Episode II-Chinese Astrology

Chinese astronomy/astrology developed into a complex system entirely independent from Mesopotamian astronomy or astrology. The difference ranges from how the Chinese tracked objects through the night sky to the philosophical elements that made up the heavens, to their basic interpretation from what they perceived to be astrological predictions. However, the one thing both ancient cultures have in common is that they were both obsessed with finding out what made the heavens move and how their movement affected humans on Earth. Some of the earliest texts from Mesopotamia were stones inscribed with astrological data. The same can be said for the Chinese civilization. For example, some of the earliest written artifacts of Chinese civilization are found on so-called dragon bones, inscribed pieces of tortoise shell used by the ancients for divination.[1]

The most startling difference between Chinese and Western astrology is the method or system the Chinese used to track the planets throughout the night sky. Each civilization was able to distinguish planets from the other stars located in the sky, but the reference points found in the sky are much different. The Western (Mesopotamian-Babylonian-Hellenistic-etc...) stellar positions are found by reference to the ecliptic, known to the Chinese as the Yellow Path, that is, an imaginary line through the heavens traced by the Sun.[2] This may seem like the same thing, but the Chinese locate heavenly bodies with respect to the celestial north pole and the celestial equator (called the Red Path by the Chinese) rather than with respect to the ecliptic (termed the Yellow Path).[1]

As a consequence of the two different observational systems, two kinds of astrological interpretation sprang up. In the West, astrology is based on the computations of movements of planetary bodies along the ecliptic, or zodiac. In Chinese astrology, the "lunar zodiac" has prime importance. In this the sky is divided into 28 segments, each one representing a day of the moon's path through the sky.[2] This leads us to the fact that in Chinese astrology there are many stars and constellations of importance to the Chinese astrology that are irrelevant in Western astrology.[2] This being said, a Western astronomer would have a hard time recognizing a star map produced by a Chinese astrologer, even though its the same sky!!

A cultural and philosophical difference between the astrological systems of Western and Chinese astrology has to do with the classical elements. For example, the four classical elements of the Western World-earth, air, fire, and water-are comparable to, yet contrast with, the five elements of East Asian philosophy-earth, fire, water, metal, and wood. [1] The Chinese associate these five elements with the most visible planets- Saturn (earth), Mars (fire), Mercury (water), Venus (metal), and Jupiter (wood). These elements are a basis for the astrological predictions made about the future or divination. It is surprising how totally different civilizations happened to come up with almost the same fundamental elements of the Universe.

As mentioned above, in Chinese astrology importance is situated around the moon's motion through the zodiac rather than the motion of the Sun through the zodiac. The position of the moon for different days is referred to as the "lunar mansion" in Chinese Astrology. The 28 lunar mansions are particularly important for determine which action is most appropriate for a given day.[1] The lunar mansions are divided into 4 groups of 7 in relation to the seasons of the year. The groups are categorized as follows: The Green Dragon of Spring, The Black Tortoise of Winter, The White Tiger of Autumn, The Red Bird of Summer. The 28 lunar mansions constitute the oldest Chinese "zodiac". The Lunar Mansions form the traditional background for all of Chinese Astrology. However, I found it quite difficult to find an online source reliable enough to use with information about the 28 Chinese Mansions.

The most commonly known signs of Chinese astrology are the 12 signs of the Animal Zodiac. The 12 animal signs originated outside of china proper, perhaps in the northern central Asia. These 12 signs derive not from the 12 months of the year, but from the 12 years of the Jupiter cycle (Jupiter takes approximately a dozen years to complete one orbit of the sun). [1] The 12 signs of the Chinese Zodiac were not as essential to the Chinese as the 28 lunar mansions were. More emphasis was put on the lunar mansions in determining the divination of something. However, more commonly known to western society are the 12 signs of the of the Animal Zodiac. These 12 signs are the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit (cat), Dragon, Snake (Serpent), Horse, Sheep (Goat), Monkey, Cock, Dog, and Pig (Boar). [1] The Animal sign associated with a person has to do with the year in the Chinese calendar the person was born. In contrast to the Western year, the Chinese year begins on variable dates (on the second new moon after the winter solstice) in late January or early February.

The comparison of Western and Asian astrology has led me to believe that even though two civilizations that were geographically separated and had very little contact were able to come up with slightly comparable astrological ideas. Yes, the actual methods the used to carry out astronomical observations and the ideas they came up with regarding astrology were different, but the overall theme of studying the heavens spans both civilizations. Things they had in common were that both civilizations attempted to predict the future and rely heavily on the heaven above to determine the outcome of life events. Is this just human nature? Why did both the Babylonians and ancient Chinese develop the sames ideas with respect to the heavens? Did all ancient civilizations come to the same conclusion that the orientation of the heavens has a direct influence on our life?

Continue reading through the next episode to see how astrology was practiced in early modern times!

[1]   James R. Lewis, The Astrology Encyclopedia, Visible Ink Press, © 2003

[2]   Derek Walters, Chinese Astrology, Watkins Publishing, London, © 2002

[3]   Derek Walters, The Chinese Astrology Workbook: How to Calculate and Interpret Chinese Horoscopes. Wellingborough, Northhamptonshire, U.K.: Aquarian Press, © 1998

[A] Dunhuang collection in the British Museum, Star Chart, Ink rubbing of a stele at the conducian temple, Suzhou, Jiansgsu province Southern Song Dynasty, Chunyu region, dated 1247,
http://www.chinapage.com/astronomy/chart/celestialchart.html