Liao - Chinese Astrology: Ancient Secrets for Modern Life

CHINESE ASTROLOGY. Copyright 2000 by Sabrina Liao. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.

Hachette Book Group,

237 Park Avenue,

New York, NY 10017.

ISBN: 978-0-7595-2048-6

A mass market edition of this book was published in 2001 by Warner Books.

First eBook Edition: January 2001

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(1) WHICH CHINESE ANIMAL SIGN HAS THE BEST CHANCE OF BECOMING FAMOUS?

(2) WHICH SIGNS MAKE THE MOST DANGEROUS MATCHIN LOVE OR FRIENDSHIP?

(3) WHICH SIGN IS A BORN PERFECTIONIST?

Unlike most other guides, CHINESE ASTROLOGY is written by a Chinese expert using the true principles that have endured for thousands of years. With her deep knowledge of this ancient art of divination and prediction, Sabrina Liao gives you an accurate, eye-opening reading of your personal sign. In addition, she tells you:

The history and legends of Chinese astrology.

How the five elementsmetal, wood, water, fire, earthfurther determine your fate.

And more!

OPEN THE DOORS INTO YOUR HIDDEN SELF WITH

CHINESE ASTROLOGY

by Sabrina Liao

Answers: (1) Monkey (2) Tiger and Sheep (3) Dragon

To my father, Kevin Liao
my mother, Shirley Ni
and
my sister, Eliza Liao

Thanks for letting me be your little girl,
so
I can
become
who I want to
be

It all started with a paper place mat from a Chinese restaurant on Bleecker Street. It was a humid summer night in New York City in 1995. My friends, Eva, Philip, Reggero, and I were sitting at the corner table, when Philip started to read the paper place mat in front of him.

Hey, I am a Dragon in Chinese astrology! Philip declared, excited by this discovery. Then he asked me, So, what does it mean to be born as a Dragon?

As a Chinese who grew up in Taiwan, I was fortunate to know the basics about Chinese astrology, and replied, As the celestial animal and symbol of the Chinese emperors, the Dragon is believed to be a powerful heavenly creature that will bring honor and prosperity to the family. This is why, in old times, every Chinese parent prayed in hopes of having a Dragon child born into the family.

Philip was quite satisfied with my short description, and seemed extremely proud to be a Dragon man. The next thing I knew, everyone turned to me to learn more about his or her own sign in Chinese astrology. I must say that I was surprised to discover my friends fascination with this subject. And, with their encouragement I began my research on Chinese astrology and put up a small Web site on the Internet to share my culture with the world.

My site, Sabrinas World: When East Meets West, http://cat.nyu.edu/liaos/horoscope.html was officially launched in Fall 1995. Since then, the site has received extensive exposure from the media, including CNN, BBC, the Asian Wall Street Journal, and AOL and has been viewed by millions of people. Through the years, I have received thousands of e-mail requests for more detailed information. Now, by publishing this book, I am hoping to feed all the curious minds out there and bring them one step closer to Chinese culture.

So, what is Chinese astrology anyway? Chinese astrology is an ancient art, which uses the time of birth, including the year, month, day, and time, to reveal insights into a persons personality traits, lifestyle, health, career direction, and compatibility with others. Although the exact origin of the system is unknown, Chinese astrology has guided the Chinese for over five thousand years and has a profound influence on our lives.

The Chinese system of zodiac is actually based on a ten-year Sun-Moon cycle that conforms to the ancient Chinese agricultural calendar. The cycle is divided into the five elements: Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, and Metal as well as the twelve animals, which represent each year. The system is influenced by Yin (female) and Yang (male) cosmic force, which is said to be an interpretation of universal harmony and balance.

Every time Ive told someone, You were born in the year of the Snake or You are a Rat (this should be said nicely with a smile if you consider that person a friend), Ive actually seen their expression instantly transformed ranging from pure curiosity to pure disappointment. In their own imagination, they probably related the Snake with the evil slimy python hissing at the poor helpless chicks on the Discovery Channel; or perhaps they recalled that sneaky despicable rat terrorizing their comfortable house, which theyd tried to catch for months.

So, of course they are disappointed. After all, a rat or a snake does not sound nearly as fascinating as a mythical dragon. But in reality, the Rat and Snake are well respected in China. The Rat is smart, inventive and certainly knows how to stash food, while the Snake is described as a charming and charitable creature in many Chinese folk tales.

So, the next logical question is, how were the twelve animals chosen? And why is the Rat first among the dozen? At first glance, some choices seem a little odd, but if you look back to 2637 B.C. in China and think about the agricultural society existing then, you will understand why these animals were selected. The Chinese used familiar rural animals of the time that had distinguishing characteristics to represent years with similar tones.

Nevertheless, there are still various folk tales regarding how the animals were selected. Among all the variations, there is one fascinating legend that has been passed down for generations. I dont really remember how I learned this story, but as far as I know, this is probably the most popular folk tale about Chinese astrology.

Legend has it that once upon a time, the Heavenly God realized that there hadnt been a system to keep track of time, so he decided to develop a calendar system. One day, he summoned the Earth God to hold a race for the animals inhabiting the earth. So the Earth God gathered all the animals, and announced that the first twelve animals to cross the river would be the signs in the zodiac calendar. What a great honor to be in the zodiac calendar! All the animals chattered excitedly, and all wanted to join the race to win their spot in the calendar.

After the announcement, the Cat turned to his best friend the Rat to express his deep concern. How can I cross the river when I am afraid of water? At the same time, the old Ox grumbled to himself, and said, How can I cross the river with my poor eyesight?

The intelligent Rat looked at the Cat, then the Ox, and then a brilliant idea entered his mind, Ive got it! We can hop on the Oxs back to guide him, and he can carry us across the river without us getting wet! All three of them agreed this was a great plan. So, early before dawn on race day, the Rat, the Cat, and the Ox were cruising slowly in the river, leaving all the competition behind. Just as they reached the middle of the river, the calculating Rat sneaked up behind the unsuspecting Cat and pushed him off the back of the Ox into the river.