The Shaozhe Zodiac

 

The Zodiac Cycle

The most prevalent time system in the Empire, the Shaozhe calendar takes into account five cycles, one ruled by each element and each consisting of twelve years.  Each of the twelve years has its own name as well, a bird name given to coincide with the names of the twelve major constellations in the night sky.  Together, the element and sign under which a person was born is said to be very crucial to their life, and it is the primary factor taken into consideration by matchmakers.  Further complicating matters, each bird is often assigned an element thought to be representative of its nature, which may conflict with the element name of a calendar cycle.

 

The Five Elements

 

Shaozhe philosophy admits the existence of five elemental forces, saying that each influences the personality and innate talents of men.  They are: Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood.  Present in varying quantities in all things, these elements determine the nature of the very fabric of the world.  Even childbirth depends upon the elements, as a woman may have sons only if she is slightly deficient in one or more.  Most importantly, the elements control the natural essences, the forces used to shape and influence the natural world.

 

The five elements philosophy is a philosophy of balance and harmony.  Each element is birthed by another, gives birth to another, controls yet another, and is controlled by a fourth.  The relationships of both birth and control are circular and interdependent.  Ignoring this balance can lead to harmful effects in person’s health and well-being as imbalances may lead to illness.

 

The cycle of creation is as follows: As Fire burns, it produces ash or Earth.  Earth holds Metal deep beneath its surface, which gives liquid or Water.  Water nourishes plants to form Wood, which is burned to produce Fire. 

 

The cycle of destruction and control is as follows: Likewise, Wood checks the course of Earth, which can stem the tides and flow of Water, or hold that element within it as in clay jars of liquid.  Water may be used to douse Fire, while flame itself tempers Metal, which controls Wood. 

 

Fire is the most masculine of all the elements, being powerful.  It brings heat and passion even in the dead of winter, heating homes until they are warm and cozy. Fire has a strong pull towards fame, and an affinity for the seasons of summer with their heat.  People born in these cycles tend towards direct, aggressive, and even confrontational personalities.  They are passionate, idealistic, and enthusiastic, and many are labeled brilliant, intense and dynamic.  The emotion most often linked with Fire is happiness or joy, though it also encompasses jealousy, passion, anger, frustration, and regret.  This element needs to learn to become more caring and generous.  Fire’s essence is said to be that of Power, raw force to accomplish the Fire’s will, and the element is often represented by the color red in its masculine aspect or purple in its feminine.

 

The Earth element is feminine, being the element of fertility and nurturing.  Earth is bound to tradition, and those born in the cycles of this element are steady, stable, and methodical, as well as able to absorb their fate and deal with life’s events.  They have a strong sense of unity and balance, and they feel a strong bond to the times of seasonal change rather than specific seasons, though they tend to enjoy damp weather such as rain or snow.  Earth most often feels sympathy as a dominant emotion along with empathy.  They tend to prefer being safe, secure, and stable but have a tinge of passion and romance about their personalities.  They appreciate productivity.  However, Earth signs can also feel pensiveness, thoughtfulness, or reflection. They must learn to develop the willingness to take care of their selves and to develop boundaries.  The essence of Earth is Nurturing: sheltering and protecting those who need it to allow them to grow, and the element is usually represented by the color yellow in its masculine aspect or gold in its feminine.

 

Metal is considered a feminine element, though less so than Earth or Water.  It makes one unbendable, which can be a positive or negative trait, and it is also beautiful when polished, meaning those strong in Metal often respond well to teaching and guidance. They share a strong affinity for children and creativity, and prefer the seasons of autumn, dry seasons without as much precipitation.  Metal types are strong, independent, focused, and intense, and often have a strong sense of righteousness as well as honor.  They are fluent in their speech and gifted with words, as well as being determined, and they tend to be highly practical as they prize efficiency.  They most often feel grief, and sometimes suffer from insecurity and lack of confidence.  They must learn how to express this grief and find healing.  The pure essence of Metal is Strength, but it is also Refinement, especially when tempered by the influence of Fire, and the element is usually represented by the color white in its masculine aspect and silver in its feminine.

 

The Water element is the most feminine of the five, being the very essence of femininity.  It is one of the most powerful elements, as it is able to flow around anything in its way and wear down even the tallest mountains over time.  A person strong in Water is also said to be gentle yet powerful, soothing and calm, yet they also tend to flow in many directions at once, often not finishing what they begin. They have a strong affinity for their career path, and enjoy the seasons of winter, preferring the cold.   Water types are creative, sensitive, sympathetic, soothing and responsive, as well as persuasive.  They long for passion and intimacy and are highly emotional, being happiest where they find a supportive environment.  However, their predominant emotion is fear, and they also experience indecisiveness, vacillation, and uncertainty.  They must learn to overcome their fears.  Whether for good or ill, the essence of Water is Change, and the element is often represented by the color blue.

 

The Wood element is masculine, though less so than Fire.  Those born under this sign grow rapidly, but allow many different forces to shape them and change them.  They have a strong affinity for family relationships and reverence for the ancestors, and enjoy the seasons of spring with their winds.  Wood types tend to be bold, idealistic, and imaginative, often enjoying creative outlets and taking new initiatives.  They are simple, direct, honest folk with a penchant for home.  They make excellent philosophers.  However, the emotion associated with Wood is often anger, and they are sometimes plagued by discouragement, tension, criticism, and repression of their anger.  They must learn to manage it and channel it into positive directions.  The essence of Wood is Growth, and the element is often represented by the color green. 

 

The Twelve Signs

 

The first of the signs is the Nightingale, an earth sign.  Those born under this sign are often musically inclined and gifted with sweet or honeyed words.   They prefer the shelter of the home, and girls born under this sign make very good wives indeed, as they are inclined towards domestic matters.  Nightingales are tactful and conservative, and often viewed as excellent companions socially since people are inclined to trust them and welcome their company.  It is best for them to marry a Heron or Kingfisher, and avoid Starlings or Ravens.

 

Cranes are a wood sign and prefer to be near the sea, as they often display a longing for Water.  They are typically delicate and exhibit good balance, making for exquisite dancers among women and warriors strong in technique among men.  Cranes are by nature calm and unruffled, remaining so even in uncomfortable or intense situations.  They rarely hurry, preferring to take their time to be able to perform to the best of their ability in the task at hand.  The best match for a Crane is a Skylark, but they should avoid a Heron.

 

Ravens are a fire sign, and prefer the countryside and wilderness to cities and towns, being solitary by nature.  As the bird itself is a bearer of ill omen, those born under this sign are sometimes shunned, and years associated with the Raven are usually approached with extra prayer at New Year’s time to avoid calamity.  Many tend towards a rough, even gruff exterior, but are typically warm-hearted to those who take the time to get to know them and are stalwart friends to those who gain their trust.  Their best match is a Thrush or Starling, and they should avoid the Nightingale and the Kingfisher.

 

Skylarks, as befitting a water sign, flit from one task to another, often losing their train of thought in the middle.  Easily distracted and scatterbrained, they are also often indecisive.  Choices present them with great difficulty, and they often prefer to delegate them to others when possible.  Their best quality is their uplifting and positive outlook on life, but this is sometimes worn away by stress or tension when forced to confront reality, as they prefer the realm of the imagination..  The Skylark should marry a Crane for the best match, and should not be paired with a Wren.

 

While the Albatross is indeed noble, those born in the years of this metal sign tend to be haughty and arrogant, and the sign is sometimes a harbinger of ill fate.  Others are put off by the cool exterior, and rarely attempt to get to know the Albatross.  Women often try to avoid having a baby born under this sign, attempting anything to prolong the birth or speed it, depending.  While a male Albatross might match well with a Sparrowhawk, females have trouble finding any husband at all, and only a brave matchmaker will attempt to find them mate.  Kingfishers are her best bet, but Albatrosses should not be paired with Ravens, Thrushes, or Starlings.

 

The Wren is an earth sign: modest, plain, and unassuming, disliking attention drawn to themselves or their actions, yet very maternal in their instincts.  They are humble and shy, and their strongest virtue is service, which leads to a reverent attitude described as very appealing in a woman, but the sign is considered much less fortunate for a boy.  Many priests, however, are Wrens.  Wrens do a great deal of work behind the scenes, but are content to remain in the background and watch the results of their labors rather than put themselves forward into the limelight.  The Wren should marry a Thrush or Starling, but a match with a Skylark, Magpie, or Sparrowhawk will not be blessed.

 

The Magpie is often considered the most fortunate and blessed sign for a girl to be born under as a sign of the fertility of earth as well as its maternal aspect, and represents the duality of the Earth element when viewed side by side with the Wren.  Beautiful and graceful, Magpies are highly sought as concubines and courtesans, as well as wives for those who can afford a high bride price.  This sign watches over fertility and potency as well, contributing still further to this view.  As the bird is also used as a symbol of marriage in poetry, it is believed no Magpie should ever remain unwed.  For a man, however, the sign is slightly too feminine to be desirable and male Magpies are often looked at askance.  Magpies match well with Sparrowhawks or Herons, but poorly with Wrens.

 

Refined, elegant, and pure, the Heron often makes an excellent priest or priestess, being inclined towards charity and generosity, though they must be careful to make certain they are not allowing others to take advantage of them.  They are spiritually tuned and scholarly by nature, making them also a preferred sign for government posts, and those born under this sign often find themselves drawn to the religious life as well.  As a metal sign, they also possess an innate strength, and though they will be gracious about it, it is rare a Heron will ever be moved in their opinions or decisions once they have been formed.  In excess, this can lead to stubbornness, but it is usually confined to caution in their dealings with others.  Herons go best with Nightingales or Kingfishers, while males are compatible with female Magpies, but a Heron and a Starling would be a poor combination.

 

The sign of the Sparrowhawk is decidedly masculine, tending towards the element of Fire, with its strongest potential manifest in matters of war.  Those born under this sign make fierce hunters and combatants, decisive battle strategists and military leaders.  They are driven to win, and are willing to continue fighting until they do.  However, the true strength of the Sparrowhawk lies in youth and energy, the force and will to accomplish great acts, and they willingly try new things.  Because the sign is so strongly male, it is not unheard of for parents to abandon a girl baby born in a Sparrowhawk year, fearing she will never be able to make a match.  Males might find a match with a Magpie, but should avoid the Wren and Thrush.

 

Kingfishers tend towards the element of Fire.  They can often move unnoticed, as they tend to escape the direct sight of most of those about them.  Solitary by nature, they often seek only the company of their family, shunning most social encounters.  In matters relating to their close kindred, however, they will give their all to protect or defend anyone close to them, and sometimes seem to deliberately seek out excuses to prove this.  They are very vocal in confrontation, and protective of their own interests and their family, which leads to a reputation for an unusually bad temper or a hot head.  Those born under this sign match well with the Heron, or a man might be paired with a female Albatross, but they should not be joined to a Wren or Thrush.

 

The Thrush is a wood sign, and those born under it enjoy the outdoors and are often excellent farmers or outdoorsmen.  However, their awkward nature indoors leads them to shy away from scholarly or priestly pursuits.  They make terrible housekeepers, and female Thrushes often have trouble finding matches as a result.  This sign suits rustic villages and out of the way places where the niceties of etiquette are not as important, and it is extremely rare that a Thrush would make a good courtier.  The Thrush should marry a Raven or Wren, but never a Sparrowhawk.

 

Starlings are a water sign.  They may sometimes lack in courtesy and polished manners, leading to awkward social gaffes and faux pas, and the sign is therefore sometimes considered a vulgar one.  However, with this comes worldly wisdom, and it is rare that anyone is able to take advantage of a Starling.  Common-sense practical knowledge is their specialty, as is a basic knowledge of how to get along in the world.  Those who try to improve themselves often find it difficult, but the handicaps of this sign can be overcome.  They match well with Ravens or Thrushes, but not Herons or Kingfishers.