Astrology in the land of the rising Sun

Italian version

Japanese astrology shares strong parallels with Chinese astrology, from which Tibetan astrology also draws influence. It operates on the interplay between the ten Kan (the five Elements of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water in their dual male and female aspects) and the twelve Si (representing the twelve Animals or Branches of the Earth: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Hare, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Boar). Combining the twelve Branches and the five Elements forms the Kuri-Yao, a 60-year cycle. Each animal recurs five times and aligns with a different Element periodically. For instance, the years 1960 and 2020 correspond to Rat-Metal-Male: individuals born under this combination are described as lively-speaking, emotionally intense, drawn to wealth, luxury, and classical pursuits, with dominant tendencies, among other attributes. In addition, the Animals and Elements associated with one’s month, day, and time of birth are factored in to yield a more refined understanding of an individual or to guide actions at specific times.

The 24-point wind rose, or fauwi constitutes an integral component of this common framework. Each cardinal point is linked to a deity, demon, planet, or constellation and corresponds to specific years, providing insight into annual forecasts. This association offers guidance on behaviour, actions to take or avoid, and other relevant considerations for particular occasions.

Another approach involves trigrams: by summing the years, months, days, and hours of an individual’s life and dividing the total by eight for as long as possible, one can derive a prediction from the trigram associated with the remaining number.

In Chinese and Japanese astrology, the calendar is a crucial tool for organising earthly activities in alignment with celestial influence. It delineates favourable and unfavourable days, optimal timings for sowing, weddings, and naming ceremonies, and auspicious occasions for acquiring attire. It emphasises the necessity for even seemingly insignificant matters to join the harmony between Heaven and Earth following this philosophy.

Bibliography

Astrologia Giapponese, estratti da l’Atsume Gusa (Japanese Astrology, excerpts from Atsume Gusa) – Translated by A. Severini – Genoa 1981.