What Are the Eastern and Western Zodiac Signs?

In our previous article, we mentioned that by understanding one's Eastern zodiac animal, one can discover their guardian Buddha and select a Buddhist amulet jewelry accordingly. So, what is the Eastern zodiac? And how does it differ from the Western zodiac signs?

I. The Chinese Zodiac

The Chinese zodiac consists of twelve animals in the following order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. These follow the Chinese lunar calendar, commonly known as the lunar or "yin" calendar. The cycle repeats every twelve years.

For example, 1988 and 2000 are both considered the Year of the Dragon, so people born in these years share the Dragon zodiac sign.

This zodiac aligns with the Chinese New Year, beginning on the last day of the lunar month. Everyone born within a given lunar year has the same zodiac sign. Additionally, each person’s month, day, and hour of birth form the four "pillars" of destiny (year, month, day, and hour). These pillars are arranged according to a cycle of ten heavenly stems and twelve earthly branches, creating a "Bazi" or Eight Characters. The Bazi is used to analyze personality, destiny, marriage, and fortune.

• Rat (鼠): 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020
• Ox (牛) and Tiger (虎):
  Ox - 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021
  Tiger - 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022
• Rabbit (兔): 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023
• Dragon (龙) and Snake (蛇):
  Dragon - 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012
  Snake - 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013
• Horse (马): 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014
• Sheep (羊) and Monkey (猴):
  Sheep - 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015
  Monkey - 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016
• Rooster (鸡): 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017
• Dog (狗) and Pig (猪):
  Dog - 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018
  Pig - 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019

II. The Western Zodiac Signs

1. Aries (March 21 - April 20)
   Also known as the Ram, Aries marks the first house of the zodiac and spans from 0 to 30 degrees on the ecliptic. The Sun typically enters this sign around March 21, the vernal equinox, marking it as the “First Point of Aries.”

2. Taurus (April 21 - May 21)
   The second zodiac house, Taurus spans from 30 to 60 degrees. The Sun typically enters Taurus around April 20, during the “Grain Rain” seasonal period.

3. Gemini (May 22 - June 21)
   The third zodiac house, from 60 to 90 degrees, with the Sun entering around May 21, during the “Grain Full” season.

4. Cancer (June 22 - July 23)
   The fourth zodiac house, from 90 to 120 degrees, with the Sun entering around June 22, during the summer solstice, known as the “First Point of Cancer.”

5. Leo (July 24 - August 23)
   The fifth zodiac house, from 120 to 150 degrees, with the Sun entering around July 23, during the “Great Heat” season.

6. Virgo (August 24 - September 23)
   The sixth zodiac house, from 150 to 180 degrees, with the Sun entering around August 23, during the “End of Heat” season.

7. Libra (September 24 - October 23)
   The seventh zodiac house, from 180 to 210 degrees, with the Sun entering around September 24, during the autumn equinox, also called the “First Point of Libra.”

8. Scorpio (October 24 - November 22)
   The eighth zodiac house, from 210 to 240 degrees, with the Sun entering around October 23, during the “Frost’s Descent” season.

9. Sagittarius (November 23 - December 21)
   The ninth zodiac house, from 240 to 270 degrees, with the Sun entering around November 22, during the “Minor Snow” season.

10. Capricorn (December 23 - January 22)
    The tenth zodiac house, from 270 to 300 degrees, with the Sun entering around December 22, during the winter solstice.

11. Aquarius (January 21 - February 19)
    The eleventh zodiac house, from 300 to 330 degrees, with the Sun entering around January 20, during the “Great Cold” season.

12. Pisces (February 20 - March 20)
    The twelfth zodiac house, from 330 to 360 degrees, with the Sun entering around February 20, during the “Rain Water” season.

Each sign follows these fixed dates each year. For example, people born from February 20 to March 20 in both 2022 and 2023 are Pisces. The Western zodiac follows the solar or Gregorian calendar, classifying individuals by their birth date.

III. Comparison of the Chinese Zodiac and Western Zodiac

1. Both the Chinese zodiac and Western zodiac have their own mythologies.
2. The Chinese zodiac aligns each sign with one of the Wuxing (Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth) in a repeating 60-year cycle. For instance, 1980 and 1981 are Wood years.
3. The Western zodiac groups signs into four elements: Air, Earth, Water, and Fire. For example, Scorpio, Cancer, and Pisces are Water signs.
4. Personality traits in both zodiacs often correspond to their symbolic animals or elements. For example, Horses are lively and social, while Libras seek harmony and fairness but struggle with indecision.
5. Some Chinese and Western signs are strikingly similar, like the Tiger and Leo, or the Goat and Aries.
6. Both zodiacs are cultural interpretations of human nature, not absolute definitions.
7. In relationships, the Chinese zodiac considers compatibility through sign and Bazi, while the Western zodiac uses star signs and astrological charts.

IV. Conclusion

Both zodiacs serve as helpful frameworks for understanding others, offering general guidance in relationships and personal insights.