News / Astrology

Chinese astrology is based on the traditional astronomy and calendars. The development of Chinese astrology is tied to that of astronomy, which came to flourish during the Han Dynasty.

Chinese astrology has a close relation with Chinese philosophy (theory of the three harmony, heaven, earth and water) and uses the principles of yin and yang and concepts that are not found in Western astrology, such as the wu xing teachings, the 10 Celestial stems, the 12 Earthly Branches, the lunisolar calendar (moon calendar and sun calendar), and the time calculation after year, month, day and shichen.

Chinese astrology was elaborated during the Zhou dynasty (1046–256 BC) and flourished during the Han Dynasty (2nd century BC to 2nd century AD). During the Han period, the familiar elements of traditional Chinese culture-the Yin-Yang philosophy, the theory of the 5 elements, the concepts of Heaven and Earth, and Confucian morality-were brought together to formalize the philosophical principles of Chinese medicine and divination, astrology and alchemy.

The 5 classical planets are associated with the Wu Xing: Venus-Metal (White Tiger), Jupiter-Wood (Azure Dragon), Mercury-Water (Black Tortoise), Mars-Fire (Vermilion Bird) (may or may not be associated with the phoenix which was also an imperial symbol along with the Dragon) and Saturn-Earth (Yellow Dragon).