Question # 02 : Why the first month of the Chinese year is always a Tiger month?
Question — What is the meaning behind the Tiger's being always the first month. I didn't quite understand, but I do remember hearing something about the months having animal signs (Shanah, USA).
Answer — In fact, you asked me two questions, which need two separate answers.
First, not only Chinese years but Chinese months, days and hours also have animal signs. We have a Monkey year, a Rooster month, a Dragon day, a Horse hour, and so on. The Horse hour is the one that extends from 11 hours 01 minute a.m. to 01 hour 00 minute p.m. inclusively.
Second, the first month of the Chinese civil year is always a Tiger month. The reason for this is as follows:
There are two kinds of Chinese years. The first kind is the "seasonal" year, which is patterned on the tropical year (the four seasons) and which always begins with the Winter solstice. The Chinese month that includes the Winter solstice day (21 or 22 December) is the Rat month, as Rat is the first sign of the Chinese Zodiac.
The second kind of Chinese year is the "civil" year, that is the year people use in everyday life. Since this kind of year must begin with Spring, the symbol of renewal, its first month comes only two months later than the month that included the preceding Winter solstice day. In other words, the first month of the "civil" year always corresponds to the third month of the "seasonal" year. Now, third month means Tiger month, as Tiger is the third sign of the Chinese Zodiac. As a matter of fact, the months in the "civil" year are not named after the animals, but are numbered from 1 to 12.
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