Archive for the ‘Year of the Rat’ Category
Year of the Rat
The Rat (鼠) was welcomed in ancient times as a protector and bringer of material prosperity. It is an animal associated with aggression, wealth, charm, and order, yet also associated with death, war, the occult, pestilence, and atrocities. In the Chinese Zodiac, the Year of the Rat is associated with the earthly branch symbol 子. In some parts of the world, a year associated with this animal 鼠 is referred to as Year of the Mouse because the word may be translated to "rat", "mouse", or more broadly, "rodent".
Please Click the Pictures Below for more Information:
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Asian Oriental Chinese Zodiac Poster Year of the Rat: Birth Years 1912 1924 1936 1948 1960 1972 1984 1996 2008 |
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Year of the Rat Personal Characteristics & Birth Years are printed on the poster as follows: RAT: 1912 1924 1936 1948 1960 1972 1984 1996 2008 2020 Full of charm, the Rat is the object of admiration. A true sentimentalist, family and friends are close to their heart... |
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Asian Oriental Chinese Zodiac Coffee & Tea Mug Year of the Rat: Birth Years 1912 1924 1936 1948 1960 1972 1984 1996 2008 |
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Year of the Rat Personal Characteristics Silk Screened on the Back as follows: RAT: 1912 1924 1936 1948 1960 1972 1984 1996 2008 2020 Full of charm, the Rat is the object of admiration. A true sentimentalist, family and friends are close to their heart... |
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Chinese Zodiac Stamp Design Wall Plaque - Rat |
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Get authentic oriental charm to your home decor or collection with this exquisite picture frame. Stamp accented engraved Chinese Zodiac animal, truely a exotic piece of oriental art.Size: H14.5" x W14... |
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4GB Chinese Zodiac Rat USB Flash Memory Drive Black |
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Chinese Zodiac Rat USB Flash Drive is a beautiful fashion jewel drive. Just plug into your USB port and your computer will immediately detect and configure the disk without restarting your computer. Read, write, copy, store, delete files just the same way as you use for a floppy diskette or hard drive. |
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3161W061 Jade Phone Strap Charm Rat Chinese Zodiac Sign 12 animals |
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Brand New 12 animals phone strap Chinese astrology is the divination of the future from the Chinese calendar; which is based on astronomy; and ancient Chinese philosophy. There are 12 animals in total and they represent different years... |
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Asian Oriental Chinese Zodiac Key Fob Ring Chain Year of the Rat Born 1912 1924 1936 1948 1960 1972 1984 1996 2008 |
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Mini Zodiac Animal Key chains * MICE / RAT / MOUSE * VANCA Craft Petit Mascot Leather Japanese |
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The key chains for the cat-lovers of the world!We have 22 kinds of Mini Zodiac Animal key chains.Split Key Ring Diameter: 1"Can be remove from Key Ring use as Zipper-Pull or attached to your purse etc... |
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Asian Zodiac (2-PACK) Greeting, Birthday, Gift Card Year of the Rat Born 1912 1924 1936 1948 1960 1972 1984 1996 2008 |
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Ty Beanie Baby the Zodiac RatReviewsThe rat zodiac is a lovely purple tye-dyed bodied rat. The feet & tail are made out of the same material which is a soft, dark purple, velvety material. The ears are my only complaint but I still love em' Average Rating: |
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Add some Chinese culture to your Beanie Baby collection. The rat, one of the 12 animals represented in Chinese astrology, is a charming social creature, both ambitious and aggressive. This 6-inch-long, palm-portable, posable Beanie has a shimmery, three-toned coat of lavenders and blues... |
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TY Beanie Baby - 2008 ZODIAC RAT (Asia-Pacific Exclusive) |
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Poem: This grey rat of the zodiac Holding his lucky little red pack Will bring a safe and peaceful year To all of those who keep him near ! |
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Hello Kitty: Chinese Zodiac Keychain - Rat/Mouse |
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This is a cute key chain of Hello Kitty wearing a festive kimono with a hat representing one of the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac. This key chain features Hello Kitty in a pink kimono with a rat/mouse hat... |
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Cat and Rat: The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac (An Owlet Book)ReviewsThis is a wonderfully charming and beautifully illustrated children's book explaining the legend of how the Chinese years came to be named for animals. It really is a marvelous little tale, but don't plan on reading it in dim light. The illustrations are so low-key as to be invisible in low light and the reverse (white on black) text is equally unviewable. So save "Cat and Rat" for a daytime reading or with the lights full on. The story itself, whether adapted from an actual Chinese legend, is wonderul. Cat and rat are great friends. The Emperor announces a contest, a race for all the animals. The first twelve animals to cross the finish line will have a year named in their honor. How the friends cat and rat became enemies is an engaging tale. Words and pictures work well in this book. Great for dramatic reading to the little ones in your life. Jerry I really like the Chinese legend of the Chinese Zodiac and how the animals where choosen and how the cat and the rat are no longer friends. I really like Ed Young, and my only problem is that it the book uses a lot of dark colors. I've been reading this story to Preschoolers, Kindergartners, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders for three years now. It is a hit everytime. It is a good version of how the animal zodiac came to be without any religious theme which makes the public school system happy. I have found some great books for children on China and Vietnam. My students from those areas will love them and my other students will be able to appreciate the culture better. We all benefit from learning more about each other. Cat and Rat helps with an interesting entertaining story. The zodiac is always intriguing to everybody. This book is one of Ed Yound's finest. It is very beautifully rendered in a sort of abstract, pen and ink style which is very dramatic and striking. Anyone who enjoys myths from around the world will be charmed by this story and the way it is presented. I have bought this book for several people and it has been very well received by adults and children alike! Average Rating: |
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To select the animals of the zodiac, the Jade Emperor has called for a race between all the animals. Full-color illustrations. |
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What the Rat Told MeReviewsThis story is adapted from a Chinese Buddhist legend that goes back to the Han Dynasty [206 BCE - 220 CE]. Readers will learn about the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, and why the cat is not part of the zodiac, and also why the cat and rat are no longer friends.This is an oversized book but well worth the extra size and weight considering the gorgeous linoleum prints . The story begins when the Great Emperor of Heaven invited all the animals to visit him on the Jade Mountain...but they had to do it before sunrise. Back then, the cat and rat were great friends, and the lazy cat complains about waking up early, so the rat tells him to sleep, promising that he [the rat] would wake the cat in time for their journey up Jade Mountain. Turns out the rat is quite a rascal, as he goes without waking the cat, and also disdaining the long trek up the mountain, decides to hitch rides on the other animals...the rest is erm, history as the 12 animals fall into the order of the Chinese zodiac as one by one, they arrive to greet the Great Emperor of Heaven. This is a well-adapted tale, perfect for young readers, but it will also delight adults, especially due to the excellent illustrations which are artistic and lively. Highly recommended and a great way to introduce the story of the Chinese zodiac to all. Marie Sellier, Catherine Louis and Wang Fei's WHAT THE RAT TOLD ME: A LEGEND OF THE CHINESE ZODIAC tells of a Great Emperor who invites all the animals to visit him on the Jade Mountain. Twelve come and become the twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac - but what really happened, and why is the cat not part of the zodiac? The rat knows the true story... and this one's adapted from a Chinese Buddhist legend dating from the Han Dynasty. Average Rating: |
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A wonderful introduction for young readers to the Chinese zodiac adapted from a Chinese Buddhist legend dating from the Han dynasty (206 BC-220 AD). Illustrated by the critically acclaimed team of author, illustrator, and calligrapher that created THE LEGEND OF THE CHINESE DRAGON. |
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The Year of the Rat: Tales from the Chinese ZodiacReviewsMy three sons loved the book. We made the purchase at Kidspace in Pasadena and had the opportunity to talk with the author. He was very entertaining, and my sons are constantly pestering me to read this book. This would be a great addition to any children's library. It is well-written with wonderful illustrations. Written in celebration of 2008, the most recent year of the rat, The Year of the Rat: Tales from the Chinese Zodiac is a children's picturebook about an eager young rat named Ralph. Grounding the story in the basic animals and associated character traits derived from the ancient Chinese Zodiac, The Year of the Rat follows Ralph as his inquisitive nature gets him into trouble. But when his dear friend the boy Bing runs into trouble at his birthday party, it takes the quick thinking of a born rat to save the day! The colorful, simple illustrations are brimming with unfettered enthusiasm in this charming children's story. Average Rating: |
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“Absolutely adorable . . . what a fabulous cast of characters your books contain!”—Kate Ferguson, Book PassageThe year 2008 is the Year of the Rat! Ralph the rat explores the world with the boy Bing... |
Years and the Five Elements
Persons born within these date ranges can be said to have been born in the "year of the Rat," while also bearing the following elemental sign:
* 31 January 1900 – 18 February 1901: Metal Rat
* 18 February 1912 – 5 February 1913: Water Rat
* 5 February 1924 – 24 January 1925: Wood Rat
* 24 January 1936 – 10 February 1937: Fire Rat
* 10 February 1948 – 28 January 1949: Earth Rat
* 28 January 1960 – 14 February 1961: Metal Rat
* 15 February 1972 – 2 February 1973: Water Rat
* 2 February 1984 – 3 February 1985: Wood Rat
* 19 February 1996 – 6 February 1997: Fire Rat
* 7 February 2008 – 25 January 2009: Earth Rat
* 2020 – 2021: Metal Rat
Being the first sign of the Chinese zodiac, rats are leaders, pioneers and conquerors. They are charming, passionate, charismatic, practical and hardworking. Rat people are endowed with great leadership skills and are the most highly organized, meticulous, and systematic of the twelve signs. Intelligent and cunning at the same time, rats are highly ambitious and strong-willed people who are keen and unapologetic promoters of their own agendas, which often include money and power. They are energetic and versatile and can usually find their way around obstacles, and adapt to various environments easily. A rat's natural charm and sharp demeanor make it an appealing friend for almost anyone, but rats are usually highly exclusive and selective when choosing friends and so often have only a few very close friends whom they trust.
Behind the smiles and charm, rats can be terribly obstinate and controlling, insisting on having things their way no matter what the cost. These people tend to have immense control of their emotions, which they may use as a tool to manipulate and exploit others, both emotionally and mentally. Rats are masters of mind games and can be very dangerous, calculative and downright cruel if the need arises. Quick-tempered and aggressive, they will not think twice about exacting revenge on those that hurt them in any way. Rats need to learn to relax sometimes, as they can be quite obsessed with detail, intolerant and strict, demanding order, obedience, and perfection.
A valuable lesson for Rats is to learn to consider others before themselves, at least sometimes, and to avoid forcing their ideas onto others. Rats are fair in their dealings and expect the same from others in return, and can be deeply affronted if they feel they have been deceived or that their trust has been abused. Sometimes they set their targets too high, whether in relation to their friends or in their career. But as the years pass, they will become more idealistic and tolerant. If they can develop their sense of self and realize it leaves room for others in their life as well, Rats can find true happiness.
According to tradition, Rats often carry heavy karma and at some point in life may face an identity crisis or some kind of feeling of guilt. Rats are said to often have to work very long and hard for everything they may earn or have in life. However, a Rat born during the day is said to have things a bit easier than those who are born at night. Traditionally, Rats born during the night may face extreme hardships and suffering throughout life. Rats in general should guard themselves against hedonism and nostalgia, as it may lead to self-destruction. Gambling, alcohol and drugs tend to be great temptations to Rat natives.
Traditionally, Rats should avoid Horses, but they can usually find their best friends and love interests in Monkeys, Dragons, and Oxen.
Professions include espionage, psychiatry, psychology, writing, politics, law, engineering, accounting, detective work, and pathology.
