Abstract
This book begins with an introduction on “The Wisdom of 12.” The author describes the wisdom of yijing like a tree of the universe. The 12 animal symbols system may connect with birth, energetic life cycle, or destiny, the 12 tidal hexagrams of yijing, and the cycle of nature. He advocates that spirit of yijing might assist one's finding a way to transform lives and promote living in a peaceful state while facing complex situations.
The “universal clock” was an ancient Chinese concept of the 12 energetic patterns or stages of all natural cycles. Each pattern of 12 within the universal clock represents both time and space. The universal clock is a mode of expressing the natural rhythm of time and space in the universe. People lived closer to the cycles of nature and followed the way of nature in early times. This lifestyle was patterned in the well-known Chinese idiom: “Leave to work before sunrise and go home to rest after sunset.”
The author explores the number “12” that represented the energetic and physiological changes of human bodies. It was experienced in 12 “chen” per day (1 chen is equal to 2 hours), the 12 months of a year, and the 12 years of a life cycle in Chinese cosmology. The number 12 also corresponds to the 12 organs and meridian systems of the human body in traditional Chinese medicine. The 12 tidal hexagrams of Yijing were used to describe the 12 energetic patterns of the microcosm (human body) and macrocosm (nature and universe) in the ancient Chinese shamans.
Wu believes that the ancient Chinese cosmology and Five Elements theory are the foundations of Chinese astrology. “Bazi” (8 characters) was the name for Chinese astrology composed of 1 pillar (1 heavenly stem and 1 earthly branch) for each year, month, day, and hour of birth. The chart includes 4 pillars (“sizhu"”); microcosm of the individual might be reflected by energy of macrocosmic universe at the time of birth. The consultant of a “life reading” may utilize all these elements to provide insight into a person's past, present, and future, according to Chinese shamanism. There are 12 animal symbols: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig; these were used to characterize the 12 earthly branches in an astrological chart.
According to Wu, the 8 trigrams (“bagua”) may function as a model of the universe as in yijing. The 8 trigrams are heaven (qian), marsh or lake (dui), fire (li), thunder (zhen), wind (xun), water (kan), mountain (gen), and earth (kun). All the trigrams are various symbols made up of 3 lines representing heaven, earth, and human being. The lines that make up each trigram could be either a solid line (Yang) or a broken line (Yin).
He emphasizes the “12 tidal hexagrams” in the yijing system that corresponded to the energetic patterns of associated animal symbol in Chinese astrology. These 12 tidal hexagrams might help people understand the 12-month annual cycle of nature, learn the 12 meridian systems of the body, and make sense of the 12 different stages of life. The 12 tidal hexagrams are rebirth (fu), deliver (lin), balance (tai), prosper (dazhuang), transform (guai), strengthen (qian), copulate (gou), retreat (dun), break (pi), observe (guan), peel (bo), and flow (kun). These 12 tidal hexagrams revealed the nonstop cycle of energy change and wave of life such as the rhythm of day turning into night or the change of seasons. According to Wu, these 12 tidal hexagrams could be useful in the description of energy state during precise internal cultivation practices such as meditation, qigong, and taiji.
Although there are at least 4 animal symbols in each person's birth chart, Wu discusses how to find only 3 of these 4 energetic symbols—yearly, monthly, and hourly animal symbols. The 12 earthly branches were used to represent the 12 energetic years, months, and hours. The daily animal symbols are more challenging to keep track of the 12 day cycles since the origin of the Chinese calendar.
Wu points out the beginning of spring season (“lichun”) as the marker for an energetic year animal symbol. Lichun refers to the moment when the sun is exactly at the celestial longitude of 315° that usually occurs on February 4 or 5 every year in the Gregorian solar calendar. An energetic animal symbol year begins with the lichun in its present year until the following lichun. (In the book, Table 1 [pages 34–35] is formulated as an index of yearly animal symbols with the lichun at the Gregorian solar calendar time.)
The author proposes the way to find a monthly animal symbol is like identifying a yearly animal symbol. The energetic month depends on the jieqi system. (In the book, Table 2 [page 36] is an index of monthly animal symbols that was based on conversion of 12 jie to approximate the dates in the Gregorian solar calendar.) Each individual would need to check the exact time of the jie if the birthday fell within 2 days before or after the dates (in the book, Table 2). However, the hourly animal symbol is easier to figure out. One energetic hour (chen) is equal to 2 hours in the 24-hour daily system. (Table 3 [page 38] in the book serves as an index for the hourly animal symbol.)
Wu provides general information about each Chinese animal symbol in all 12 chapters following an initial introduction on how to discover and locate the animal. Each chapter describes the perspectives on personality, health, relationship, career, finance, color, and food. The 12 tidal hexagrams associated with animal symbols and inner cultivation ceremonies are illustrated.
Most people may be perplexed about which animal might be the most important for living a more peaceful and harmonious life. Wu believes that, to begin with, the monthly animal symbol is the most important among a birth chart with the most information about general destination of life and the best information about most productive years of life; the yearly animal symbol then provides further insight into early stages of life; and each individual may seek guidance from the hourly animal symbol.
This reference book may guide interested readers to explore the wisdom of 12 Chinese animal symbols in its relationship with yijing. Wu has demonstrated how to find animal symbols and perhaps learn from ancient wisdom. He has also provided an interpretation of individual birth chart regarding life patterns according to both Chinese astrology and yijing.
Footnotes
Editor's Note: We welcome and encourage your Book Reviews: Please submit to our Managing Editor, Barbara Perrin, at: