During the Jade Emperor’s great race across the river, the Rabbit could not swim, but used its ingenuity and strong legs to hop between stepping stones and floating logs on the water. This is how he earned his admirable place as the fourth animal in the Chinese zodiac.
Years of the Rabbit
If you were born in the years 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, or 2023 then you belong to the sign of the Rabbit. 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 25th in 1963, so anyone born before that date actually belongs to the Year of the Tiger and not the Year of the Rabbit. In short, you just got a very rapid promotion up the food chain!
Lucky Signs and Symbols
Rabbit people should be vigilant when it comes to the numbers 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8. Three, four, and six will usher in prosperity, but one, seven, and eight are sure to bring you misfortune! Red, pink, purple, and blue are your lucky colours, while dark brown, dark yellow, and white should be avoided at all costs.
Characteristics of the Rabbit
People born under the sign of the Rabbit may not be as bold as the Tiger or as strong as the Ox, but they make up for it with their gentle and likable character. They are known for being quiet, elegant, alert, quick, kind, scholarly, intelligent, patient, and responsible. The male Rabbit is a true gentleman, while the female Rabbit is demure and pure of heart. Their enduring loyalty makes them great companions, although they are often overly-discreet and rarely reveal their minds to others. Catch them on a bad day and you’ll find them melancholy, stubborn, and superficial. Their excessively cautious and conservative nature means that, if they hesitate for too long, they can miss out on profitable opportunities.
Romantic Compatibility
The Rabbit’s friendly disposition means they can get along with most other signs, but should look for love in the Rat, the Sheep, the Monkey, the Dog, or the Pig. They can form respectable matches with the Ox, while matches with the Tiger, the Horse, the Dragon, and other Rabbits will simply be quite average. When it comes to romance, they should avoid the Rooster and the Snake completely.
Job Prospects
Loved by those around them for their warm-heartedness, those born under the sign of the Rabbit are well-suited for careers in health care, medicine, politics, art, education, and judiciary work.
How to Manage Your Relationship with the Rabbit
Managing your relationships with the Rabbit couldn’t be easier, as they are kind-hearted and make for easy friends. Their gentle and considerate nature means they often have a wide circle of friends who value them highly, while their great sense of humour means they can bring people together and break the tension when there are disputes. The main problem, however, is that the Rabbit often has an excess of kindness, which can lead to conflicts of interest. Their universal love and respect for all of their friends means they are frequently manipulated and taken advantage of.
The Elemental Cycle
As we mentioned in our last post, 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 1975 belong to the Year of the Wood Rabbit, lending them the extra qualities of cleverness, quick-wittedness, selfishness, liveliness, and a discerning eye. The Fire Rabbits, who were born in 1927 or 1987, are known for being open-minded, smart, and flexible, with unique opinions and views.
Anyone born in 1939 or 1999 is an Earth Rabbit, meaning they are frank, straightforward, ambitious, hard-working, but slightly reserved. Those born in 1951 or 2011 are Metal Rabbits, who are renowned for being kind-hearted, old-fashioned, lively, and enthusiastic. Finally, the Water Rabbits of 1963 or 2023 have a gentle and amicable disposition, with an ability to adjust easily to different situations, although they suffer from a generally weak mind-set.
So if you were born in the Year of the Rabbit, don’t feel Watership Down! With your bright eyes and fluffy tail, you’re sure to have a prosperous future.