The Boar

1923,1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007,2019

The boar is the twelfth sign of the Chinese Zodiac. Its intrinsic element is water. The compass direction of the board is between 307.5 degrees to 337.5 degrees. This falls in the direction of the north, north-west.

You will find that this sector of the house occupies an angle of 30 degrees. This sector is said to be the part of the house deemed most lucky for those residents who are born in any of the years of the boar. The years of the boar are listed in the table above. These years have not been adjusted to take account of the lunar New Year. Thus if you were born in any of the above years but during say, the month of January, chances are you do not belong to the boar year but instead to the year prior to the boar year which is the year of the dog. In the same way you could still be a boar if you are born in the January of the following year. To check your date of birth against the lunar calendar please refer to the 100 year lunar calendar at the back of the book.

The Boar (Pig)

The pig became an animal sign in rather unusual way. In ancient times there was a rich senior officer who had no sons. He was desperate to carry on his family line and offered many prayers and sacrifices to the gods. Finally, at the age of sixty, he had a son. In celebration, he held a party and summoned fortune tellers, who unanimously told him that his son had a promising future.

However, the boy's parents spoiled him and he grew selfish and pampered, and after his father's death he sold off the family fortune to support his lifestyle. Eventually he ran out of money, his friends deserted him and he died in poverty and misery soon afterwards.

Upon arriving in hell after his death, he complained to the Jade Emperor in heaven that he had been unfairly deprived of his promising fate. After further inquiry, the Emperor decided that although the man had been born with a good destiny, he had sundered it. The Emperor punished him by ordering that he be reborn as a pig, feeding upon the chaff. However, the heavenly officer in charge misheard this as becoming an animal sign, which sounds very similar in Chinese. As a result, the man was reborn not only as a pig, but also as an animal sign.

Personality of the people born in boar year

You are well-liked for your honesty and affectionate nature, and when others disappear you are often there to offer support. You are initially reserved with strangers, but as time passes and you gain confidence they will discover a lively and warm-hearted disposition. Although your circle of friends and acquaintances is wide, it is only your close friends who share your inner thoughts and feelings. There is an innocence and naivety to your character which is combined with an eagerness for new places and experiences. Sometimes this excitability can land you in hot water when you unwittingly say or do something inappropriate, but more often than not you are forgiven since you rarely go out of your way to hurt somebody else. You are not a vengeful person, and if someone has taken advantage of you, you tend to withdraw to reflect on the problem and protect yourself. Given time to consider the events, you usually find a constructive way to respond.

There is a tolerant and peaceful side to your character, and you allow others their freedom of expression; you do not want to cause an argument any more than be the subject of one. you are not weak, however, and if you have to fight you will rise to the occasion, whether it is to defend yourself or someone else. People think you are a dreamer, and at times you are but you are also sharp enough to realize what is going on. Your reputation is important to you, and although you are happy to be the target of gentle jokes, you are easily hurt when someone unjustly accuses you or is openly vindictive.

You travel optimistically, hoping to find the best in people and they sense it. You often find a warm welcome because you are willing to adjust and adapt, and you rarely criticize unless you really feel it is justified.

Romance

You need to experiment and discover romance before you can be sure that you have found the right partner. You put your trust in relationships, and some partners take advantage of your apparent naivety. But you are also a good learner and can pick yourself up and start again-it is rare for you ever to feel defeated by a relationship.

Your partner may not realize it, but you are a good observer, making a mental note of what is said or done, though you might appear to be in a dream, you have simply chosen not to comment. You are tolerant, and will allow your partner the freedom that you also need, but this has to rest on an affectionate and trustworthy footing. Your lively imagination and enthusiasm soon draws admirers who share your sense of fund, as well as recognize your more sensitive and serious nature. Once a relationship is established, you trust that the love and affection you give will be returned- and it usually is. However, your partner should also be careful not to continually demand your emotional attention in case you feel trapped.

Career

You are not an ambitious person and are quite happy keeping an equilibrium between work and your personal life. Power is not really on your agenda, and it is rare for you to back-stab or betray a colleague. You are naturally hard-working and approach tasks seriously and efficiently. In fact, you work well on co-operative projects since they give you a forum to share your ideas.

You like to assess how much work is in front of you and then take it step by step, progressing slowly but surely. Risks make you nervous and you tend to err on the safe side, but if you do gamble do not expect to reap huge profits. You are a keen learner, and most pig people are also avid readers, which makes them suited to reflective, studious jobs. But there is also a side to your character that needs human contact, and your patience and kindness are qualities ideal for caring careers.

You are suited to a career in medicine, law or music. You would also make a good writer, researcher, scientist, gardener/landscape artist, librarian or social worker.

Boar (Pig) Associations

Element

Water :

In Chinese philosophy the five elements are types of energy that affect all life. It is their interaction that creates change from a global level to a personal level. The pig is associated with the element of water, which works in harmony with the element of wood but is overwhelmed by the element of earth.

Colour

Black :

The pig is linked to the colour black, which is traditionally associated with honour and dignity. It can reflect honour towards either family, colleges or country. Black also represents success in the face of difficulty, and was the colour worn by the first emperor of China after he defeated the Chow dynasty.

Energy

Yin :

Yin and yang are the two great cosmic forces which influence and balance all life. Yin is cool, watery and still, a force which becomes stronger as summer wanes and the winter season begins. Although the pig embodies both yin and yang qualities, it is associated with water, which has powerful yin qualities linked to peace and reflection.

Direction

North-North-West :

Each of the twelve animal signs is matched to a direction of the compass. The pig is linked to a north-north-westerly direction, which in turn is associated with the hours of the late evening when the sun has disappeared below the horizon. Those directions are also traditionally linked to the early winter, as yin approaches its peak.

The Balancing energy for people born in the Boar (Pig) year

Boar (Pig) year people are advised to observe the following :

In the years of the snake (2001):

It is not a very good year for you. Some financial setbacks. Place a pair of Fu dogs on your entrance door. Health problems will surface. Place the God of longevity in your home. Hang wind chimes in the south-west to overcome the 5 yellow and do not sit directly facing the Grand Duke, which is in the south-east this year.

In the years of the Horse (2002) :

An excellent year when fortunes will rebound. Place the three legged toad in the living room for money making opportunities and have the double happiness symbol nearby for romance luck.

In the years of the Sheep (2003) :

A year of good career luck. Install an aquarium in the north and keep 9 goldfish to enhance chances of promotion.

In the years of the monkey (2004) :

Place a pair of Chi Lin to protect you from being overwhelmed by financial problems. Also put a Dragon, Tortoise in the north. Place wind chimes in the center of your home to protect from the deadly 5 yellow.

In the years of the Rooster (2005) :

You will need all the prosperity enhancers this period to give your money luck a boost. Display a gem tree in your living room and try your hand at making a wealth vase!

In the years of the Dog (2006) :

A quiet period when the best thing you can do is to invite in the three star Gods if you have not already done so. This is the God of wealth, health and longevity.

In the years of the Boar (2007) :

Good money luck. Place a water feature in the north and a 6 rod wind chime in the north-west.

In the years of the Rat (2008) :

A moderately good year when the boar will benefit from the mongoose being displayed in the living room.

In the years of the OX(2009) :

There is plenty of money luck but love relationships are difficult. Place a pair of mandarin ducks in the bedroom.

In the years of the TIGER(2010) :

You need the protection of Fu dogs or Chi Lin in this difficult year. Place Tortoises also for protection against tough times. Control the % yellow by hanging wind chimes in the Southwest and appease the Grand Duke with dragons in the East.