Posted to Facebook - Chinese Custom & Festivities by Sin Fong Chan
Title: Lesson on Chinese Culture - Chinese Zodiac animals and time
Since the Han Dynasty, the 12 Terrestrial Branches Di Zhi (地支) have been used to record the time of day. Each Chinese zodiac animal represents a Di Zhi is also used to label times of day, with each sign corresponding to a Shi Chen (時辰), and is of a two-hour period.
The following is a list of Di Zhi and corresponding zodiac animal.
- Zi (子): Rat (Shu, 鼠)
- Chou (丑): Ox (Niu, 牛)
- Yin (寅): Tiger (Hu, 虎)
- Mao (卯): Rabbit (Tu, 兔)
- Chen (辰): Long (Long, 龙)
- Si (巳): Snake (Se, 蛇)
- Wu (午): Horse (Ma, 馬)
- Wei (未): Sheep (Yang, 羊)
- Shen (申): Monkey (Ho, 猴)
- You (酉): Rooster (Ji, 鸡)
- Xu (戌): Dog (Gou, 狗)
- Hai (亥): Pig (Zu, 猪)
- Rat (Zi Shi): 23:00 to 00:59. This is the time when Rats are most active in seeking food. Rats also have a different number of digits on front and hind legs, thus earning Rats the symbol of "turn over" or "new start".
- Ox (Chou Shi): 01:00 to 02:59. This is the time when Oxen begin to chew the cud slowly and comfortably.
- Tiger (Yin Shi): 03:00 to 04:59. This is the time when Tigers hunt their prey more and show their ferocity.
- Rabbit (Mao Shi): 05:00 to 06:59. This is the time when the Jade Rabbit is busy pounding herbal medicine on the Moon according to the tale.
- Long (Chen Shi): 07:00 to 08:59. This is the time when Dragons are hovering in the sky to give rain.
- Snake (Si Shi): 09:00 to 10:59. This is the time when Snakes are leaving their caves.
- Horse (Wu Shi): 11:00 to 12:59. This is the time when the sun is high overhead and while other animals are lying down for a rest, Horses are still standing.
- Goat (Wei Shi): 13:00 to 14:59. This is the time when Goats eat grass and urinate frequently.
- Monkey (Shen Shi): 15:00 to 16:59. This is the time when Monkeys are lively.
- Rooster (You Shi): 17:00 to 18:59. This is the time when Roosters begin to get back to their coops.
- Dog (Xu Shi): 19:00 to 20:59. This is the time when Dogs carry out their duty of guarding the houses.
- Pig (Hai Shi): 21:00 to 22:59. This is the time when Pigs are sleeping sweetly.