The Vietnamese Zodiac

Vietnamese often consult their auspicious times according to a lunar calendar, which helps them make a decision. There is a good time and a bad time, there are days to conduct business and others to celebrate. Each hour of the day carries a certain meaning, each day of the week, a certain sign; each month of the year, a certain fortune; each year of the zodiac cycle, a certain fortune. It is certainly important to consult for the most favorable event to occur, even before an important decision can be made. Such have been the customs of most Vietnamese villagers for over four thousand years.

Each year is "presided over" by a Genie under the form of an animal. There are twelve of them: the rat (TY'), the ox or buffalo(SU+U?), the tiger(DA^`N), the cat(MA?O), the dragon (THI`N), the snake(TY.), the horse (NGO.), the goat (MUI`), the monkey(THA^N), the rooster(DA^.U), the dog (TUA^'T), the pig (HO+.) . This year 1999 will be the year of the Cat, next year, the year of the dragon. The dragon is the only animal that is neither a pet nor belongs to the wild kingdom. It is considered as a high sign. People born under a high sign usually get married later in life, so goes the belief.

Every twelve years, the cycle starts over with a new combination. Each animal, an earthly sign, is combined with one of the five celestial signs, hence a cycle of a lifetime of sixty years. Those who can reach the golden year of sixty or more have lived a good life and are wise people.

Vietnamese also believe the hour in which a person is born influences that person's life. For instance, the hour of the rat is between eleven o'clock at night to one o'clock in the morning, the time when rats are actively scurrying for food. The hour of the buffalo is from one o'clock in the morning until 3 a.m when buffaloes are fed before they are led out to the rice paddies. The hour of the tiger is from 3 a.m. to 5 a.m. when it is known to finish its search for food. Each two-hour period is therefore designated for a certain animal. So we have from 5 to 7 a.m in the morning, the hour of the cat; from 7 until 9 a.m., the hour of the dragon and this ends with the hour of the pig, which runs from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. at night, the time when you sit down, relax and get ready to retire. What a nice time to be born!

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