The normal lunisolar calendar utilized in China designates years with a mixture of celestial stems and earthly branches, leading to a 60-year cycle. In 1961, this technique designated the yr because the “12 months of the Steel Ox,” signifying diligence, dependability, power, and willpower. People born throughout this yr are believed by some to embody these traits. This calendar system is distinct from the Gregorian calendar and performs a big function in figuring out conventional Chinese language festivals and observances.
Understanding this conventional timekeeping methodology offers beneficial insights into Chinese language tradition and historical past. It governs the timing of great cultural occasions, such because the Lunar New 12 months and different festivals, shaping social customs and household traditions. The yr’s designation throughout the sexagenary cycle additionally holds symbolic that means in Chinese language astrology and is usually consulted for fortune-telling and compatibility predictions. This method has been integral to Chinese language society for hundreds of years, reflecting a deep connection to agricultural cycles and celestial observations.
