Chinese zodiac calendar

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Umadoshi: Charging into 2026

Welcome 2026! As the 1st post of the year, we start off with a review of this year’s Zodiac sign. For those who follow this on their own, or have seen related posts on social media, are aware that the Zodiac animal is the horse. Although the Lunar year officially starts on February 17th, there’s so much talk about it that many have been preparing in advance. What’s in the horizon for us under this hardworking & dependable animal? From the looks of things, this year is very dynamic and can either open the doors to great opportunities or unexpected challenges.

In this article, we will cover the natural perceptions the physical horse, and their roles in society over the ages. Following that will be the breakdown of the Zodiac sign, the components that make up the predictions for this year, along with some well known phrases & expressions.

An image of a horse representing the new year. From Photo-AC.

MANKIND’S BEST COMPANION

Looking at the history of the horse, whether Asia or other parts of the world, it’s not hard to grasp just how big of a role they have played. Whether carrying warriors into battle, pulling carts for passengers or goods, or running at breakneck speed to deliver it’s rider to their destination, the horse is a creature that has walked side-by-side with humans due to its ease in domestication and the various ways in how they help us.

The depiction of horses is just as amazing in myths and fables. Chinese culture helped plant the seeds for this, with many legendary tales depicting horses as powerful creatures, representatives of status for the aristocrats, as well as symbols of brave companions for great heroes. There are many interpretations of them possessing amazing traits or supernatural abilities, including tales of a particular half-horse, half-dragon hybrid. Japan was influenced by these through culturual exchange. With literary works, teachings from Buddism as well as Shinto teachings, Japan society also was graced with many vivid images of horses acting as messengers of deities, as well as transportation for them when they descend from the heavens to the earthly realm.

With horses bearing so many respectable qualities such a sturdy & fast legs, a strong sense of independence, and being a reliable companion to humans, the horse sign tends to be viewed in a positive light, usually bringing good fortune.

INTERPRETING THE ZODIAC

The year of the horse is pronounced as “umadoshi” (午年) In Japanese. Linguistically, the proper kanji for horse is “馬”, with the pronunciation being “uma”. However, the sign/kanji used to represent the horse in the Zodiac system is “午”, which had no association with the horse in its early conception within China until centuries later. How was it interpreted before this? During the earlier period when the Zodiac system was devised and was understood mainly through the seed/plant analogy, the “午” kanji possessed the meaning of a fully grown plant showing signs of withering.

When the Zodiac was interjected into society more, the horse imagery was attached to this sign, making it easier to remember amongst the masses. Through this, it became more natural for the sign’s readings like “energetic spirit”, “success”, and “the power to win” to be interpreted through human’s relationship with the horse.

ZODIAC USAGE IN EVERYDAY LIFE

The following below is a list of useful data concerning this year’s Zodiac sign and how it played a role in the daily lives of people in the past.

  • Zodiac number: 7th sign
  • Pronunciation: go (original)
  • Direction: south / true south¹
  • Time: between 11:00 am to 1:00 pm (usually points to 12 pm)
  • Month: 5th month (old calendar), 6th month (modern calendar)
  • Ying/Yang: yang
  • Element: fire

While not significant in modern times, there’s still use of these today in specialized fields. Here’s a few related tidbits pertaining to the horse sign:

  • It is one of the cardinal directions, being the opposite of north
  • Just as how the north and south poles do not meet², the horse sign and mouse sign of the Zodiac are generally said to be opposites, thus not getting along³
  • Represents the afternoon, when the sun is at its highest in the sky⁴

THE BLAZING HORSE

We’ve covered the Zodiac animal. Now, let’s look at the energy for this year. Following the 5 Elements and Ying/Yang concept, the energy for this year is light, while the 10-Heavenly Stems, in its 43rd year, falls on the fire element. The sign used in the 10-Heavenly Stems system representing fire is “丙” or “hinoe”. Together, this energy/element combo gives off a sense of a flame as big & bright as the sun, wrapping everything around in its warmth. When applied to humans, it means someone who is overflowing with vibrant life energy.

An image of a fire horse, blazing the ground with each step. Is it charging forward to glory, or will it burn out into failure? By Erkut2 from pixabay

As mentioned earlier, the horse sign is already associated with the fire element. In conjunction with the hinoe sign, we have double fire elements, which happens once in the 60-year Zodiac cycle. It’s easy to focus on this on a positive sense, such as “being fueled with passion and charging forward with near unlimited energy to see our goals completed”. However, there is also the negative side of this, such as being overbearing and blind through “passion”. Such a hot-headed, unyielding personality can lead to chaos.

Thus, with double fire energy coming from both the Zodiac horse and the 10-Heavenly Stems, we get the proper name for the year as “hinoe-uma”, or “fire horse”.

HOW TO APPROACH FORTUNE IN THE NEW YEAR

What’s the prediction for this year’s Zodiac? Normally, the Zodiac horse is read as a sign with good fortunate. In fact, it falls in line with the dog and tiger Zodiacs as being the 3 lucky signs⁵.

Those born in the year of the “fire horse” are said to have a fiery passion when approaching their tasks, and charge head on with an energetic spirit to succeed. All this is possible with little need for rest. For the sake of success, others born under different signs should follow suit in order to see fortune come their way, despite whatever obstacles that may come up. Yet, one must also be careful of burnout, and running headlong towards failure. To stay on track, we must take time to stop, be patience, take proper guidance, and possess a vision of what we want to accomplish and how.

While the traits are similar between men and women born in the year of the horse other than for some small differences (i.e. men enjoying their solo time, women more straight forward with their feelings), there are always those words of caution regarding avoiding disaster, sometimes told through old tales. For this year, there is a lingering superstition about women needing to take caution about letting their passionate emotion run amok. This is tied to certain real-life events that took place early in the Edo period. I plan to cover this in another article, so look out for that discussion later.

PHRASES & EXPRESSIONS

The Zodiac signs have no shortage of interesting phrases that have interesting, and at times humorous, meanings. There are plenty related to the horse, all fitting in many unique categories.

The following two are said to be good references to the 2026 Zodiac year.

  • ウマくいく / 馬九行久 (uma kuiku; quick horse)
    This means being adept to quickly take on any request at a drop of a dime.

    A little more on this phrase, it’s a play on words using the word “uma” and following it with the phonetics of 9 (ku), the 1st syllable from the word “to go” (i) and one of the phonetics of the word “long duration of time” (ku) to create the sound of the word “quick”.
  • 馬力 (bariki; horse power)
    A simple phrase wishing one to have a year where they are filled with strength and vitality.

Now here’s a select few. There are quite a good number of old ones here, with some dating back to ancient Chinese proverbs.

  • 人間万事塞翁が馬 (ningen banji saiō ga uma; a horse can represent the unexpected fortunes and hardships humans face in life)
    Reflecting the tone for this year, the meaning for this phrase is taking all that comes one’s way, whether it be good fortune or bad luck. In other words, accept the unpredictability of life experiences.⁶
  • 勝ち馬に乗る (kachi uma ni noru; ride on the victory horse)
    This is used when a person “rides” on the coattail of someone who’s on the fast track to success in order to benefit as well.
  • 千里の馬は常に有れども伯楽は常に無し (senri no uma ha tsune ni aridomo hakuraku ha tsune ni nashi; even if you have a famed running horse, it won’t be put to good use if there’s no skilled horse trader to evaluate its value)
    A well-known yet lengthy phrase that originates from the Chinese scholar Han Yu’s⁷ “Zassetsu”⁸, it stresses that a qualified leader can distinguish those who possesses outstanding abilities. Without this, those individuals won’t be able to shine.
  • 馬の耳に念仏 (uma no mimi ni nenbutsu; reciting Buddhist invocation to a horse)
    A phrase that paints a vivid image, but is not straightforward. The meaning expressed here is the uselessness of preaching to a person who doesn’t have the capacity to understand the topic. There are many types of expressions like this using the horse analogy, but worded differently.
  • 老いたる馬は道を忘れず (oitaru uma wa michi wo wasurezu; an old horse never forgets the road taken)
    We can interpret this saying referencing a person who is wise and has good judgement. These traits are apparent with how accurate they are able to handle an unforeseen situation, which is usually something earned by those with experience.
  • 馬子にも衣装 (mago ni mo ishō; the packhorse driver can also don on fine garments)
    The meaning behind this is that anyone, even those of low qualities or status, can look magnificent through wearing the right outfits.

ENDING

This covers the horse Zodiac sign for the new year. There are a few more articles being prepped to match the theme for this year. Until then, wish everyone to have a good start on any planned goals, and charge forward (with good judgement) to see them through to the very end!

1) There are 4 absolute directions, which are tied to a Zodiac animal equivalent: true north (mouse), true south (horse), true east (rabbit), and true west (rooster).

2) North & south are connected linearly on a perfect longitude of 0° and 180°. Speaking of which, in relations to Earth, the meridian line that divides the earth into east hemisphere and west hemisphere is called “shigosen” (子午線) in Japanese, which uses the Zodiac kanji for the mouse and the horse.

3) In terms of a person’s personality and compatibility, Zodiac readings normally say that the horse and mouse cannot get along due to being total opposites (i.e the horse being hard-working and independent, while the mouse being clever and opportunist). Of course, this should not be taken as fact.

4) The Japanese word for afternoon is “gozen” (午前), which also uses the same kanji for the horse in the Zodiac.

5) To elaborate, these three Zodiac signs form what is called “sangō kakyoku” (三合火局), due to their strong fire energy. This is according to a fortunetelling method called “Shichū suimei” (四柱推命), which incorporates the 5 Elements and Ying/Yang concept.

6) This saying is a complex one! A bit of investigation was needed here, even to understand how to translate the saying into simple English. To really grasp the meaning is to understand the origin. There is an old philisophical book called “Huáinánzǐ” (淮南子, Enanji in Japanese) compiled by scholars from Huainan area during the reign of Emperor Wǔ dì (159 bc ~ 87 bc) in China’s early Han Dynasty. In this book is a short story that lays the roots to the saying, which is summarized as the following:

“There was an old man who resided in a castle up in the north. One day, his horse had escaped the castle walls and ran away. Perplexed, the worried old man went out and searched for it. In the end, he not only found the horse, but also gained a few more that was accompanying it.”

There are a few more short stories tied to this saying, but the one above is a good representation using the horse analogy.

7) Han Yu (韓愈) (768 – 824) is a famous figure who was a writer, scholar, and government official during the Tang Dynasty.

8) “Zassetsu” (雑説) is a collection of theories and short stories compiled by Han Yu.

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Hebidoshi: Welcome the New You

It’s the start of the year 2025, so I’ll kick off the first article in the usual pattern and review this year’s Zodiac sign and other related info. According to the Zodiac cycle, the sign for 2025 is the snake. Depending on the culture, impressions on anything snake-related can either be welcomed with open arms or shut out, despite whatever fortunes predicted. Before we get into any deep conversations, let’s take a look at the specifics of the sanke according to the Zodiac system, and its role in daily life in Japan’s past.

  • Zodiac number: 6th sign
  • Zodiac character: 巳
  • Pronunciation: mi
  • Animal / creature: snake
  • Direction: south – southeast
  • Time: between 9 am-11 am or 10 am-12pm
  • Month: 4th month (according to the old calendar)
  • Ying/Yang: dark
  • Element: fire / wood

Normally the kanji used for snake is “蛇”, which is pronounced as “hebi”. However, for the Zodiac sign the kanji “巳” is used in its place. With this, the Zodiac year is called “Hebidoshi” (巳年)¹, or Year of the Snake.

IMPRESSIONS AND FORTUNE OF THE SNAKE SIGN

What is the fortune we are to expect in this year of the snake? Before going forward, let’s first touch on the general image of the snake. Born and raised in the US, one will see that it’s not very favorable. Words such as sneaky, deceitful, dangerous, venomous, and (for those familiar with teachings from the bible) demonic all come from the negative concepts associated to this creature which persists in today’s society, and has varying levels of severity depending on each individual. It can be due to many factors, including bad experiences with them for those who settled here in this country’s infancy. Of course, it’s not all black & white, for there are plenty of people who view the image and qualities of a snake favorably, and may even say they are cool. It is not unusual to see some people have tattoos of snakes on their body…or even goes as far as having them as pets!

How are snakes viewed in Asia? I would say it’s mix bag, with some impressions positive, and others negative. Due to most Asian countries having a longer history, there is a better understanding on how to deal with it, as well as to make use of them in society. When it comes down to superstitions and stories, the snake has its place where it can represent many ideas, from appearing as a mysterious figure, being used as a messenger of deities, to being a god-like being. A unique trait seen in stories is its skin shedding, which at times is viewed as symbolic for undying. Remember this point, as this is closely tied to this year’s fortune.

BEARING FRUIT IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS

In the Zodiac calendar of old, the kanji “巳” is pronounced as “mi”. This character’s original meaning is interpreted similarly to a common character “実” (jitsu), which is “fruits” or “nuts², which are the byproducts of seeds. Through the seed analogy, this Zodiac sign represents the imagry of when a seed has grown fully and is just right to “bear fruit”, which in turn can also mean “earnings”, both literally (for farmers, merchants, etc.) and metaphorically (locals, etc). As a fortune, it is predicted that this sign is effective for increase in earnings and luck.

With the snake now associated with the Zodiac sign, how does its image contribute to auspicious readings in Japan? A snake shedding its old, dead skin and revealing a shiny new one is akin to starting afresh, like getting rid of old baggage tied to failed or missed opportunities, which in turn will attract good luck. Metaphorically, this luck can represent 2 things:

  • One’s wounds being healed or receiving medical treatment to recover from illness
  • Having a stroke of luck or blessings, which can lead to great fortune

In accordance to receiving the goodness from what this Zodiac sign is predicted to give, people may wear accessories, carry charms, and the like that bear snake motifs on them.

THE WOODEN SNAKE

Now it’s time to talk about the 10 Heavenly Stems, which is the 2nd half of the Zodiac calendar. The sign that is tied to this year is “乙”, or read as “kinoto”, and is #2 in this system. It’s meaning is “kijimu” in Japanese, which refers to something being ajar or creaking open. Within The 5 Elements and Ying/Yang concept³ , this meaning has a harmonious feeling, where it’s interpreted as grass sprouting from the shadows of a tree, stretching outward and spreading into a flourishing field. Also, The element for kinoto this year is “wood” (木).

Together, the full title of this year is “kinoto-mi” (乙巳) in Japanese. In English, we can read this as “wood-snake”⁴.

PREDICTIONS AND WORDS OF WISDOM

To sum things up, popular key phrases related to this year used in Japan include:

  • Birth of the new me (新しい自分に生まれ変わる)
  • Seizing a bright & happy future (幸せな未来をつかむ)

Also, when addressing the full title, “kinoto-mi”, we can interpret it as “displaying the flexibility to adapt through constant revisions or reviving”. Key words that depict this include “vitality” (生命力) and “regeneration” (再生).

Finally, here are a few old sayings from Japan related to both the Zodiac year, as well as the auspicious views regarding snakes.

  • Hebi no yume wo miru to engi ga yoi (蛇の夢を見ると縁起がよい, if a snake appears in your dreams, it is a good sign)

    This is connected to fortune-telling based on a person’s dreams, where good luck or lots of fortune is in one’s future if a snake appears. Take note that this is but one of the many see-a-snake old sayings that exist in Japan, most with the same meaning.
  • Kaoku ni hebi ga sumu to kanemochi ni naru (家屋に蛇が住むと金持ちになる, when a snake resides in your home, you will become rich)

    Not to be taken literally, this saying relates to receiving good luck in the form of a particular snake deity taking residence in one’s home. If we go ahead and apply this saying in a more practical scenario, a snake living under one’s home can mean it will hunt and eat vermin and bugs, such as rats, keeping one’s home pest-free.
  • Hebi wa take no tsutsu ni irete mo massugu ni naranu (蛇は竹の筒に入れても真っすぐにならぬ, a snake will not be straight even if you put it in a bamboo tube)

    This phrase is an interesting one. To keep it simple, things will be as they are by nature, no matter what. If we take a snake for example, it will always bend and curl, even if stuffed in a tube. A better example is how when certain plants or trees grow with a bend in them, it is difficult to naturally straighten them.
  • Dappi shite motte orochi to naru (脱皮して以て大蛇と成る, when it sheds its old skin will it then become a giant serpent)

    The meaning for this is becoming a better person each time the weight of one’s past troubles are “peeled away”. This can also be used in a more positive manner torwards self-improvement, or even advancement in one’s career or craft, where you can become more skilled by always gaining more knowledge and re-innovation.
  • Hebi ni niramareta kaeru (蛇に睨まれた蛙, a frog whom a snake sets its gaze on)

    This refers to when a person encounters an enemy too strong to match. With nowhere to run or hide, fear sets in.
  • Hebi ni kamarete kuchinawa ni ojiru (蛇に噛まれて朽縄におじる, being bitten by a snake, you are frighten even by a worn-out rope)

    For this phrase, the message expressed here is that after a bad experience, you become more cautious to ensure you don’t repeat it. In the example of being bitten by a snake, a person would stop in their tracks the minute they see something similar in shape…such as a mere rope. Note that there is a bit of wordplay in this phrase, where the Japanese word for worn-out rope, “kuchinawa”(朽ち縄), is a play on an old word used for snake, which is pronounced the same way.

CLOSING

Just as the snake sheds its old skin and reveals a fresh new layer, we too have a chance to bring forth our “new” selves in the new year through self-improvement. Here’s hoping that good fortune awaits all uf us in 2025!

1) Can also be pronounced as “Midoshi”, which is the proper way to read this. On the other hand, it is not too unusual to use the appropriate snake kanji and write this year as “蛇年”.

2) By design, snakes had no relations with the original Zodiac character when the Zodiac system was first conceived. However, that changed over time as now “巳” is associated with these slithering creatures. It is even acceptable to read it as “hebi”.

3) Inyō Gogyō setsu (陰陽五行説)

4) Actually, there are 2 elements for this year. Under the 10 Heavenly Stem is the element wood, while under the 12 Zodiac is the element fire. Not sure how it all comes together and when either is referenced, but for the most part I have seen more emphasis on the “wood snake” labeling, so for the time being I will stick with this.

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Ushidoshi: Steady Pace is the Ox’s Way

Welcome, 2021! Kicking off the new year, our 1st post will cover the Lunar Zodiac sign for 2021. Which animal sign is the highlight for this year? What traits are represented by this animal sign? Are there any unique stories, traditions, or phrases related to it? As always, the info and viewpoint will be from how it is interpreted in Japan, unless there are any differences between other countries that is worth mentioning.

COME FORTH THE OX

The zodiac sign for 2021 is none other than the ox, which is called “ushi” in Japan. Pronounces as “ushitoshi” (丑年) in Japanese, this year is the 2nd in the current Lunar Zodiac cycle. According to old folktales, the ox is also the 2nd sign, for it came in 2nd place in a foot race, being outwitted from arriving 1st by the mouse¹. The character that represents the ox sign is “丑”, but just like the other animal signs, this sign originally had no association with the animal image.

If we take this character ushi (丑) and look at its root meaning, it signifies something that bends, wraps around, or clings onto an object. It’s normally seen within specific characters such as himo (紐), which means “rope”. In ancient Chinese text regarding the Lunar zodiac, the ushi character represents a bud that is being produced from a seed, but has not fully gotten through the hard exterior. In a sense, this expresses that hard work & effort is needed to produce the outcome one desires².

2021 IS ALSO THE YEAR OF THE METAL OX

In conjunction with the 12 Animal Zodiac signs are the 10 Heavenly Stem, which is written as “Jikkan” (十干) in Japanese. 2021 marks the 38th year where both work in unison, and we get a combination of ushi (丑) and kanoto (辛). Together, this year is also called “kanoto-ushi doshi”, or “Year of the Metal Ox”. What is so significant about this? Kanoto, which is the 8th sign from the 10 Heavenly Stem, further enhances the traits of the ox (more on this below). Here’s some things to consider:

  • As a standard, the 5 Elements and Ying Yang theory are incorporated into this unison
  • Kanato’s element is metal, while it is on the ying (dark) side
  • Ox’s element is earth, while it is on the ying (dark) side
  • Both share similar qualities

Originally, kanoto’s character “辛” stood for “to go against” or “to offend one’s superiors”. However, this meaning is no longer in use, as the purpose of the 10 Heavenly Stem has been revised³.

Most, if not all of this, doesn’t say much in a way that makes it easy to follow or understand for the average reader. Even for myself, I do not fully grasp all the components that consist in these different areas that work hand-in-hand to make the Lunar calendar what it is. As an ancient practice for predicting the outcome in a yearly basis within Asian culture, it is amazing that it is still observed in modern times, let alone make its way into Western societies.

TRAITS OF AN OX

Now that 2021 is here, predictions and forecasts regarding how the year will progress based on the ox sign is out. What are we to expect? What type of traits does the ox represent? Here’s the following:

  • The ox sign represents hard working, my-pace mentality, and intelligence
  • This depiction lines up well with the use of oxen for labor work throughout history, as they are patient & resilient animals that can accomplish long, strenuous tasks
  • People under this sign are said to bear these traits naturally

Those born under the ox sign are said to be hard workers who, once set on a task, are completely focused on it, and will see it through until the very end when it’s complete. While it is commendable, this could also be they become stubborn, and may not sway easily to others’ requests. Also, when needing to work with others, they do so at their own tempo. As a leader, they may make many requests to their employees, but on the other hand they tend not to be a tyrant of a boss. As a bonus, this year being the “Metal Ox” means that those under this sign will also get a boost in popularity, and establish good relations easily. As always, those of the ox sign need to be careful not to overdo it, lest their good qualities backfire and turn against them!

Artwork by Utagawa Toyokuni. Originally untitled, it’s been referenced as featuring a beautiful woman riding an ox alongside her young companion (牛乗り美人と若衆). From the Fujisawa Ukiyo-e Museum.

For this year, everyone is encouraged to learn from the ox traits and apply it, even if your sign is not the ox. While the prediction may still be too early to consider fact, the “Metal Ox” unity is said to be a lucky one. Through patience and hard work, individuals are predicted to be successful in 2021. It’s not something we can do on our own, so through good communication and establishing intimate relationships will prove beneficial. Attempting new endeavors during these troubling times can be worthwhile with abit of effort and patience.

MISCELLANEOUS & FUN FACTS

The following are ways in which the ox sign played a role as a cultural fuction throughout Japanese society over the years. First, let’s look at how it was used for conventional means.

  • Time = 1 pm – 2 pm
  • Direction = North-Northeast (around 30 degrees)
  • Month = 12th (according to the old calendar)
  • Energy = dark (ying)
  • 5 Elements = earth

Next, are some phrases and idioms that are related to, or even inspired by the image of the ox. Note that the majority of these are old, so you most likely won’t hear them used today.

  • Ushi no mimi ni kyōmon (牛の耳に経文)
    LITERAL: Reciting sutra to an ox
    MEANING: Your words have no effect on a person mo matter how many times you explain
  • Ushi no ayumi (牛の歩み)
    LITERAL: Walk like an ox
    MEANING: Someone who walks slow
  • Ushi no ayumi mo senri (牛の歩みも千里)
    LITERAL: Even the ox walks a very long distance. (senri = 4,000 km)
    MEANING: You have to put in your fullest effort in order to get the desired results
  • Ushi no kaku wo hachi ga sasu (牛の角を蜂が刺す)
    LITERAL: The bee stings the horn of the ox
    MEANING: You feel no pain no matter what may occur
  • Ushi wa ushi-zure uma wa uma-zure (牛は牛連れ馬は馬連れ)
    LITERAL: The ox leads the oxen along, while the horse leads the horses along
    MEANING: People of like qualities can easily gather and work together

ENDING

This about covers the ox sign of the Lunar Zodiac, and the predictions for 2021. Look out for more posts this year related to the ox sign, as I will continue to cover this theme. Let’s work to make this a great year in the long run!

1) This version of the story is featured in the Translations section of this site, which I translated into English. You can read it here.

2) In ancient times, each of the 12 Zodiac signs shared the same theme of a plant’s growth from a seed one way or another. Eventually, this theme was overshadowed by the more popular animal theme.

3) Outside of the Lunar calendar, this character acts as an adjective in the standard Japanese language. It can either be pronounced as “karai” and have such meanings like “spicy” and “salty”, or pronounced as “tsurai” and have several meanings such as “painful”, “difficult”, and “heart-breaking”.