China Expat is a cultural and literary forum for expatriates interested in China and has been published by Asia Briefing Ltd since 2001. The sites resident China culture writers have included such expatriate luminaries as 
The Year of the Tiger and You
We’re a little past the due date for a New Year’s horoscope, but the fireworks have finally died down long enough to concentrate.The year of the tiger is upon us, the metal tiger. Expect drama, change, and intensity. The last metal tiger, 1950, brought the Korean War, McCarthyism, and the eruption of both Mauna Loa and Mt. Etna. It was also the year Great Britain and Israel recognized the PRC, and Robert Schumann presented his proposal for a pan-European organization, today known as the EU. You must be both active and on guard to tame this tiger, no tail-holding when things can turn so quickly. Of course, your own Chinese zodiac sign determines whether you should be setting traps for the tiger, or scrambling for the high branches.
Rat – 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996
Last year’s work-loving earth ox kept you trapped in your hole. This year, feel free to scamper out and travel; the tiger has bigger prey than you to catch. Abandon your job if it’s a sinking ship; new offers will crop up by summer, when deepening romance could lead to a new rug rat by the following spring.
Ox -1937, 1949,1961,1973,1984,1997
The tiger’s roar will shock you out of your traces, and into new routines, to discover talents you never knew you had. Your natural ability to BS assures at least one of them will turn into a cash cow. If the usual plodding doesn’t work, don’t be afraid to show your horns.
Tiger- 1938, 1950, 1962, 1973, 1986, 1998
This is your year, unless your last name is Woods. Success awaits by the watering hole. Don’t go leaping at every doe that crosses your path, though, and watch out for tranquilizer darts from the bushes. That’s how your cousin wound up chasing chickens for tourists at Badaling.
Rabbit – 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999
Rabbit, run. No, wait – get back here. See? That’s your problem, too indecisive. There’s a chance at promotion for you this year, but the tiger only likes brave little rabbits. So put down that head of lettuce and tell the manager you’re ready for a shot at the cash register.
Dragon – 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988
The tiger’s crouching for you, waiting to spring; get your scaly hide hidden. Rest on your treasure, for any business schemes you hatch this year will make about as much money as would selling Japanese history books door-to-door. Try learning something new, and save your fire for next year.
Snake – 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989
The tiger may take a swipe at your head if you dangle too close to forbidden fruit. Otherwise, your flickering tongue will charm a benefactor your way, who will help you shed old limits and slither to a new place in the sun. The only danger in the way is your own venom; use it sparingly.
Horse – 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990
You’re the lead pony this year; you can’t fail. Start a cult, launch a Ponzi scheme, build that amish.org website. Your health could be an issue, though, as it is for any workhorse. Trade those morning baozi for oats, to make sure you’re running smooth to the finish line.
Sheep – 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991
This is the year your artistic bent might finally pay off. Maybe you can sell some of your sock puppets on eBay, or find a bar on Sanlitun that will pay you for your accordion skills. Usually your tendency to follow keeps you stuck with the flock, but the tiger will lead you to a mentor. Just make sure (s)he’s not carrying any yang rou chuanr sticks.
Monkey – 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992
How can we break it to you, Bobo? The tiger just doesn’t like you. Maybe it’s the non-stop chatter, or the nit-picking. In any event, only if you climb a nice safe tree and keep the shrieking down do you stand a chance of getting by, let alone becoming a branch manager.
Rooster – 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993
You’re a cocky devil, but so is the tiger, so even though you waste a lot of time and energy trumpeting the obvious (“The sun’s up!), this year it might get you noticed.
Dog – 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994
Not a great year coming up for you, Fido, but whining and howling won’t help. A little financial planning will go a long way, hard as it is for you, most ADD of animals. And try not to snap at your family members so much; this year may see you needing one of their couches to sleep on.
Pig – 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995
Usually the tiger loves nothing more than to make a meal out of you, but it seems he’s fattening you up for next year. Keep your snout down and you’ll wax fat and happy no matter what muck you wallow in. Just try not to get too greedy. Remember: pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered.
Related posts:
- Double-Kick Your Way Into The Year Of The Ox
- Year 4706 – The Earth Ox and You
- The 15 Days of New Year
- The 15 Days of New Year
- ABOUT CHINESE NEW YEAR
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
You said it. Remember ladies, you're ALL gold, so 99% of those tin men out there aren't even worth your time. And I'm sure that self-righteous, Oprah-esque way of looking at the world has nothing to do with your miserable love lives.
Metal Tiger huh? I guess THIS is why some refer to it as the Year of the Golden Tiger, right? Although it could just as well be Platinum, Silver, or even Aluminium and Lead.
Girls we still need to be en guarde and beware of Tigers with Golden tongues, but beer bottle Aluminium wallets.
Hope those Italian banana shakes are helping.
So maybe you can predict if I'll need dental insurance this year?
No.
I was born in the year of the hoarse and one says that a hoarse, a tiger and a dog are a triangle and fit good together. Does that mean, my year will be good?