Following the orbit of Jupiter around the Sun, Chinese astronomers divided the celestial circle into 12 sections, and rounded it to 12 years (from 11.86). The system of the twelve-year cycle of animal signs was built from observations of the orbit of Jupiter (the Year Star simplified Chinese: 岁星 traditional Chinese: 歳星 pinyin: Suìxīng). Mars-Fire ( Vermilion Bird) (may be associated with the phoenix which was also an imperial symbol along with the Dragon)Īccording to Chinese astrology, a person's fate can be determined by the position of the major planets at the person's birth along with the positions of the Sun, Moon, comets, the person's time of birth, and zodiac sign.The five classical planets are associated with the wuxing: During the Han period, the familiar elements of traditional Chinese culture-the yin-yang philosophy, the theory of the five elements, the concepts of heaven and earth, and Confucian morality-were brought together to formalize the philosophical principles of Chinese medicine and divination, astrology and alchemy. These concepts are not readily found or familiar in Western astrology or culture.Ĭhinese astrology was elaborated during the Zhou dynasty (1046–256 BC) and flourished during the Han dynasty (2nd century BC to 2nd century AD). Ĭhinese astrology has a close relation with Chinese philosophy (theory of the three harmonies: heaven, earth, and human), and uses the principles of yin and yang, wuxing (five phases), the ten Heavenly Stems, the twelve Earthly Branches, the lunisolar calendar (moon calendar and sun calendar), and the time calculation after year, month, day, and shichen ( 時辰, double hour). Chinese astrology flourished during the Han Dynasty (2nd century BC to 2nd century AD). Chinese astrology is based on traditional Chinese astronomy and the Chinese calendar.

Chinese astrology calculator