The ram (sheep or goat) is the eighth symbolic animal of the twelve terrestrial branches, and the emblem of a retired life. Since sheep or goats are all gregarious, moving about in flocks or herds, the year of the ram is expected to be marked by excellent cooperation among humans. Sheep dislike water, so care must be exercised against water accidents during this year. But the sheep’s strong foreheads and horns for butting indicate that the year’s difficulties can be overcome through courage and fortitude. And, since the sheep is timid, defenseless, mild of nature, wanting little more than to be left alone to graze in the grass, it represents peace, and its year is thought to bode well for that scarce commodity.According to an ancient Chinese legend, five venerable magicians, clothed in garments of five different colors and riding on rams of five different colors, met in Canton. Each of the rams bore in his mouth a stalk of grain that had six ears. These were then represented to the people of the district, to whom the magicians said: “May famine and dearth never visit your markets.”
The goat, like the sheep, is associated with peace on the basis of a homophone in which the Chinese ideograph for goat and that for yang, the masculine, positive principle of nature, have the same sound. Three goats are sometimes painted to symbolize a great threefold peace for the whole world.
To the Chinese, the deer signified longevity. Chinese tradition claims that the deer lives at least twenty-five hundred years old. At the end of its first thousand years of live, its coats turns gray; after another thousand years, it becomes snow white; and finally, after still another five hundred years, its horns turn black, and this is the sign that the animal has achieved immortality.
People born in the year of the ram are considered in many ways to be more fortunate than those born in other animal years. Such people are said to be tender-hearted and sympathetic, especially to those less fortunate than they. They are generous, loved by their friends, but are often taking advantage of because their natural kindness and their timidity. They are generally unassertive-self effacing, in fact; they spurn the struggle for power and leadership. They tend to be unsure of themselves, even to the point of speaking hesitantly. However, they are elegant, well-bred, and endowed with innate good taste. They are also talented and accomplished in the arts. Indeed, these wise and gentle people can live well on the fruits of their own talents. But they are passionate, pessimistic, often puzzled about life. Their passions are not only emotional, but are concerned with everything about which they feel keenly.
Ram-year people should ideally seek their marriage partners among those who was born in the year of the rabbit, the boar, the horse. Next best would be someone from the years of the tiger, the dragon, the snake, the ram, the monkey, the cock. Marriage should be avoided with anyone from the rat, the ox, the dog years.
The goat, like the sheep, is associated with peace on the basis of a homophone in which the Chinese ideograph for goat and that for yang, the masculine, positive principle of nature, have the same sound. Three goats are sometimes painted to symbolize a great threefold peace for the whole world.
To the Chinese, the deer signified longevity. Chinese tradition claims that the deer lives at least twenty-five hundred years old. At the end of its first thousand years of live, its coats turns gray; after another thousand years, it becomes snow white; and finally, after still another five hundred years, its horns turn black, and this is the sign that the animal has achieved immortality.
People born in the year of the ram are considered in many ways to be more fortunate than those born in other animal years. Such people are said to be tender-hearted and sympathetic, especially to those less fortunate than they. They are generous, loved by their friends, but are often taking advantage of because their natural kindness and their timidity. They are generally unassertive-self effacing, in fact; they spurn the struggle for power and leadership. They tend to be unsure of themselves, even to the point of speaking hesitantly. However, they are elegant, well-bred, and endowed with innate good taste. They are also talented and accomplished in the arts. Indeed, these wise and gentle people can live well on the fruits of their own talents. But they are passionate, pessimistic, often puzzled about life. Their passions are not only emotional, but are concerned with everything about which they feel keenly.
Ram-year people should ideally seek their marriage partners among those who was born in the year of the rabbit, the boar, the horse. Next best would be someone from the years of the tiger, the dragon, the snake, the ram, the monkey, the cock. Marriage should be avoided with anyone from the rat, the ox, the dog years.
