Reiko Chiba - Japanese Fortune Calendar

THE YEAR OF THE RAT

P EOPLE born in the year of the rat are noted for their charm. However, they are fussy about small matters and have a tendency to pinch pennies. When such people want something very much, they will work hard for the thing desired. Because they are thrifty, they are able to save a great deal of money. Unfortunately, they may lose what they have saved by spending it on someone they love who does not love them. Curiously enough, only through love does a person born in this year become generous.

Although people born in this year can maintain an outward show of control, they are easily angered. Their value lies in the fact that they are able to control their discontent or anger. Small-minded as these people are, they are quite honest and ambitious and have a tremendous capacity for pursuing a course to its end. They love to spend money on themselves, denying themselves nothing, but they don't lend. They love to gossip, and because of this characteristic they are apt to have short-term friends.

They will have good fortune in the first phase of their life. But in the second phase they will lose everything they have at one time through a mistakenly taken chance or a shattering love affair. Yet in the latter part of their life they will live well and comfortably.

A person born in the year of the rat would do well to marry someone born in either the dragon, the monkey, or the ox year, for people of these years are temperamentally suited to those of the rat year. The next best choice would be one born in the year of the rat, tiger, snake, dog, or boar. The worst would be with one born in the horse year, and it would be doubly disastrous for a rat-year man to marry a woman born in the year called the "fire horse year," which comes every sixty years. A popular superstition claims that a man marrying such a woman does not live out his full span of life.

THE YEAR OF THE COCK

C OCK-YEAR people are deep thinkers. They are always busy and devoted to their work. They always want to do more than they are able, and if they undertake a task beyond their abilities, they are disappointed when they discover they are unable to fulfill their obligation. People born in this year are eccentric, and it is this eccentricity that prevents them from having what is known in Japan as a "roundness" in their relationships with others. Cock people always think that they are right and that they know what they are doing. They do not trust other people and prefer to do what they like, alone. Their outward attitude and presentation is that of an adventuresome spirit, but inwardly they have little gift for high adventure and are filled with nonsensical plans that never mature.

Although they are ambitious, for all their deep thinking they are not far-seeing and are somewhat improvident, for their fortunes resemble waves: sometimes they are wealthy, sometimes not. They are selfish and unheeding of other people's feelings and have a habit of speaking out directly whenever they have something on their minds. They are not at all shy and are quite brave when the occasion calls for it. Other people find cock people interesting, but unless they are careful, cock people will lose the good opinion of others.

The best marriage for this sort of person is with either ox-year, snake-year, or dragon-year people. The next best would be with someone born In the year of the tiger, horse, sheep, monkey, or boar. A bad marriage would be with someone born in the rat year, cock year, or dog year. The worst marriage would be with someone born in the year of the rabbit.

THE YEAR OF THE DOG

A LL the fine traits of human nature are in the possession of people born in the year of the dog. They have a deep sense of duty and loyalty, are extremely honest, and always do their best in their relationships with people. Dog-year people inspire other people's confidence and know how to keep private secrets absolutely private. Other people hold dog-year people in high regard and consider them fine persons. Yet dog-year people are somewhat selfish, terribly stubborn, and exceedingly eccentric. They care little for wealth yet always seem to manage to obtain money when they need it. They are not good at social gatherings, and emotionally they are cold. If there is any worst trait about these people it is their ability to find fault with things and their caustic remarks criticizing what they think wrong. They have terribly sharp tongues.

It will be noted that throughout history it has always been a person who was born in the year of the dog who has been the champion of justice. Goaded by whatever injustice he may see, a dog-year person will not rest until right has been established. Eccentric as he is, he does not champion stupid causes, which is a good thing after all, for when a dog-year person takes up a cause he generally sees it through, and the side he takes up wins. Dog people are not noted for small talk, yet they make good leaders in industry. They are able to handle people when it is necessary, and trading firms or big business firms would be wise to hire such people for their industriousness and honesty.

Surprisingly, for all the dog-year person's cool temperament, marriage with either horse-year, tiger-year, or rabbit-year people would be best. Next best would be marriage with a person born in the year of the rat, snake, monkey, dog, or boar. A bad marriage would be one with someone born in the year of the ox or the year of the cock. The worst would be with someone born in either the dragon year or the sheep year.

THE YEAR OF THE BOAR

C HIVALROUS and gallant, people born in the year of the boar are always flying the white banner of purity. Whatever their ambition, they do what they must with all the strength they have, for their strength is an inner strength that no one can overcome. There is neither left nor right nor retreat when a boar person sets out to do something. He has tremendous fortitude and great honesty.

Boar-year people don't make many friends, but when they do, they make friends for life, and anyone having a boar-year-born person as a friend is indeed fortunate. Boar-year people don't talk much, but when they finally say something, they let it all come out at one time, and there is no shutting them up until they have finished. Like monkey-year people, they have a great thirst for knowledge. They study a great deal and on the surface are generally well informed. However, if a boar person's knowledge is probed, it will be discovered that what he knows is limited. The Japanese saying is that such a person is broad in front but has a narrow back.

Boar people are quite short-tempered, yet they hate quarreling or arguments. They are affectionate and kind to their loved ones. Boar people will have marital problems, and during the first and second phases of their lives they will have difficulties. Yet no matter how difficult their problems may be, boar people are shy and will not ask for outside help hut will seek solutions to their problems by themselves. Boar people are advised not to get into lawsuits, for, being impulsive and honest, they will lose the suit to someone who is unscrupulous.