THE YEAR OF THE PIG
2019
The Pig (豬) is the
twelfth of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac
related to the Chinese calendar. In the continuous sexagenary cycle of sixty
years, every twelfth year corresponds to hai, 亥 (the twelfth of the twelve Earthly Branches); this
re-recurring twelfth year is commonly called the Year of the Pig (豬年).
There are five types of Pigs, named after the Chinese
elements. In order, they are: Metal, Water, Wood, Fire, and Earth. These
correspond to the Heavenly Stems. Thus, there are five pig years in every
sexegenary cycle. For example, in the year 2019, the Earthly Branch is the
twelfth, hài, and the Heavenly Stem is the sixth, jǐ 己.
The Chinese New Year in 2019 is February fifth: this
corresponds with the beginning of both the sexegenary year of jǐ hài and also
the zodiac year of the Earth Pig.
back