they'll welcome the second animal in the 12-year rotation, the Ox (牛 niú). This upcoming spring, families across the Middle Kingdom and throughout the Chinese diaspora will gather to celebrate Spring Festival on February 12, 2021. Following the traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar, this scheme is based on a 12-year cycle in which each new year is represented by one of 12 zodiac animals (called 生肖 (shēngxiào) in Chinese). The Chinese Zodiac is an ancient belief system considered to be a tool for deciding one’s destiny. More importantly, understanding the beliefs and traditions that underpin the Chinese zodiac provides insight into the complex and always-fascinating world of Chinese culture. Exploring the significance of the Chinese zodiac and the personality traits represented by each animal can be a fun and engaging activity for students of the Chinese language.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |