Do Chinese Zodiac Signs Still Matter Today?

12生肖是中国老少妇孺皆知的纪年方法，它不仅用于中国地区，在亚洲的许多其他国家也有着广泛而深远的影响。过去无论是婚丧嫁娶，都会用一个人的生肖生辰来卜测吉凶，但是如果你去问一些80后90后他们还信不信生肖一说，大概很多人会回答：我们不迷信这些东西了。可是如果你问起他们的生肖，他们依然可以脱口而出，比如"我属龙"！

虽然如此，大多有钱人依然相信这种"中国式占星术"。如果一个人要开店，除了风水之说，也要结合生肖来判断。如果你看到一家企业有红色饰物挂于店内，那么这很可能是一家华人的店铺。因为红色象征运气吉利。

生肖运用最多的恐怕是在婚姻方面了，老人有很多种生肖相配的说法，如"蛇盘兔"是吉利的相配属相，而"龙虎斗"则意味着属龙与属虎的人在一起可能很难和谐美满。所以虽说现代人不再像古人一样迷信，但是无论当代技术多么发达，生肖对于中国人的影响依然是意味深远的。

Chinese Zodiac, known as Sheng Xiao, has a huge significance in Chinese culture. These animal signs have been used for determining a person's future and revealing one's personality and traits. In Chinese astrology, the position of things in space can predict a person's destiny and this is used as a guideline when making decisions and choices. This principle has long guided the way of living, thus making it an interesting factor in understanding culture.

Do Chinese people still believe in zodiac signs at present? A majority of students were asked about this and most of them replied, "No, we're already modern." Nevertheless, ask them about what year they were born and you could get answers like, "I'm born in the Year of the Dragon!"

otwithstanding, most of the rich and powerful Chinese still believe in astrology. Their decisions in business were attributed to their belief of these animal signs. For example, a Chinese born during the Year of the Pig who wants to venture into a business can use the zodiac sign to see what can be profitable for him. The structures, design, location and furnishings should be based on feng shui. In fact, you can easily tell if a business is owned by a Chinese! You would always see red symbols hanging or being displayed in their stores because red is a luck or a celebration colour. White is a symbol of death. In terms of numbers, 4 is an unlucky number while 8 and 9 are lucky numbers. Even up to this time, Chinese prefer even numbers. They usually request prestigious telephone numbers for their business.

When finding romance, Chinese people also refer to zodiac signs to find their match. For example, if you are born in the Year of the Dragon, your best match would be someone born in the Year of the Rat, Monkey or Rooster. Most of them believe that finding their best matches would bring them good luck, fortune and fruitful life in future. One of my Chinese friends once told me that love is not their ultimate reason for marriage. Their compatibilities and future predictions would be enough to start a good life together.

With advancement of technology and the wide use of Internet, it seems everyone in the world can get closer to each other. People are becoming more open to understanding and are even absorbing other country's culture. For example, you can find a place in countries like US and Philippines, called "China Town", where Chinese people build a community. Apart from putting up their businesses, they also find themselves adjusting and adapting to their new home's culture. Even so, their belief in astrology is still visible in their lifestyle - the hanging red lanterns in their houses and business places, choice of furniture, money symbols, good luck charms and business practices. Their mobile apps still use these animal symbols with a modern approach. There could be a mix of belief and influence from other cultures, however, the use of these zodiac signs is still evident. Even Western people are somehow accustomed to these symbols.

Lucky Chinatown, Manila Philippines

Do Chinese zodiac signs still matter today? Well, the answer is yes. As history proves, you can only understand the intensity and relevance of Chinese culture if you study their astrology. Even up to this modern age, no Chinese person would say it's only a thing of the past no matter how modern the technology is today. It's because their daily lives are affected and influenced by these animal signs, in one way or another.

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