Astrology has always been a topic that fascinates many. However, there’s often confusion about whether zodiac signs are determined by the lunar or solar calendar. Let me clear this up for you.
So, how are zodiac signs calculated? The correct answer is that the twelve zodiac signs are based on your solar calendar birth date, also known as the Gregorian calendar, which is the date calculation method used internationally. In China, we typically use the lunar calendar for our birthdays, so you’ll need to find a perpetual calendar to convert your lunar birth date into the solar calendar before you can check your zodiac sign.
Here’s a quick reference for the zodiac signs and their corresponding dates:
- Aquarius: January 21 – February 19
- Pisces: February 20 – March 20
- Aries: March 21 – April 20
- Taurus: April 21 – May 21
- Gemini: May 22 – June 21
- Cancer: June 22 – July 22
- Leo: July 23 – August 23
- Virgo: August 24 – September 23
- Libra: September 24 – October 23
- Scorpio: October 24 – November 22
- Sagittarius: November 23 – December 21
- Capricorn: December 22 – January 20
Now, if your birthday is close to the cusp of two signs, it can be a bit tricky to determine. In that case, you can create your personal astrological chart based on your birth information, and the sign where the sun is located is what we commonly refer to as your zodiac sign.
Zodiac signs are also categorized into four elements: fire, earth, air, and water.
- Fire signs: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
- Earth signs: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
- Air signs: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
- Water signs: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
But why are zodiac signs based on the solar calendar? It all has to do with the path of the sun (also known as the ecliptic). The zodiac is divided into twelve constellations, which are based on the solar calendar. The term "zodiac" comes from the Greek "Zodiakos," meaning "animal circle," as the signs are represented by various animals and symbols. The sun’s apparent path from Earth is what we call the ecliptic, and the region extending eight degrees on either side of this path is the zodiac belt. Ancient astronomers divided these star groups into different constellations, which varied from eighteen to fourteen to twelve, with the Babylonian astrologers favoring the twelve easily divisible-by-thirty degrees zodiac signs.
The sun is "yang," and the calendar based on the sun’s apparent motion is called the "solar calendar." The moon is "yin," and the calendar based on the moon’s motion is naturally called the "lunar calendar." The Chinese lunar calendar, also known as the traditional Chinese calendar, combines both yin and yang. It uses the strict synodic cycle to determine the month and employs the leap month method to make the average length of the year close to the tropical year, thus combining the characteristics of both lunar months and solar years. The first day of the month is determined by the conjunction of the sun and moon (when the sun and moon have the same longitude), and this is not rigidly scheduled.
Now, you might be wondering why this distinction between solar and lunar calendars matters. Well, it’s all about understanding the roots of astrology and how it has evolved over time. The solar calendar aligns with the path of the sun and the zodiac signs, which represent different personality traits and characteristics. By knowing your sun sign, you can gain insights into your behavior, strengths, and weaknesses.
So, the next time someone asks you about your zodiac sign, you can confidently tell them your sun sign based on your solar calendar birth date. And if you’re curious about the accuracy of astrology, why not dive deeper and explore your personal astrological chart? It’s a fun and fascinating journey that can reveal a lot about yourself and the world around you.
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