Monday, February 8, 2016 begins the Year of the Monkey. It is the beginning of the year 4713 (in some
traditions, 4714) in the Asian lunar system, which is the Year of the Red Fire Monkey.In today’s posting, I would like to share with you some specifics about the Year of the Monkey as well as some background to the Asian Zodiac system as a whole.
That said, you may also be interested in reading three related posts on
1) Lunar New Year Customs around the world at
http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/01/one-new-year-many-traditions-lunar-new.html
2) Year of the Monkey: Business Impact This post covers the business effects from travel to special editions of coins, stamps and gifts for the Lunar New Year around the world. http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2016/01/year-of-monkey-business-impact.html
3) Year of the Monkey 2016: 205 Celebrations Around the World. This post first indicates where the Lunar New Year is an official state holiday. The post then goes on to share the wide range of events taking place outside of those countries. The listing here gives 205 major celebrations (parades, galas or other celebrations) for the Year of the Monkey in 27 countries beyond where it is officially part of the tradition. Of these, 78 are in the United States, 30 in the United Kingdom, 21 in Canada, 19 in France, 17 in Australia, 5 in New Zealand, 4 each in the Netherlands and Thailand; 3 each in Spain, the Philippines and Malaysia, and 2 in Italy and Mexico. Additionally there were 1 each in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Dubai, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Portugal, South Africa, and South Africa.. This is available at http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2016/01/year-of-monkey-2016-celebrations-around_26.html
In today’s posting, though, we look only at the background to the Year of the Monkey specifically and the Asian Zodiac system as a whole.
The Asian Zodiac Briefly Explained
The Lunar Calendar
Because the Asian lunar calendar follows the moon, it seems to move within our solar-based Gregorian calendar. Moreover, the Gregorian calendar does not correspond fully with the Asian lunar calendar. Thus, February 19 marks the beginning of the Asian lunar calendar only this year for the Year of the Ram.Goat. For instance, it began last year on January 31, 2014 for the Year of the Horse with the last day falling on February 18, 2014. The year before the New Year began on February 10, 2013 with the last day of that year -- Year of the Snake -- falling on January 30, 2014, and so on.
The Twelve Animals of the Zodiac
The lunar calendar runs on a cycle of 12 years each represented by an animal. The animals all have a balance of compatibility or incompatibility as represented in their place in the circle of the 12-year cycle. This year is the Year of the Monkey, the ninth animal in the cycle.
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| The 12 Animals of the Zodiac |
The 12 animals in their order are
- Rat
- Ox
- Tiger
- Rabbit
- Dragon
- Snake
- Horse
- Ram/Sheep/Goat
- Monkey
- Rooster
- Dog
- Pig
Each
animal corresponds to a month of the lunar year. The ram or goat, this
year's governing animal, corresponds to the eighth animal in the cycle.
The Five Elements of the Wu Xing Cycle
Additionally, each 12-year cycle of animals runs on an additional cycle corresponding to the Wu Xing cycle of the five traditional Chinese elements. These are
- metal
- fire
- wood
- water
- earth
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| Wu Xing Cycle |
The five elements are in balance with each other, the basis of much of feng shui.
Combined, each element combines with each animal over a period of 60 years. The current 12-year cycle combines with the element of Fire
Each element is also associated with a color. In the case of fire, that color is red.
Thus, this year is the Year of the Red Fire Monkey.
The five elements are in balance with each other, the basis of much of feng shui.
Combined, each element combines with each animal over a period of 60 years. The current 12-year cycle combines with the element of Fire
Each element is also associated with a color. In the case of fire, that color is red.
Spiritual Importance of the Asian Horoscope
Many
followers of the Asian zodiac have a formal religious belief in the
importance of the animal element combinations associated with each year
in the 60-year cycle. This is clearly the case for those practicing
Taoism.
For
Taoists, the New Year is always of religious significance. This because
in Taoism, the Lunar New Year's first day is a time when lesser deities
or spirits are believed to ascend to the throne of the Jade Emperor
(King of Heaven). In
Taoist tradition, the 12 animals were in a contest to greet the Jade
Emperor; a 13th animal – the cat – was tricked by the rat (about five
variations of how exist), which explains why cats have hated rats ever
since. A children's version
of this story is told in an very pleasant rendition at the Topmarks
education site. I encourage you to take a look at this version at  |
| The 12 Zodiac animals in their race |
The
New Year is a religious event as well for a great number of the sects
of Buddhism, and most famously for Tibetan Buddhists. In Buddhist
tradition, the 12 animals were in a race to do honor to Lord Buddha on
the eve of his death. The rat and cat story is part of this tradition,
too. Incidentally, the rat was the first animal to greet Buddha. He
did so by helping the ox (which had poor eyesight) find his way across a
stream by riding on his head. When the two reached Lord Buddha on the
other shore, the rat jumped off the ox’s head, reaching Lord Buddha
first.
Additionally, though Confucianism is not technically a religion (but rather a philosophical system), its followers also traditional observe the lunar New Year to show reverence to their ancestors. Because of this, even Christians and practitioners of other faiths in such countries as as Korea or Vietnam generally
celebrate the holiday. The same holds true for those people in cultures
with strong Confucian customs who have no religion at all or for those
with mixed traditions.
Personality Traits and Asian Astrological Year
 |
| Monkey at Shrine, Tokyo |
It
is important to note that the animal of one’s birth year is not seen as
fully able to stand on its own in understanding an individual’s
personality traits and tendencies. These must at a minimum, as we have
discussed, take into account the associated five elements. Additionally,
East Asian astrologers account for the inner or secret animal assigned
by the day of the month and hour of the day on which one is born. In
all, there are 8640 combinations (e.g., 12 months, 5 elements, 12
months, 12 times of day).
Chinese Astrology Not A Particular Accurate Term
The system discussed here is often called Chinese astrology. This is a misnomer for two reasons. First, the holiday is far more widely observed than in just China, especially in Korea, Singapore, Bhutan, Japan, Tibet, Mongolia and Vietnam as well as those from these backgrounds living in other countries.
The system discussed here is often called Chinese astrology. This is a misnomer for two reasons. First, the holiday is far more widely observed than in just China, especially in Korea, Singapore, Bhutan, Japan, Tibet, Mongolia and Vietnam as well as those from these backgrounds living in other countries.
I
have described the holiday in general in this post. In a future post, I
will discuss followed the culturally specific differences in customs at
the close of this summary.
That said, for all the culturally diverse places in which the Asian New Year is celebrated, the calendar on which it is based does have
its origins in China. The first written records of the calendar and the
celebration of the New Year date to China’s Shang Dynasty (1766-1050
BC), although traditionally it is believed to date back to the rule of
the semi-mythical Yellow Emperor Huang Di around 2600 BC.
A second reason the phrase Chinese astrology is a misnomer is that the system really has nothing to do with constellations as astrology does in the West. It is less a reading of the stars than an interpretation of the importance of the time, date and year in which one is born. To the extent that when one is born matters to Western-style astrology, there is a correspondence. Moreover, there is another similarity as the five elements in the system, in fact, do correspond with the five planets known in ancient China.
Because of these corresponding commonalities with Western astrology, many people call the Asian system’s combinations of animals and elements the lunar or Chinese “horoscope”. This is a bit of a misnomer, however, not only for the reasons just described but because the way in which people view the two “horoscopes” is very different.
The difference here is that many people (although with many exceptions) in Europe, Australia and the Americas consider the Western zodiac horoscope of star signs (Scorpio, Sagittarius, etc.) to be a form of superstition, a game or something believed only partially.
 |
| East Asian lunar zodiac |
A second reason the phrase Chinese astrology is a misnomer is that the system really has nothing to do with constellations as astrology does in the West. It is less a reading of the stars than an interpretation of the importance of the time, date and year in which one is born. To the extent that when one is born matters to Western-style astrology, there is a correspondence. Moreover, there is another similarity as the five elements in the system, in fact, do correspond with the five planets known in ancient China.
Because of these corresponding commonalities with Western astrology, many people call the Asian system’s combinations of animals and elements the lunar or Chinese “horoscope”. This is a bit of a misnomer, however, not only for the reasons just described but because the way in which people view the two “horoscopes” is very different.
The difference here is that many people (although with many exceptions) in Europe, Australia and the Americas consider the Western zodiac horoscope of star signs (Scorpio, Sagittarius, etc.) to be a form of superstition, a game or something believed only partially.
This
is NOT the case with the Asian lunar horoscope cycle, where people
follow their sign very seriously. As a result, the system, though it
transcends that of any specific religion, should be treated with the
respect accorded religious beliefs. In any case, the point here is that
in a cross-cultural and inter-religious sense, the issue of lunar
horoscope animal element signs should be treated with respect.
The Monkey in Buddhist and Taoist Tradition
The monkey in Buddhist and Taoist tradition was credited for secretly saving the tiger.
Man-Ho Kwok in his book on Chinese Astrology (listed in the bibliography below) relates the rest of this Taoist tale regarding the Monkey and the Jade Emperor as follows:
 |
| Nephrite Monkeys Wrestling, Qing Dynasty, China Asian Art Museum, San Francisco |
The monkey and the tiger used to be next-door neighbours and were very good friends. The tiger was so fierce that all the other animals were afraid to approach him.
One day the tiger became caught in a hunter's net. Crying out for help he was heard by the monkey, who dashed up the tree to untie the ropes of the net and free him. After this, the tiger owed a great debt to the monkey. He was aware, however, that if the monkey told the other animals what had happened they would not take him seriously again. He thought about killing the monkey to contain his secret, but realized that if he did this he would be unbearably lonely. Consequently, he decided to help the monkey instead, to pay off his debt.
Monkey, by Mao Song, 13th Century, China
Victoria & Albert Museum, London
When it came to the selection of the animal signs, the tiger was one of the top prospects. The monkey's chances were not good, though, so the tiger decided to speak up for him. In front of all the other animals he praised the monkey's intelligence and ability, thereby ensuring the monkey a place among the animal signs. In this way, he paid off his debt. (p. 28)
It is important, again, to emphasize that for many people, the traits described here are taken very seriously and, by many others, at least somewhat seriously. The descriptions that follow are general traits. Professional astrologers in East Asia bore down through the specific year in the 60-year cycle (the element), the specific day and the specific hour of birth. As mentioned above, this produces 8640 possible permutations. The characteristics of any given year's zodiac animal, therefore, is considered by believers to be a very general influence.
Positive Monkey Traits
 |
| Ai Weiwei Monkey from the Circle of the Zodiac, 2011 |
Those born under the sign of the Monkey are likely to view life as a series of quick events. Moving from one experience to the other, then, is not so much about the things that they are doing as the feelings that such moves evoke. If something is exciting, then they are likely to act upon it and see what comes their way... What the Monkey represents then is a younger way of life, in which action, loss, and education all have an important role to play. https://senn.cocoloni.com/chinese-zodiac/characteristics/monkey/
The Monkey are the most inquisitive and restless of all the Zodiac animals. Therefore, the Monkey is the sign of innovation and change. As a major Chinese Horoscope site explains:
Monkey is the most versatile sign and one of the most intelligent animal in the Chinese zodiac. He has the widest range of skills compare to any other zodiac animals. Monkey is the sign of inventor, improvisor, and the motivator of the Chinese zodiac. He has inimitable guile and charm and can be successful in almost any occupation. Being the quick-witted genius of the cycle, he is clever, flexible, capable, and innovative. They are the most active of all. http://chinesehoroscop-e.com/Monkey%20Zodiac.html
 |
| Mori Sosen (1747-1821) Monkey and Waterfall, Honolulu Museum of Art |
most monkey people are good at assessing risks and have a keen sense of financial situations. You rise to new challenges and hammer away at a problem until you find a solution. Even when a situation looks disheartening you explore all possible avenues until you find a promising opening. Your good organizational skills, combined with an astute and creative approach, are suited to work which involves investigation and speedy responses.People born in the Year of the Monkey are believed to have innate talents in entertainment, public speaking and strategic thinking. They are believed to excel at any calling that requires persuasiveness, communication skills and -- especially -- thinking outside the box. Those born during the Year of the Monkey are supposed to be characterized by a deep well of charm and are innately lively, amusing and highly sociable. People born in the Year of the Monkey are the sign thought most likely to become famous, and so it (for believers), it does not seem unusual that so many famous people are born in Monkey years. Famous Year of the Monkey people include the actors Will Smith, Tom Hanks, Michael Douglas and Elizabeth Taylor; the magician David Copperfield; the Star Wars creator George Lucas and SNL creator Lorne Michaels.In addition, the Year of the Monkey seems suited to those likely to be famous simply for being famous -- through sheer force of personality, which is why it seems fitting that TV Hosts Jerry Springer, Bill Maher, Bob Saget, and Randy Jackson (as well as reality star Kim Kardashian) are all Year of the Monkey people.
Finally, people born in the Year of the Monkey are loyal to friends and able to befriend those that must others may shun. This is evident in the monkey and tiger story (shared above). The monkey befriends the tiger when others would not, helps the tiger when the tiger is in greatest need and remains friends with the tiger even when it seems that the tiger may abandon their friendship.
Negative Traits
On the negative side, people born in the Year of the Monkey generally are seen as having more positive than negative traits. It is, in general, a very likable and charismatic sign.
The negative traits tend to be the exaggerated version of their positive attributes. For instance, their wit and intelligence gives them the ability to decide things very quickly and accurately, but these may lead them to have little patience with those who take more time to catch up with them. As a result, monkey people are often accused of arrogance. Relatedly, their intelligence and driving curiosity results in a tendency to become bored quickly. Monkey people lose interest unless they constantly feel challenged.
Likewise, the otherwise positive trait of leadership and drive makes people born in the Year of the Monkey seem competitive to a fault. They are driven always to be in the top spot.
Year of the Fire Monkey Predictions
Predictions for the Year of the Fire Monkey are based on the personality attributes ascribed
to the characteristics believed to describe all people born under the
Monkey zodiac sign. The attributes of fire are then superimposed
on this.
Whatever one's own view on such predictions personally may be, it is important to keep in mind that somewhere in the realm of one billion people believe such predictions to be true, with perhaps 500 million taking such predictions seriously enough to affect decisions on business, investments, marriage, and having children among others.
The personality attributes of people born in the Year of the Monkey were described in greater detail above, generally speaking they charismatic leaders filled with creativity and innovative ideas.
The central characteristic of years governed by the element of fire is passion, action, leadership and dynamism. Fire is also associated with creative change and intensity.
Since the monkey is the animal most associated with creativity and fire is the element most associated with change, the Year of the Fire Monkey is one in which there is on the positive side the opportunity for innovation and new ideas and on the negative side a year of great volatility.
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| Monkey, Silla Period (8th Century), Korea National Museum of Korea, Seoul |
Whatever one's own view on such predictions personally may be, it is important to keep in mind that somewhere in the realm of one billion people believe such predictions to be true, with perhaps 500 million taking such predictions seriously enough to affect decisions on business, investments, marriage, and having children among others.
The personality attributes of people born in the Year of the Monkey were described in greater detail above, generally speaking they charismatic leaders filled with creativity and innovative ideas.
The central characteristic of years governed by the element of fire is passion, action, leadership and dynamism. Fire is also associated with creative change and intensity.
Since the monkey is the animal most associated with creativity and fire is the element most associated with change, the Year of the Fire Monkey is one in which there is on the positive side the opportunity for innovation and new ideas and on the negative side a year of great volatility.
The
professional astrologer Paul Ng places the year within the 60-year
cycle. Ng explains that this is the " Thunder Yin" in that cycle,
with an uneven balance of yin and yang (2 yin influences as against just one yin influence). Though less gloomy than last year's prediction (which seemingly correctly anticipated both the Ebola virus outbreak and economic uncertainty in China, Ng cautions that in this coming year "the world continues to be very volatile, politically and economically. There would be new sources of illnesses, mostly due to food issues." http://www.paulng.com/CMS/uploads/2016-geo.pdf This
is, however, one sentence in a an extensive prediction that varies
according to where one is located and what one's own zodiac sign and
time of birth are.
Some astrologers predict a more optimistic year in business or career decisions. Emphasizing the high energy and creativity traits of the animal combined with the "passion, creativity and joy" associated with fire, astrologer Susan Levitt puts it, the coming year "is ideal for a quantum leap in your life! Now is the time to shake things up, create change, and innovate a new path. Join Monkey’s enthusiast energy when risks are rewarded and anything can happen. Even the most ambitious plans can succeed. There will be more than enough action and opportunity to keep you busy. In Monkey year, it’s fine to just make it up as you go along." http://susanlevitt.com/astrology/monkey-year-2016/
Whatever your outcome for the year, Happy Year of the Fire Monkey!
Want to Learn More
For more on the animal for 2016, please see
Chinese Horoscop-e.com, "Monkey," http://chinesehoroscop-e.com/Monkey%20Zodiac.html
Chinese Zodiac.com, "Chinese Zodiac -- Monkey," http://www.chinesezodiac.com/monkey.php
Senn, "Chinese Zodiac Monkey Sign," https://senn.cocoloni.com/chinese-zodiac/characteristics/monkey/
Susan Levitt, "Fire Monkey Year 2016": http://susanlevitt.com/astrology/monkey-year-2016/
Paul Ng, "Predictions for 2016 (Year of the Fire Monkey)": http://www.paulng.com/CMS/uploads/2016-geo.pdf
Neil Somerville (2015), Your Chinese Horoscope 2016: What the Year of the Monkey Holds in Store for You, Harper, 2015.
Camlo de Ville, "The Fascinating World of Chinese Astrology," http://camlodedragon.com
Man-ho Kwok, Chinese Astrology: Forecast Your Future from Your Chinese Horoscope, Tuttle Publishing, 1997.
Man-ho Kwok, Chinese Astrology: Forecast Your Future from Your Chinese Horoscope, Tuttle Publishing, 1997.
Theodora Lau, The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes (6th edition), Collins Reference, 2007.
Kah Joon Liow, "12 Chinese Zodiac Sign," Living Chinese Symbols http://www.living-chinese-symbols.com/12-chinese-zodiac-sign.html
David W. Pankenier, Astrology and Cosmology in Early China: Conforming Earth to Heaven, Cambridge University Press, 2013.
Xiaochun Sun, "Crossing the Boundaries Between Heaven and Man: Astronomy in Ancient China," in Astronomy Across Cultures, ed. Helaine Selin and adv. ed. Sun Xiaochun: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2000.
David Twicken, Five Element Chinese Astrology Made Easy, iUniverse, 2000.
Derek Walters, The Complete Guide to Chinese Astrology, Watkins Publishing, 2005.
Suzanne White, The New Chinese Astrology, Thomas Dunne Books, 2009.
Charles Alfred Speed Williams. Chinese Symbolism and Art Motifs (2000), New York: Castle Books.
Shelly Wu, Chinese Astrology: Exploring the Eastern Zodiac, New Page Books, 2005.
Ho-Peng Yoke, Chinese Mathematical Astrology: Reaching Out to the Stars, Routledge, 2003. This is the pre-eminent book on the mathematical science of Asian lunar horoscope calculations. It is downloadable at http://www.ebook3000.com/Chinese-Mathematical-Astrology--Reaching-out-for-the-stars--Needham-Research-Institute-Series-_130932.html
For general popular websites on Asian Astrology and the Zodiac, please see:
China Voc.com "Zodiac" http://www.chinavoc.com/zodiac/index.asp
Chinese Fortune Calendar http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/5EBasic.htm
Chinese Horoscope-e.com, "Basic Chinese Horoscope," http://chinesehoroscop-e.com/index.html
Online Chinese Astrology http://www.onlinechineseastrology.com/
Topmarks Education, "Zodiac Story, Chinese New Year." http://www.topmarks.co.uk/ChineseNewYear/ZodiacStory.aspx
Clip Art Sources:
Opening Clip Art: http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/2016/
The 12 Animals of the Zodiac: http://creatingyourvelocity.com/www.knowledge2work.com/wp-includes/css/12-chinese-zodiac-animals-i13.gif
Wu Xing Cycle: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Wuxing_en.svg/220px-Wuxing_en.svg.png
Red Fire Monkey: http://www.artsfon.com/download/77233/1600x1200/
Yin Yang animation: http://www.eharrishome.com/Kungfu.html
Monkey at shrine, Tokyo (photo by Bantosh): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey_(zodiac)#/media/File:Tokyo_monkey_statue.jpg
The 12 Zodiac animals in their race: http://media.photobucket.com/image/recent/firefoxthief/zodiaccolor.jpg'
East Asian Lunar Zodiac: http://www.china-family-adventure.com/chinese-zodiac.html
Monkey at shrine, Tokyo (photo by Bantosh): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey_(zodiac)#/media/File:Tokyo_monkey_statue.jpg
The 12 Zodiac animals in their race: http://media.photobucket.com/image/recent/firefoxthief/zodiaccolor.jpg'
East Asian Lunar Zodiac: http://www.china-family-adventure.com/chinese-zodiac.html
Nephrite Wrestling Monkeys, China, Qing Dynasty. Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2_monkeys_wrestling_Asian_Art_Museum_SF_B60J977.JPG
Monkey, by Mao Song, 13th Century, China, Victoria & Albert Museum, London
http://publicdescription.com/2013/05/10/va-london-masterpieces-of-chinese-painting-700-1900/
Ai Weiwei, Monkey from the Circle of the Zodiac, 2011 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturepicturegalleries/8488073/Ai-Weiwei-Circle-of-AnimalsZodiac-heads.html?image=2
Mori Sosen (1747-1821), Monkey and Waterfall, Edo Japan era, Honolulu Museum of Art:http://research.honolulumuseum.org/EdoPainting/introduction-styles-of-japanese-painting-during-the-edo-period-1615-1868/shasei-the-maruyama-and-shijo-schools-of-japanese-painting/shasei-and-western-realism-4
Monkey, Silla Period (8th Century), Korea, National Museum of Korea, Seoul, photo by tjfriese, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/National_Museum_of_Korea#/media/File:National_Museum_5.jpg
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