The Chinese Zodiac in Cultures and Traditions

by Cindy I-Fen Cheng

Lunar New Year, or the first new moon of the lunar calendar, is celebrated by people around the world and across different cultures. Within Chinese culture, the ushering in of a new year is celebrated through one of 12 distinct zodiac animals, each of which is known for its power to map a person’s behavior, character, and fate.

In The Chinese Zodiac in Cultures and Traditions, you’ll gain insights into how cultures make sense of the passing of time and our relationship to it. Your guide is Cindy I-Fen Cheng, the Robinson Edwards professor of history and Asian American studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In six illuminating lectures, she takes you on an immersive journey into the cultural importance and traditions of the Rat, the Ox, the Tiger, the Rabbit, the Dragon, the Snake, the Horse, the Goat, the Monkey, the Rooster, the Dog, and the Pig.

Along the way, you’ll learn how the Chinese zodiac is itself a synthesis of many different schools of thought and thinking and how its development serves as an ever-changing guide to Chinese culture and its social mores and values. You’ll also get a greater sense of how the legacy of the Chinese zodiac has been incorporated and reimagined in other countries—convergences that speak to the beauty of cultures coming together and changing over time.

Whatever your Chinese zodiac sign may be, there’s much to discover in this Audible Original.

Genres: Audiobook, Mythology, Nonfiction, History, Education, China, Asian Literature

Audiobook

Published February 1, 2024

Reviews

[Elentarri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nicecly presented, short and concise overview of the how the Chinese Zodiac came to be and the legend behind the 12 zodiac animals, which are thought to represent a person’s behavior, character, and fate. Cindy I-Fen Cheng discusses the cultural importance and traditions of the Rat, the Ox, the Tiger, the Rabbit, the Dragon, the Snake, the Horse, the Goat, the Monkey, the Rooster, the Dog, and the Pig. Interesting.

[Justine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved discovering the Chinese Zodiac!!

I think I'll reread this book numerous times and I'll read others about it because, of course, as it was the first time I listened to a work about the subject and I didn't take notes, I didn't get everything immediately. But it was fascinating and interesting; to me, it's another layer through which we can see our lives, try to understand oneself and, at the same time, learn more about a different culture!

I loved the story about the animals and their order of arrival, the misadventure of the cat, the modesty and strength of the dragon, and the different qualities, defaults and abilities of each zodiac animal. I also loved to learn about BaZi, the four pillars of destiny; I'll read more about it to fully understand it - or try to!

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great overview! What I look for in these.

[Anderson Ordonez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This stuff seems so interesting and cool. I'm not sure I believe in it completely but it seems to have some empirical basis. Based on how calculated and numerical all of this is. You could say it's been extensively studied in order to find tube interpretations of your personality, temperament and even your future fortune

[Hunter Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thesis a fascinating subject, and one that has enamored me since I first learnt of it. I have to admit, as someone who studies Buddhism, I always appreciated the story that the animals were chosen when those who responded to Buddha's call (as opposed to the Jade Emperor). Professor Cheng does mention this briefly. I personally would have preferred a little more detail in certain places and I felt a little lost when she started grouping them. Overall a fascinating listen and she gives some enticing references for more information at the end. Worth a listen.

[Lenka Příplatová · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Chinese Zodiac in Cultures and Traditions by Cindy I-Fen Cheng was a letdown for me. From the title, I was expecting a deeper exploration of the cultural and historical significance of the zodiac—perhaps how it connects to various celebrations, symbolism, and traditions. Instead, 90% of the book was filled with pseudoscientific content about how each sign is linked to personality traits, which signs are compatible, and other generic horoscope material you can find in any popular book on Chinese astrology. I definitely didn’t need to listen to a series of lectures for that.

Even the recommended reading list was focused on Chinese astrology and stories about animals, which was a missed opportunity to offer more meaningful cultural insights. The only saving grace was that they at least acknowledged the pseudoscientific nature of the material, and I did learn one new thing—that the Vietnamese zodiac replaces the rabbit with a cat. How cute. (Oh yeah, and there is an elephant instead of a pig in Thailand, because it's a sacred animal for Thai people, and white elephant especially so because of its ties to the royalty—see, this is the interesting stuff I was hoping for!)

[Lynnaurya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good listen for a different look at the iconic animals we see all over Asian culture. Most of us know what our animal sign is but Cindy takes us into a further look into the animal itself and how they came to be part of the known 12. She also takes us into different Asian legends and how they see or use different animals in their own cultural zodiac.

A bit rushed when read through (or listened while spoken, rather) but Cindy does a good job at keeping the listener interested in the mythology behind the favorite 12.

[Catherine Puma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short series of lectures describes the different Chinese zodiac animals, their history, and select tales from Chinese folklore (like the race to the Jade emperor's palace to determine the order of the Chinese zodiac, etc.). The title and description are misleading, as only the last ~20min talk about culture and traditions surrounding the Chinese zodiac.

Even so, it was an entertaining and informative listen. Chosen, in part, to celebrate Chinese New Year 2025.

[JadeDakini · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved the stories, but then she started calling Bazi a pseudoscience, which is kind of weird being a couple of thousand years old empiric science, but I could get over that. What I couldn't was that the approach was very shallow based solely on cultural/popular aspect and not hihglighted as such. As a Bazi practioner I could be biased, but not everyone has my background and listeners could accept this approach as truth, but it is very misleading on several accounts.

[Soo · Rating 4 out of 5]

2024/12/30 Notes:

On Audible +

Engaging narration by Cindy I-Fen Cheng.

That was fun! Not all summaries are interesting or thought provoking. This was a nice intro to the Chinese zodiac and has just enough information to spark interest for further learning by looking into those topics.

[bimri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally enjoyed learning about the Chinese Zodiac in culture. It clicked for me better as a governing "OS" for societies than let's say religious movements. It is anchored in plausible human temperaments and attitudes towards their lots in life. Way more grounding than these 'worlds of forms' in life beyond this.

[Ming Chen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent. Cheng mostly covers the mythology behind the Chinese Zodiac, and as such I wish she had also incorporated more analysis like she did in the last lecture, where she looked at the Zodiac's adaptation into the cultures of countries like Taiwan or Vietnam.

[Deirdre E Siegel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this meander down memory lane as we look into the history of each
creature on the Chinese Zodiac and its ability to enlightened the interested.
Thank you for your collected words Cindy I-Fen Cheng,
very much appreciated. (-:

[Cashie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very succinct but packed with information—I really enjoyed learning about this topic and the history/folklore behind it.

[SpiritualKungFu · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the part where the rat won through deception (not a rat)

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Courses are always fantastic!! Loved the folklore in this one.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Which a good overview of the Chinese zodiac. I learned a lot and enjoyed how folklore influenced this

[Evil Secret Ninja · Rating 5 out of 5]

very interesting learning about how the Chinese Zodiac came about liked it a lot