Chinese Culture >> Chinese Zodiac Astrology >> Chinese Astrology
By: Henry Fong
There is a belief amongst the Chinese community that those who 
are born four years apart are more compatible than those who are born six year 
apart. And those that are born 6 years apart are likely to be less compatible. 
Do you know why?
In the 12 Animals 
		Chinese Zodiac system of astrology, our character is influenced by our 
year of birth. For example those born in the year of the rat are intelligent and 
suspicious while those born in the year of the horse are generous and loves 
freedom. Based on our year of birth we are imbued with certain characteristics 
that make us more of less compatible with each other.
According to the ancient Chinese, the 
Monkey, Rat and Dragon form a compatible 
set. They have characteristics that make them more compatible with each other. 
The other compatible sets are the Snake, Rooster and 
Ox; the 
Pig, 
Rabbit 
 and 
Goat and the Tiger, Horse and Dog. If you check the year of birth you notice 
that they are four years apart. For example those born in 1964 are Rats, 1968 
are Dragons and 1972 are Monkeys!
The Rat on the other hand is supposedly less compatible than the Horse. They 
form an incompatible set. The other incompatible sets are between Ox and Goat, 
Tiger and Monkey, Rabbit and Rooster, Dragon and Dog and between the Snake and 
Pig. If you check the year of birth you will notice that they are six year 
apart!
The 
								Chinese 
Astrology compatibility tools that you find on the Internet are 
largely based on the above mentioned principles of combination and clash. Most 
will also include more combinations and clashes that I have not mentioned above 
but I hope you get the idea.
What if you and your spouse form an incompatible set? Do not panic. Did you 
notice that I used the word ‘supposedly’ many times? In practice our character 
is also heavily influenced by the month, day and hour of birth which is not 
taken into consideration in the above examples. Therefore it is entirely 
possible for a Rat person to display characteristics of other animals 
(influences from the month, day and hour of birth)!
In my practice, I have seen many supposedly incompatible sets of husbands and 
wives. They are still together after many years of marriage and some of them 
quite happily! Perhaps love plays a part too.
About the Author
Henry Fong
Feng Shui Absolutely