What is the Japanese Zodiac sign?
The Japanese zodiac (十二支/Junishi) is based on Chinese Zodiac and is divided into 12 blocks with each block containing a group of years. Reading of the Zodiac is popular not only in Japan but also in many Asian countries such as Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand.
It is said that this type of Zodiac reading was already there in 1600 BC in China, and there is a famous story about the origin of it.
Long time ago, God (some say that it was Buddha) gathered 12 animals to create the zodiac. He told animals to meet on Jan 1st and the selection would be in accordance with the order in which they would arrive. Cat came late there and did not know what was going on. Mouse told Cat a lie and said that there would be a meeting for making the zodiac on Jan 2nd.
On Jan 1st, Cow, being the slowest of all, woke up early and started the race first to win. The mouse hid on the cow and just before the cow was getting in front of the God, the mouse jumped off and became the first to arrive.
Then the Cow, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig followed. When the cat arrived (he was too late to be added to the list), he knew that he had been fooled by the mouse and that is how he began to chase the mouse to this day swearing that he would never forgive the mouse.
Every year is represented by a different zodiac sign/animal, and it is believed that we can read a person’s personality or events in their life as well as the relationships with others. The zodiac begins with the sign of the Rat and go around as below, and an animal sign is assigned to a person based on the year in which he/she was born
1.子/Ne: Rat
Born in 2020, 2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960, 1948, 1936, 1924, 1912.
2.丑/Ushi: Ox
Born in 2009, 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961, 1949, 1937, 1925, 1913.
3.寅/Tora: Tiger
Born in 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962, 1950, 1938, 1926, 1914.
4.卯/U: Rabbit
Born in 2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963, 1951, 1939, 1927, 1915.
5.辰/Tatsu: Dragon
Born in 2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964, 1952, 1940, 1928, 1916.
6.巳/Mi: Snake
Born in 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965, 1953, 1941, 1929, 1917.
7.午/Uma: Horse
Born in 2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966, 1954, 1942, 1930, 1918, 1906.
8.未/Hitsuji: Sheep
Born in 2015, 2003, 1991, 1979, 1967, 1955, 1943, 1931, 1919, 1907.
9.申/Saru: Monkey
Born in 2016, 2004, 1992, 1980, 1968, 1956, 1944, 1932, 1920, 1908.
10.酉/Tori: Rooster
Born in 2017, 2005, 1981, 1969, 1957, 1945, 1933, 1921, 1909.
11.戌/Inu: Dog
Born in 2018, 2006, 1982, 1970, 1958, 1946, 1934, 1922, 1910.
12.亥/Inoshishi: Boar
Born in 2019, 2007, 1983, 1971, 1959, 1947, 1935, 1923, 1911.
Personalities and Compativility
There are a lot of variations and different rules to read zodiac signs, but below are the general characteristic of people based on the Zodiac reading.
Rat
They are good at adapting themselves and very cautious. They are clever and plan things out well. They have a capacity for pursuing a course to its end, but can be short-tempered.
Best with : Ox, Dragon, Monkey
Not good with : Horse, Sheep, Rabbit
Ox
Although they seem to be lazy, they are deep thinkers and very patient. They won’t make complains and have strong will power.
But once they get upset, they go out of control.
Best with : Rat, Snake, Rooster
Not good with : Sheep, Horse, Dog
Tiger
They are very active and they like trying something new. They are positive and don’t get depressed much. They are courageous but sometimes they can be seen that they are selfish and mean.
Best with : Dog, Sheep, Boar
Not good with : Monkey, Snake
Rabbit
They are charming and can be very popular. They are smooth talkers and good at increasing social circles but sometimes try too many things randomly, so people around might think they are mysterious or trustless.
Best with : Dog, Sheep, Boar
Not good with : Rooster, Dragon, Monkey
Dragon
They are brave and can inspire others by achieving something innovative. Very energetic but the feeling goes up and down like a roller coaster, and many people with this sign have dramatic life.
Best with : Mouse, Monkey
Not good with : Dog, Rabbit, other Dragons
Snake
They are very calm and tend to keep some distance from people around them. They are smart and can pay attention to details. Once they are determined in what they do, they won’t give up till they achieve it.
Best with : Monkey, Ox, Rooster
Not good with : Boar, Tiger, Monkey
Horse
They are friendly and open-minded, so they have a lot of companions. They like to challenge things but can lose interest very quickly. They are warm-hearted but can be easily deceived.
Best with : Tiger, Dog
Not good with : Mouse, Sheep, other Horses
Sheep
They don’t like conflicts and hardly ever get angry. They are honest and good at building relationships with people around, but can be too anxious and don’t like taking risks.
Best with : Horse, Rabbit, Boar
Not good with : Mouse, Ox
Monkey
They like to be popula. They are intuitive but at the same time clever, so they can act/work very efficiently. But they can be too flashy and arrogant sometimes.
Best with : Snake, Mouse, Dragon
Not good with : Tiger, Boar
Rooster
It is said that people with this sign have good luck. They can live well based on their instincts and they are passionate. They hate to lose and can be over-competitive sometimes.
Best with : Dragon, Ox, Snake
Not good with : Dog, other Roosters
Dog
They have a sense of duty and loyalty, and they like to help others. They have a strong sense of justice and try to do things right but they are not flexible.
Best with : Rabbit, Tiger, Horse
Not good with : Dragon, Rooster, Ox, Sheep
Boar
They are very determined and self-disciplined. They are honest, brave, serious, and strict but a little clumsy and can be sensitive.
Best with : Tiger, Rabbit, Sheep
Not good with : Snake, Monkey, other Boars
It is fun to read the zodiac sings and think about relationships between people around. Japan has another interesting theory on personality : Blood type personality. I wrote about it on another post so please take a look if you are interested :https://hidanotaka.com/blood-type-personality-theory-in-japanwhat-it-says-about-you/
Today’s words and phrases 今日の単語/フレーズ
・Zodiac sign 干支、星座
・Swear 誓う
・In accordance with 〜に従って
・Compatibility 相性
・Instinct 本能
・Flexible 柔軟性のある
Thank you for reading today’s post.
Until next time!
Taka
*I’m a professional composer by the way.
You can listen/download my music below.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me: [email protected]
