Pig (zodiac)

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Hai () is the twelfth sign of the Earthly Branches. Its animal representation is the pig or boar (). In Chinese culture, the pig is associated with fertility and virility. To bear children in the Year of the Pig is considered to be very fortunate, for they will be happy and honest.[1]

In the continuous sexagenary cycle, every twelfth year corresponds to Hai, and is commonly called "the Year of the Pig" or "the Year of the Boar" (豬年). There are five types of Pig, named after the Chinese elements. In Japanese culture, the animal is specifically a wild boar. In Japanese, the character is pig and the character denotes the wild boar, though Chinese does not make such a differentiation.

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[edit] Years and the Five Elements

People born within these date ranges, of the lunar calendar, can be said to have been born in the "Year of the Pig," while also bearing the following elemental sign:

Note, however, that the elements identified in the above table are the elements associated with the relevant Heavenly Stem of that year. The Earthly Branch sign Hai (the sign represented by the Pig) itself is always associated with the element of Water.

[edit] Traditional Pig Attributes/Associations

Zodiac Location 12th
Ruling hours 9pm-11pm
Direction North-northwest
Motto “I Preserve”
Season and month Autumn, November
Fixed element Water
Stem Negative
Lunar Month Dates November 8-December 6
Gemstone Ruby
Color Black, Royal Purple
Roughly equivalent western sign Scorpio
Polarity Yin
Countries  Philippines,  Armenia,  Lebanon,  Jordan,  Nepal,  Angola

[edit] References

  1. ^ For a recent report that this belief is still widely held in China, see Edward Cody, "Oh, to be Born in the Year of the Pig," Washington Post (March 1, 2007).[1]

[edit] External Links