Chinese astrology
A system based on the twelve-animal zodiac, the five elements and the sixty-year cycle.
Also: Chinese zodiac, bazi, Four Pillars, shengxiao
Chinese astrology assigns each year to one of twelve animals, from Rat to Pig, in a cycle that is joined to the five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal and water. The pairing makes a sixty-year round. The system called bazi, or Four Pillars, takes the year, month, day and hour of birth and writes each as a pair of characters, from which the reader assesses temperament and timing. The zodiac animals are known across East and Southeast Asia, with variations: in Vietnam the Cat replaces the Rabbit. Chinese New Year is the main time when people check what the new animal year brings. Families also use almanacs to choose lucky days for weddings and moves.