Vietnamese zodiac

The Vietnamese zodiac (Vietnamese: Mười hai con giáp) is the traditional Vietnamese classification scheme based on the lunar calendar that assigns an animal and its reputed attributes to each year in a repeating 12-year cycle. The Viet lunar calendar is divided into 60-year cycles known as hồi. Each of these consists of five 12-year animal cycles.

Zodiac

The Vietnamese zodiac is originated from the Ancient Viet people in its usage and arrangement of animals, with 2 different animals with the rest of other countries (water buffalo and cat). The Vietnamese zodiac was believed to come from the Chinese Ancient, but some researchs in modern day points out that it was the product of the Bach Viet (hundreds of Viet tribes). According to Jerry Norman, Tsu-lin Mei, Michel Ferlus, the Zodiac was formed in South Asian language.

Also, according to Nguyen Cung Thong - independent language reseacher in Melbourne (Australia): Sửu has the original ancient phonetic form *trhuw according to Edwin Pulleyblank compared to the form *drju according to the restoration of William Baxter, and *tn’njôg according to Bernhard Karlgren and plau according to Li Fang-kuei - the first two forms are closest to Vietnamese trau/tru. We can relate Sửu (chŏu BK) to the form tlu/klu of Mường (tru from Ninh Binh to Thanh Hoa dialects ...). Compared to the restored Ancient Han form of ngưu (niú BK) is *ngiơ (or *ngwơ) which is quite consistent from the authors Bernhard Karlgren (1957), Edwin Pulleyblank (1991), William Baxter (1992), Axel Schuessler (2007). In short, we can establish the relationship between Suu and buffalo through the correlations between the initial consonants s- and kl/tl/tr- , the tones as well as the vowels have a very clear basis, but there is no phonetic correlation between ngưu HV (niú BK) and buffalo. This 1 of many examples gaves the idea that the Chinese had borrowed the word buffalo (or *klu) from the South – or even the names of the 12 zodiac animals – even though they already had names in Chinese (for example, 牛).

Through the research of international linguists, 6/12 names of the zodiac animals originate from the South Asian language system, in which the most direct is Vietnamese, these words are enough to conclude that the 12 zodiac animals originate from the South Asian language system. More in-depth and comprehensive research on Vietnamese by researcher Nguyen Cung Thong has also proven that all 12 zodiac animals can find their origin in Vietnamese. Therefore, the 12 zodiac animals originate from the South Asian language system, in which the most direct is the Vietnamese (Kinh) people. The Chinese people have accepted and made changes in the direction of personification, erasing traces of Vietnamese and Vietnamese culture in the names and personalities of animals, but have not changed their nature and origin. This theory could become a major change point in the history of Asia, it still waiting for more independent researcher to dig deeper before it forms a major doctrine.

Zodiac animal sign	Vietnamese zodiac	Characteristic
Rat	Tý	Welcomed as a bringer of good luck
Water buffalo	Sửu	Associated with riches achieved through hard work
Tiger	Dần	Warm-hearted yet fearsome, and brave in the face of danger
Cat	Mão	Known to be tranquil, realistic, intelligent and artistic
Dragon	Thìn	Imperial symbol, associated with the male element yang
Snake	Tỵ	Enigmatic, wise, and like to live well
Horse	Ngọ	Signifies freedom and confidence
Goat	Mùi	Associated with creativity and good taste
Monkey	Thân	Versatile and mischievous; associated with inventors, entertainers, and anything ingenious
Rooster	Dậu	Brave and resilient, but can also be self-absorbed and pretentious
Dog	Tuất	Considered lucky, loyal, and likeable
Pig	Hợi	Honest, patient, and also associated with virility

See also

• Vietnamese calendar
• Vietnamese dragon

Bibliography

• Sterling, Richard (2011). DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Vietnam and Angkor Wat. Penguin. ISBN 978-0-75668-740-3.
• Taylor, K. W. (2018). Essays Into Vietnamese Pasts. Cornell University Press. ISBN 978-1-50171-899-1.
• Noppe, Catherine; Hubert, Jean-François (2018). Art of Vietnam. Parkstone International. ISBN 978-1-78310-725-4.