Cat (zodiac)
The Cat is the 13th animal symbol in the 12-year cycle of the Vietnamese zodiac and Gurung zodiac, taking place of the Rabbit in the Chinese zodiac.[1] As such, the traits associated with the Rabbit are attributed to the Cat. Cats are in conflict with the Rat.
Legends relating to the order of the Chinese zodiac often include stories as to why the cat was not included among the twelve. Because the Rat tricked the cat into missing the banquet with the Jade Emperor, the cat was not included and was not aware that the banquet was going on and was not given a year, thus began the antipathy between cats and rats. It is possible domesticated cats had not proliferated through China at the zodiac's induction.[2]
Another legend known as "The Great Race" tells that all the animals in the zodiac were headed to the Jade Emperor. The Cat and Rat were the most intelligent of the animals, however they were both also poor swimmers and came across a river. They both tricked the kind, naive Ox to assist them by letting them ride on its back over the river. As the Ox was approaching the other side of the river, the Rat pushed the Cat into the river, then jumped off the Ox and rushed to the Jade Emperor, becoming the first in the zodiac. All the other animals made it to the Jade Emperor, while the Cat was left to drown in the river after being sabotaged by the Rat. It is said that this is also the reason cats always hunt Rats.
There have been various explanations of why the Vietnamese, unlike all other countries who follow the Sino lunar calendar, have the cat instead of the Rabbit as a zodiac animal. The most common explanation is that the ancient word for "rabbit" (mao) sounds like "cat" (meo).[3]
Years and the Five Elements
People born within the date ranges below can be said to have been born under the "Year of the Cat", instead of "Year of the Rabbit".[4][5]
| Start date | End date | Heavenly branch |
|---|---|---|
| 29 January 1903 | 15 February 1904 | Water Cat |
| 14 February 1915 | 3 February 1916 | Wood Cat |
| 2 February 1927 | 22 January 1928 | Fire Cat |
| 19 February 1939 | 7 February 1940 | Earth Cat |
| 6 February 1951 | 26 January 1952 | Metal Cat |
| 25 January 1963 | 12 February 1964 | Water Cat |
| 11 February 1975 | 30 January 1976 | Wood Cat |
| 29 January 1987 | 16 February 1988 | Fire Cat |
| 16 February 1999 | 4 February 2000 | Earth Cat |
| 11 February 2011 | 22 January 2012 | Metal Cat |
| 22 January 2023 | 9 February 2024 | Water Cat |
| 8 February 2035 | 27 January 2036 | Wood Cat |
| 26 January 2047 | 13 February 2048 | Fire Cat |
| 11 February 2059 | 1 February 2060 | Earth Cat |
| 31 January 2071 | 18 February 2072 | Metal Cat |
| 17 February 2083 | 5 February 2084 | Water Cat |
| 5 February 2095 | 24 January 2096 | Wood Cat |
Vietnamese zodiac Cat
| Sign | Best Match | Average | No Match |
| Cat | Pig, Goat, Cat, Dog, | Tiger, Horse, Dragon, Monkey, Snake, Ox | Rooster & Rat |
Basic astrology elements
| Earthly Branches of Birth Year: | Tree |
| The Five Elements: | Wood |
| Yin Yang: | Yin |
| Lunar Month: | Second |
| Lucky Numbers: | 3, 6, 9; Avoid: 1, 7, 8 |
| Lucky Flowers: | flower of fragrant plantain lily, nerve plant, snapdragon |
| Lucky Colors: | black, pink, purple, blue, red; Avoid: brown, yellow, white |
| Season: | Spring |
See also
References
- ^ "Tamu (Gurung) Losar Festival". Archived from the original on 2017-07-29. Retrieved 2017-01-09.
- ^ "Why no year of the Cat?".
- ^ "Year of the Cat OR Year of the Rabbit?". www.nwasianweekly.com. Retrieved 2016-02-23.
- ^ "When is Chinese New Year?". pinyin.info. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- ^ "Chinese Zodiac - Rabbit (Hare)". Your Chinese Astrology. Retrieved 13 March 2018.