As we come to the end of the Chinese zodiac, we’ll be discussing its final animal: the cheerful and cherubic Pig. During the Jade Emperor’s great race to determine the animals of the zodiac, the Pig was the last to emerge from the river and kept the Emperor waiting for an inordinately long amount of time. When asked why it was so late, the Pig replied that it had stopped first to eat and then had become sleepy, so decided to take a nap! Thus it became the twelfth and final animal in the zodiac.
Years of the Pig
If you were born in the year 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, or 2031 then you belong to the sign of the Pig. It’s important to note that the Chinese zodiac follows the Chinese lunar calendar, which begins in late-January or early-February. For example, Chinese New Year fell on January 27th in 1971, so anyone born before that date actually belongs to the Year of the Dog and not the Year of the Pig. In short, you’ve literally just trimmed the fat!
Lucky Signs and Symbols
Those born in the Year of the Pig should take note of the numbers 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, and 9. Two, five, and eight signify good fortune is coming your way, but one, three, and nine herald disaster! Your lucky colours are yellow, grey, brown, and gold, while you should steer clear of red, blue, and green.
Characteristics of the Pig
The Pig has a much maligned reputation throughout the world as a slovenly, lazy, and generally unclean character, but there’s more to this paunchy porker than meets the eye! Those born under the sign of the Pig are believed to be diligent, compassionate, generous, calm, responsible, loyal, honest, optimistic, and gentle. Once they set their mind to task, they will devote all of their time and energy into accomplishing it. While they rarely ask anything of others, they are always willing to lend a helping hand.
Unfortunately for the Pig, their talents are easily taken advantage of. They are gullible and naïve by nature, meaning they never suspect trickery and are often fooled or cheated by others. Much like the Dog, they can become short-tempered and disillusioned if their goodwill is taken for granted or abused. They may be incredibly industrious when they have goals, but they can become sluggish and lazy when they lack focus.
Romantic Compatibility
Much like the Dog, the Pig should be cautious when it comes to matters of the heart. For a lasting partnership, they should seek out the Tiger, the Rabbit, or the Sheep, although they can form pleasant matches with the Rat, the Horse, and the Dog. They should be careful with the Ox, as they can either fall head over heels in love or end up as sworn enemies! A match with the Rooster will be quite average, while the Dragon and other Pigs should remain simply as good friends. They should avoid the Snake and the Monkey at all costs for fear of inevitable heartbreak.
Job Prospects
The Pig’s strong work ethic and ability to deal with high pressure situations means they are well-suited for careers in medicine, veterinary science, catering, interior design, transportation, entertainment, retail, and hospitality.
How to Manage Your Relationship with the Pig
Those born under the sign of the Pig are renowned for being easy-going and trustworthy, meaning they make for stable and reliable friends. Their short-temper can at times be off-putting, but they rarely stay in a negative frame of mind for very long. Anyone wishing to forge a relationship with the Pig is advised to be tolerant and patient, as their candid personality can sometimes result in them saying rude or hurtful things without intending to.
The Elemental Cycle
As we mentioned in our introductory article, the 12-year animal cycle is part of a much wider 60-year elemental cycle, meaning that each year of the zodiac is also assigned an element. People born in 1935 or 1995 belong to the Year of the Wood Pig, meaning they are good-natured, kind, easy-going, generous, and brave, but have a tendency to be quite irritable. The Fire Pigs, who were born in 1947 and 2007, are known for being ambitious and tenacious, which results in them also being impatient.
Anyone born in 1959 is an Earth Pig, making them communicative, popular among their friends, and exceptionally well-organised. Those born in 1971 or 2031 are Metal Pigs, who are open-minded, amicable, and always willing to help others. Finally, the Water Pigs of 1923 and 1983 are particularly gentle, modest, earnest, and reliable, but are prone to close-mindedness.
So, the next time someone calls you a lazy swine, remind them that you’re actually a perseverant Pig!