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JUNI SHI - ZODIAC ANIMALS
12 Astrological Animals
Origin = China
 The Zodiac is a curious method for forecasting your future and determining your character -- a method based on ancient Chinese astronomy and animal symbolism. To many, however, the Zodiac is nothing but superstition and hocus pocus. Nonetheless, the Zodiac system was enthusiastically incorporated into Japanese Buddhist traditions (for reasons unknown to me). Each Zodiac animal represents one year of a twelve year cycle. It also represents a day in a twelve-day cycle, a two-hour period in each day, and a compass direction.
In Japan, around the Kamakura Period (1185 - 1333 AD), the Twelve Generals of Yakushi Nyorai were confused / associated with the twelve animals of the twelve-year cycle based on the twelve divisions of heaven in ancient Chinese astronomy. As a result, in Japan, it is not uncommon to see depictions of the Twelve Generals with the astrological animals in their head pieces. See M. W. de Visser's charts relating the Twelve Yaksa to zodiacal signs in Ancient Buddhism in Japan, Vol. II (Leiden: 1935, pp. 551-553).
Also, probably in the Edo Period (1603 - 1867), the 12 animals were each associated with one specific patron Buddhist deity, the Eight Buddhist Protector Deities. (I'm not sure when this system was adopted.)
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Animal
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Buddhist Patron
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Year of Birth
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Rat
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Senju Kannon
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1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996
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Ox
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Kokuzo Bosatsu
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1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997
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Tiger
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Kokuzo Bosatsu
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1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998
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Rabbit
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Monju Bosatsu
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1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999
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Dragon
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Fugen Bosatsu
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1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000
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Snake
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Fugen Bosatsu
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1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001
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Horse
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Seishi Bosatsu
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1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002
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Sheep
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Dainichi Nyorai
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1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003
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Monkey
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Dainichi Nyorai
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1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004
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Rooster/Hen
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Fudo Myo-o
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1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005
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Dog
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Amida Nyorai
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1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006
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Boar/Pig
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Amida Nyorai
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1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007
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NOTE. Click here for details
on this grouping of Eight Buddhist Patrons.
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12 Zodiac Animals
www.metmuseum.org/explore/oracle/related2.html
The twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac (rat, ox, tiger, hare, dragon, serpent, horse, sheep, monkey, cock, dog, and pig) are well-known symbols associated with forecasting people's futures and determining their character. By the fourth century B.C., they were well established in Chinese thought; the earliest depictions appear in ceiling paintings from a tomb dated 533. During the Tang dynasty, pottery representations of these symbols were placed in tombs, reflecting the court's fascination with divination and astrology. They were typically hybrid human/animal creatures similar to the figurines shown here, created in the nineteenth century during a revival of interest in mythology, astrology, and divination.
Poetry Contest, Zodiac Emaki, Hand Scroll
Photo courtesy Kyoto National Museum
Chinese Listing of the Zodiac Animals
courtesy of www.uchicago.edu
photo courtesy
http://homepage1.nifty.com/sojusha/gazou/49-231(160).gif
LEARN MORE
- Eight Buddhist Protectors. In Japan, probably around the Edo Period (1603 - 1867), the 12 animals were each associated with one of eight Buddhist protector deities. (Not sure when this system was adopted.)
- Monkey Page
- http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/~qinchen/Zodiac/za_find.php3
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