Have you ever wondered what makes each zodiac system different from the one you use? The first thing you should know is that there are plenty of features in common. But there are also many different areas that you need to be aware of. Here is a quick and easy look at how the system of the zodiac differs around the world.
What Do the Western Zodiac Signs Represent?
There are 12 signs used in the Zodiac system of the Western world. These are Aries, Leo, Sagittarius, Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn, Gemini, Libra, Aquarius, Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. These signs represent the concept that each person, the world they live in, and the solar system represent a single unified entity.
Does this look similar to your own weekly horoscope? The system of the Zodiac that is widely followed in the West has a great many similar features to other models. For example, most of the known Zodiac systems of the world are based on 12 separate signs. This is a feature that has been generally accepted all around the globe.
Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius are the signs of fire. Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn are the signs of earth. Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius are the signs of air. Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces are the signs of water. Together, these represent the four elements that make up the primal ingredients of the world around us.
The signs that make up the 12 elements of the Zodiac in Western belief are based on the solar calendar. This is the calendar that is based primarily on the planets moving around the sun. This is a belief that marks the Western concept of the Zodiac off from other systems that are based on a different calendar.
What Are the Zodiac Signs of China?
The 12 signs that make up the content of the Chinese zodiac are very different from the ones that you will find in its Western counterpart. This is due to the fact that the Chinese zodiac uses signs that are represented by a series of animals. These are the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.
The basic belief that underlies the entire system of the Zodiac in Chinese culture is that there should be harmony between the elements of Heaven, Earth, and water. This is a somewhat different starting point than the signs of the Western Zodiac that are based on the elements of earth, air, fire, and water.
Much of this difference is due to the fact that the ancient Chinese followed a calendar that was based on the Lunisolar model. This is a system that takes account of the phases of the moon as well as the exact time of the solar year. This has resulted in many features that are known only to the Chinese Zodiac.
What Are the Zodiac Signs of India?
India is another major world culture that has a very popular Zodiac system to speak of. The 12 Signs of the Zodiac in India correspond roughly to those that are still being made use of in the West.
You should also note that these 12 signs, though similar, are based on a very different system of basic philosophy. They tend to be divided into attributes that are passionate, dark, and harmonious.
The signs of the Zodiac in India can be listed as follows, along with the signs of the Western Zodiac that they tend to correspond most closely to:
* Mesa – Aries
* Vrsabah – Taurus
* Mithuna – Gemini
* Karka – Cancer
* Simha – Leo
* Kanya – Virgo
* Tula – Libra
* Vrschika – Scorpio
* Dhanus – Sagittarius
* Makara – Capricorn
* Kumbha – Aquarius
* Mina – Pisces
Knowing the Differences Helps You Find Similarities
As has been shown, there are many differences to take note of. But you should also take notice of the fact that there are plenty of similarities to note. In fact between the various systems of the Zodiac around the world, there are many more similarities than differences. Knowing this will help you make sense of it.
