The Chinese Zodiac- Guided Inquiry

By ReynoldsF25 | Updated: Nov. 7, 2020, 6:05 p.m.

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A look into the Chinese Zodiac. In this video I answer the following questions- how does the Zodiac work, how was it made, and why was it made? Enjoy! :)

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The Chinese Zodiac
How does it work/how and why was it made?
By Finn Reynolds
What is the chinese zodiac?
- The Chinese Zodiac, or shengxiao, is the basis of the lunar calendar.

-It runs on a 12 year cycle, with each year being named after an animal, in a set order. For example, 2020 is the year of the Rat, and 2021 will be the Year of the Ox. The same was true for 2008, and 2009 respectively.

-The Calendar follows the moon's cycles, so the year doesn't start on January 1st, but rather on a day from January to March.
What is the Chinese Zodiac?
- The Chinese Zodiac, or shengxiao, is the basis of the lunar calendar.

-The Calendar follows the moon's cycles, so the year doesn't start on January 1st, but rather on a day from January to March.
What is the Chinese Zodiac?
How does it work?
How does it work?
-The Zodiac runs on a 12 year cycle. Each year is named after an animal, and this repeats in a set order.

-However, there are also 5 elements. These are Water (shui), Wood (mu), Metal (Jin) Earth (ju) and fire (huo). This means that the Zodiac actually restarts every 60 years.

-The Zodiac goes to the next year sometime between January and March. For example, according to the lunar calendar, 2020 started on the 25th of January.
How does it work?
-The Zodiac runs on a 12 year cycle. Each year is named after an animal, and this repeats in a set order.

-However, there are also 5 elements. These are Water (shui), Wood (mu), Metal (Jin) Earth (ju) and fire (huo). This means that the Zodiac actually restarts every 60 years.

-The Zodiac goes to the next year sometime between January and March. For example, according to the lunar calendar, 2020 started on the 25th of January.
How/ Why was it made?
The Great race
The Great Race
- In Chinese Mythology, the Great Race explains why the 12 animals are in their order.

-The Jade Emperor, creator of all things, gathered 12 animals, and told them to race across a river in order to see what the order should be.

-The rat jumped upon the ox with the cat, and rode across the river, but not before pushing the cat off, and securing first place. The ox came in second.

-In order, these were the animals that came next- Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.
-The Great Race explains why the animals, and therefore the people born in their years, are like they are.
The Great Race
- In Chinese Mythology, the Great Race explains why the 12 animals are in their order.

-The Jade Emperor, creator of all things, gathered 12 animals, and told them to race across a river in order to see what the order should be.

-The rat jumped upon the ox with the cat, and rode across the river, but not before pushing the cat off, and securing first place. The ox came in second.

-In order, these were the animals that came next- Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.
-The Great Race explains why the animals, and therefore the people born in their years, are like they are.
How/Why was it Made?
Real Life aspects
Real Life Aspects
-The Zodiac was originally made in order to please the people. Also, it is what they believed was plausible at the time.

- They wanted a system that coincided with the Moon and their beliefs, and therefore the Zodiac and the Lunar Calendar was born.

- As you know, the Zodiac runs on a 60 year system (due to the elements and the animals), and restarts every Chinese New Year, with the people celebrating the new animal.

Real Life Aspects
-The Zodiac was originally made in order to please the people. Also, it is what they believed was plausible at the time.

- They wanted a system that coincided with the Moon and their beliefs, and therefore the Zodiac and the Lunar Calendar was born.

- As you know, the Zodiac runs on a 60 year system (due to the elements and the animals), and restarts every Chinese New Year, with the people celebrating the new animal.

Thank you for watching!
By Finn R

The Chinese Zodiac- Guided Inquiry

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