China adopted the Gregorian Calendar of the West, some. ten years ago, the Chinese reckoned Lime, not by the years preceding or following the birth of Christ, but by a system of 0-year cycles, each divided Into five lesser cycles of twelve years. To each of these twelve years they assigned an arum: commencing with the rat. and tinuing in the following order with the ox, tiger, hare, dragon, "make, horse, sheep, monkey, cock, dog and the pig. These animals are also Known as the Twelve Torrestriat when a an was asked his age, as often as the would merely mention the name of the animal representing the year of his birth. By reckoning back the interrogator could ascertain his age. This cyclical system of chronology is still in use amongst the more conservative Chinese, especially in rural districts and in cities and towns of the interior away from Western Influence.
Special Significance Each of the twelve animals has some special significance, according to which, in some cases' but not in all, the year it represents is ouspldous or otherwise." The Year of the Rat, being the first of each lessor cycle, is considered a lucky one, although the rat itself is the emblem of meanness and timidity. The Year of the Tiger is one that usually brings trouble and violones, because the tiger is the emblem" of ferocity, as well as of strength, courage and magisterial dignity. It'is one of the two great opposing forces in Nature, the dragon being the other, But, whereas the dragon is mai protector and friend, the tiger is hi enemy and fights the dragon to bring evil upon humanity, Last year, 1938, was the Year of the Tiger, and its advent was looked upon as presaf-Ing disaster to. China, with much destruction and bloodshed, "The present ix the Year of the Hare, which carries no special significance: ut next year, being the Year of the Dragon, will be one of good omen.
should be noted that the same animals as those of the Twelve-yer Cycle, in the same sequence but com: mencing with the tiger instead of with the rat, and ending with the ox instead of with the pig, constitute the signs of the Chinese Zodiac, Thus the tiger represents the Ist' Moon, and so on down to the ox, which represents the 12th Moon.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.