Japanese Zodiac Wheel
The Japanese zodiac wheel is based on the elaborate system of Chinese astronomy, cosmology and divination. It is a method used for counting years, months, days and hours. Although in present day, the Gregorian calendar is the one used, in many countries in Asia, the zodiac wheel is still used as a method of divination. |
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When Buddhism arrived in Japan in the mid-6th century AD, Japanese eagerly accepted the Buddhist teachings along with the zodiac wheel, which has 12 animals associated with the 12 Heavenly Generals of Buddhism.
In Japan, the Japanese zodiac wheel is known as Kanshi or Eto and the 12 zodiac animals are known as Juuni Shi. The popularity of the zodiac was at its peak during the Edo era from 1600 to 1868 AD. Even today, in many Japanese temples, you can still find protect amulets or carvings of the patron Buddhist-zodiac deity. Juuni Shi was introduced in Japan from China around 1200 to 1300 years ago. However, there are some who believe that it originated with Empress Suiko in 604.
Each year in the zodiac is represented by an animal. Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig are the animals of the Japanese zodiac wheel. Since 2007 was the year of the Boar, according to Japanese and Chinese zodiac calendar, this year, 2008, is the year of the Rat. Many Japanese people believe that the year in which a person is born indicates his personality and they also use the system to find compatible love matches and to tell their fortune.
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Japanese Zodiac Wheel
There are primarily two types of Japanese traditional dance forms and they are Odori, which originated in the Edo period, and Mai, which originated in the western part of Japan. Odori has grown out of Kabuki drama and concentrates on male sentiments while Mai is performed in rooms and not on the stage. 
