Twelve Zodiac Animals (in English)

Shengxiao, or animals of the Chinese zodiac, forms a method of numbering the years based on the names of 12 different animals. In sequential order, these animals are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.   
For over three millennia, China has followed the lunar calendar to record time. To count the years, the lunar calendar uses the 10 Heavenly Stems (jia, yi, bing, ding, wu, ji, geng, xin, ren, and gui) and the 12 Earthly Branches (zi, chou, yin, mao, chen, si, wu, wei, shen, you, xu, hai). Each person is assigned one of the 12 animals to correspond with, and represent, the Earthly Branch of the year in which he or she was born. The 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac thus are used to number the years, record and measure time, and determine each person's zodiac sign.   
An essential and deep-rooted part of China's traditional culture, the shengxiao has had a profound impact on Chinese people. The shengxiao culture permeates every aspect of Chinese social life and is intimately connected with the lives of the Chinese people. The zodiac animals are used to inquire about the age of others, and shengxiao-related folktales, customs and even games can be found throughout China. The Chinese zodiac animals also play a prominent role in fortune-telling, and are beautifully illustrated and depicted in works of art and literature.

By selecting widely influential Han customs as its main content and using a combination of engaging text and colorful illustrations, The Twelve Zodiac Animals presents an account of the rich and varied culture of the Chinese zodiac. In addition to introducing the legends and folk customs associated with each of the zodiac animals, the book also presents related information on "lifetime fortune, " fortune telling, and the interpretation of dreams. Although the culture of the Chinese zodiac animals has been passed on through successive dynasties, changing social systems, and countless generations, it has endured over this vast span of time and, even today, is still as popular as ever.

Book Title: The Twelve Zodiac Animals   
Author: Lv Shun    
Publisher: Research Press, 1st edition, 05/2009   
Language: English    
Binding: Paperback, 8.3" x 5.6", 234 pp   
ISBN: 9787801684615

Contents:

THE ZI RAT NIPS THE WORLD   
Zodiac Animal File   
The Rat and Personality   
The Rat and Blood Type   
The Rat and Fortune   
Lifetime Fortune: Overview   
Fortune and the Five Elements   
Fortune by the Year   
The Rat and the Western Zodiac   
Fengshui and the Rat   
Interpreting Rat Dreams

THE CHOU OX OPENS THE EARTH   
Health Secrets   
Zodiac Animal File   
The Ox and Personality   
The Ox and Blood Type   
The Ox and Fortune   
Lifetime Fortune: Overview   
Fortune and the Five Elements   
Fortune by the Year   
The Ox and the Western Zodiac   
Fengshui and the Ox   
Interpreting Ox Dreams   
Health Secrets

THE YIN TIGER WHISTLES THROUGH THE WIND   
Zodiac Animal File   
The Tiger and Personality   
The Tiger and Blood Type   
The Tiger and Fortune   
Lifetime Fortune: Overview   
Fortune and the Five Elements   
Fortune by the Year   
The Tiger and the Western Zodiac   
Fengshui and the Tiger   
Interpreting Tiger Dreams   
Health Secrets

THE MAO RABBIT PLAYS WITH THE MOON   
Zodiac Animal File   
The Rabbit and Personality   
The Rabbit and Blood Type   
The Rabbit and Fortune   
Lifetime Fortune: Overview   
Fortune and the Five Elements   
Fortune by the Year   
The Rabbit and the Western Zodiac   
Fengshui and the Rabbit   
Interpreting Rabbit Dreams   
Health Secrets

THE CHEN DRAGON DARTS ACROSS THE SKY   
Zodiac Animal File   
The Dragon and Personality   
The Dragon and Blood Type   
The Dragon and Fortune   
Lifetime Fortune: Overview   
Fortune and the Five Elements   
Fortune by the Year   
The Dragon and the Western Zodiac   
Fengshui and the Dragon   
Interpreting Dragon Dreams   
Health Secrets

THE SI SNAKE ABOVE THE CLOUDS   
Zodiac Animal File   
The Snake and Personality   
The Snake and Blood Type   
The Snake and Fortune   
Lifetime Fortune: Overview   
Fortune and the Five Elements   
Fortune by the Year   
The Snake and the Western Zodiac   
Fengshui and the Snake   
Interpreting Snake Dreams   
Health Secrets

THE WU HORSE FLES ABOVE THE SKY   
.......

THE WEI SHEEP CREATES PROSPERITY AND PEACE   
......

THE SHEN MONKEY HAS SPECIAL PROWESS   
......

THE AUSPICIOUS YOU ROOSTER   
......

THE XU DOG BRINGS PROSPEROUS WEALTH   
......

THE HAI PIG DELIVERS THE LUCK   
......

APPENDIX   
EPILOGUE

品名： 十二生肖（英文版） 作者: 旅舜 著 出版社: 研究出版 出版时间: 2009-04 版次: 1 ISBN: 9787801684615 装帧: 平装 开本: 大32开 纸张: 铜版纸 页数: 235页 《十二生肖(英文版)》为英文版，属于通俗读物，书中图片资料丰富，内容精彩翔实。

Tags: 12 zodiac animals, Chinese folk culture, lunisolar calendar