Chinese Astrology
Fascinated with China and Chinese Culture
We, although not Asian, have had a long-standing
fascination with the cultures of the East and in particular China. We
were impressed by the beauty of its' landscapes and the generous spirit
of its' people. We were drawn to the simple beauty of its' written language
where every symbol and every name has meaning. We had also been aware
of the importance of Chinese astrology in everyday life.
Chinese Zodiac - Ying and Yang
The Chinese zodiac is more than astrological signs. It is a philosophy
of life whose history goes back more than 4500 years and is a combination
of 3 very different yet interdependent concepts essential to Chinese
thought—Ying and Yang, opposite but equal forces of energy-aggressive
and passive (the ideal is to achieve harmony between both). The second
strand concerns the 5 elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, water).
Chinese Zodiac Calendar
These elements are the agents of change and reaction. The third part
of this equation is the Chinese calendar which is a flexible entity.
This calendar is comprised of 60-year centuries, in 5 by 12-year periods.
Each astrological sign occurs once every 12 years and each year begins
somewhere between late January and mid-February. Chinese astrology is
a field of study that grew out of these diverse but interlinked philosophies.
There are many books out there which can provide you with much more
information on this absorbing and remarkably accurate means of reading
your life. Probably the best known Western author on the Chinese zodiac
is Suzanne White "Chinese Astrology."
Traveling in China
If you have any plans in the future to visit China we would like to
recommend the city of Guilin as your stop-off point. Although not a
beautiful city, you will see the old China before it someday disappears.
The scenery of the surrounding countryside is truly spectacular. A trip
on the Lijiang river to neighboring Yangshuo is also recommended. Guilin
is approximately 1-hour flight time from Hong Kong. If you want an exciting
blend of West and East, Hong Kong is a good starting point with easy
access to all of mainland China. If you wish to visit a major city,
Shanghai would be our recommendation. It is a beautiful and diverse
city. And the food is great!
If you have been to Shanghai, Guilin or other parts of China and want
to convey your experiences or tips to other visitors of this site we
will try to include them in future newsletters to our list of opt-in
members.
