Written by: Staff Report
Posted on: January 27, 2017 | 
| 中文
Year of the Rooster
According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2017 is the Year of the Rooster, starting from January 28, 2017 (the Lunar Chinese New Year) and lasting till February 15, 2018. Every twelfth year is a Rooster Year, e.g. 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029, 2041, and so on. It always follows the Year of the Monkey and precedes the Year of the Dog.
Chinese astrology is considered to be one of the most ancient systems in the world, drawing upon over 5,000 years of history. While Western astrology relies on the twelve months of a year, Chinese astrology is based on a twelve-year lunar cycle. Your star sign is determined by the year of birth, as opposed to the month. Each sign is represented by one of twelve animals, and is given a set of attributes that describe the nature of that particular animal. The rooster ranks tenth among the twelve animals that appear in the Chinese Zodiac cycle.
Legend has it that Gautama Buddha summoned all the animals prior to his death, but only twelve of them came to bid him farewell. He rewarded these animals by naming certain years after them, according to the order in which they arrived. Hence, the first year belonged to the rat, followed by the ox, the tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and boar. This formed the basis of the twelve animal signs of the Chinese Zodiac.
In Chinese astrology, each zodiac year is not just associated with an animal sign, but also one of five elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth. The balance of power among the five elements has a significant impact on the personalities of the animals, with both the zodiac sign and the element shaping the astrology of the year. Element-sign combinations recur every 60 years. 2017 is the Year of the Fire Rooster. Having last appeared in 1957, the Fire Rooster represents trustworthiness, as well as punctuality and a strong sense of responsibility.
Like the other eleven animals, the rooster has certain distinct characteristics. It is a symbol of honesty, as well as physical and moral fortitude. It signifies hard work, courage, ambition, pride, fortune, warmth and generosity. The rooster is highly sociable and independent, has a strong sense of self, and does not like to rely on others. On the other hand, it may also be arrogant, impatient, impulsive, hot-tempered and sometimes selfish.
Since ancient times, the rooster has woken people up every morning by announcing the break of dawn. Because of this, many believe that the rooster has the ability to predict future events. Furthermore, according to Chinese tradition, the rooster possesses the power to exorcise and ward off evil spirits.
The Year of the Rooster could bring happiness, prosperity and triumph for Pakistan and its people, provided that we put in hard work and effort and are honest in our dealings. In the context of Pakistan-China relations and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in particular, the Year of the Rooster could represent new beginnings, and a stronger bond between the two countries founded on trust, mutual respect, and the determination to move forward together.
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