Year of the OX

Descobri que sou um "OX", um boi, e que este ano é o meu ano segundo o calendário chinês...

Fiquei todo contente, parece que é um bom sinal.... É o meu ano e estou aqui no meio deles todos!

Descobri esse "sistema" de anos que os chineses têm que ainda ninguém me tinha conseguido explicar decentemente (apesar de várias tentativas)!!!

Parece que existem 3 maneiras de olhar para o "ano" de acordo com a cultura chinesa...

Sendo assim, o ano 2009 é o ano do "Ox", o ano do Ji Chou e o ano 4706, respectivamente!!!

There are three ways to name a Chinese year: 

1. By an animal (like a mascot).
2008 is known as the Year of the Rat.
2009 is the Year of the Ox.
There are 12 animal names; so by this system, year names are repeated every 12 years.
2. By its Formal Name (Stem-Branch). 
   2008 is the year of Wu Zi. 

   2009 is the Year of Ji Chou. 

   In the 'Stem-Branch' system, the years are counted in 60-year Cycles, so that the Name of the Year is repeated every 60 years.
   2008 is the 9-th year in the current 60-year Cycle.
   2009 is the 10-th year in the current 60-year Cycle.

   A "Cycle" is analogous to a "century" in the International Calendar system which is 100 years long.

3. 2008 year is Year 4705 in the Chinese Calendar.

[A few Chinese astrological/zodiac websites believe this year should be considered as Year 4706 for zodiac calculations.]
2009 is Year 4706 in the Chinese Calendar.

E agora, o verdadeiro porquê da teoria zoológica dos animais!

"... Each year is also designated by one of the 12 animals. For instance, 2005 is Year of Rooster; 2006 is Year of Dog; and 2007 is the Year of Pig. 
2008 is the Year of the Rat and 2009 is the Year of the Ox.
This system is extremely practical. A child does not have to learn a new answer to the question, "How old are you?" in each new year. Old people often lose track of their age, because they are rarely asked about their present age. Every one just have to remember that he or she was born in the "Year of the Dog" or whatever.
Since 2008 is the Year of the Rat, any one who was born in the Year of the Rat is either 1 or 13, 25, 37, 49, 61, 73, 85 or 97 years old. 
When 2009 comes, the person is still born in the Year of the Rat. but he/she is 2,14, 26, 38, 50, 62, 74, 86 or 98 yeas old.
Thus, instead of asking the question "How old are you?", ask the person "In which (animal) year were you born? ..."

Por isso, nunca perguntem a idade a um chinoca... Basta saber o animal e fazer umas continhas!