47 READINGS · FROM FOUNDATIONS TO FINER DETAILS
Chinese astrology
Understand your lunar-year animal, Heavenly Stem, Earthly Branch, five phases and Yin/Yang, with calendar examples and reflection questions. Each reading explains one part of the lunar-year tradition, with an example and a reflection question.
NEW TO THIS?
A good place to begin.
These three short readings introduce the language you will use throughout the guide.
The Lunar New Year boundary
This calculator changes the year placement on the first day of the first lunar month.
1 min readThe sixty-year stem-branch cycle
Ten Heavenly Stems pair in order with twelve Earthly Branches to form sixty year names.
1 min readWhat a date-only year reading can and cannot say
A year placement is one calendar label, not a complete personal chart.
1 min readFIND YOUR NEXT QUESTION
Explore the chapters
47 readings
Calendar foundations
6 readingsA lunisolar calendar
Chinese calendar months follow lunar phases while the year stays aligned with seasons.
1 min readThe Lunar New Year boundary
This calculator changes the year placement on the first day of the first lunar month.
1 min readThe sixty-year stem-branch cycle
Ten Heavenly Stems pair in order with twelve Earthly Branches to form sixty year names.
1 min readAn intercalary lunar month
Some lunar years repeat a month number to keep the calendar in seasonal alignment.
1 min readLunar New Year and Li Chun are different boundaries
Some Four Pillars traditions use the solar term Li Chun for the year pillar.
1 min readWhat a date-only year reading can and cannot say
A year placement is one calendar label, not a complete personal chart.
1 min readThe twelve year animals
12 readingsRat
The Rat opens the twelve-animal sequence.
1 min readOx
The Ox evokes patient, sustained work.
1 min readTiger
The Tiger brings an image of initiative.
1 min readRabbit
The Rabbit highlights attention and care.
1 min readDragon
The Dragon evokes change on a larger scale.
1 min readSnake
The Snake suggests close observation and renewal.
1 min readHorse
The Horse emphasizes movement and range.
1 min readGoat
The Goat brings care and shared support into view.
1 min readMonkey
The Monkey suggests experiment and ingenuity.
1 min readRooster
The Rooster calls attention to timing and clarity.
1 min readDog
The Dog evokes protection and commitment.
1 min readPig
The Pig closes the animal cycle with an image of sufficiency.
1 min readThe ten Heavenly Stems
10 readingsJia: Heavenly Stem
Jia is Yang Wood, an image of upright growth.
1 min readYi: Heavenly Stem
Yi is Yin Wood, an image of flexible growth.
1 min readBing: Heavenly Stem
Bing is Yang Fire, an image of broad light.
1 min readDing: Heavenly Stem
Ding is Yin Fire, an image of focused flame.
1 min readWu: Heavenly Stem
Wu is Yang Earth, an image of broad ground.
1 min readJi: Heavenly Stem
Ji is Yin Earth, an image of tended soil.
1 min readGeng: Heavenly Stem
Geng is Yang Metal, an image of shaping and structure.
1 min readXin: Heavenly Stem
Xin is Yin Metal, an image of careful refinement.
1 min readRen: Heavenly Stem
Ren is Yang Water, an image of wide flow.
1 min readGui: Heavenly Stem
Gui is Yin Water, an image of rain or mist.
1 min readThe twelve Earthly Branches
12 readingsZi: Earthly Branch
Zi begins the twelve-branch sequence and pairs with Rat.
1 min readChou: Earthly Branch
Chou is the second branch and pairs with Ox.
1 min readYin: Earthly Branch
Yin is the third branch and pairs with Tiger.
1 min readMao: Earthly Branch
Mao is the fourth branch and pairs with Rabbit.
1 min readChen: Earthly Branch
Chen is the fifth branch and pairs with Dragon.
1 min readSi: Earthly Branch
Si is the sixth branch and pairs with Snake.
1 min readWu: Earthly Branch
Wu is the seventh branch and pairs with Horse.
1 min readWei: Earthly Branch
Wei is the eighth branch and pairs with Goat.
1 min readShen: Earthly Branch
Shen is the ninth branch and pairs with Monkey.
1 min readYou: Earthly Branch
You is the tenth branch and pairs with Rooster.
1 min readXu: Earthly Branch
Xu is the eleventh branch and pairs with Dog.
1 min readHai: Earthly Branch
Hai is the twelfth branch and pairs with Pig.
1 min read