The 12 Zodiac Signs (十二星座)
The Western zodiac divides the ecliptic — the Sun's apparent annual path — into twelve equal 30° segments. Each segment carries a distinct quality inherited from the constellation that once occupied that space. Because Western astrology uses the tropical zodiac, the signs are fixed to the seasons: Aries always begins at the Spring Equinox (Northern Hemisphere), regardless of where the constellation Aries physically lies. This contrasts with Jyotish's sidereal zodiac, which tracks actual star positions.
The Twelve Signs at a Glance
| Sign | Chinese | Symbol | Dates (approx.) | Element | Modality | Ruler |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aries | 牡羊座 | ♈ | Mar 21–Apr 19 | Fire | Cardinal | Mars |
| Taurus | 金牛座 | ♉ | Apr 20–May 20 | Earth | Fixed | Venus |
| Gemini | 雙子座 | ♊ | May 21–Jun 20 | Air | Mutable | Mercury |
| Cancer | 巨蟹座 | ♋ | Jun 21–Jul 22 | Water | Cardinal | Moon |
| Leo | 獅子座 | ♌ | Jul 23–Aug 22 | Fire | Fixed | Sun |
| Virgo | 處女座 | ♍ | Aug 23–Sep 22 | Earth | Mutable | Mercury |
| Libra | 天秤座 | ♎ | Sep 23–Oct 22 | Air | Cardinal | Venus |
| Scorpio | 天蠍座 | ♏ | Oct 23–Nov 21 | Water | Fixed | Mars/Pluto |
| Sagittarius | 射手座 | ♐ | Nov 22–Dec 21 | Fire | Mutable | Jupiter |
| Capricorn | 摩羯座 | ♑ | Dec 22–Jan 19 | Earth | Cardinal | Saturn |
| Aquarius | 水瓶座 | ♒ | Jan 20–Feb 18 | Air | Fixed | Saturn/Uranus |
| Pisces | 雙魚座 | ♓ | Feb 19–Mar 20 | Water | Mutable | Jupiter/Neptune |
Sign Qualities in Depth
Each sign is described through three lenses: Element (Fire/Earth/Air/Water — the quality of energy), Modality (Cardinal/Fixed/Mutable — the mode of action), and Polarity (Masculine/Feminine — outward vs. inward orientation).
- Fire Signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius): Enthusiastic, expressive, identity-driven. Parallel to Chinese Yang Fire and the dynamic impulse of 丙丁.
- Earth Signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn): Practical, material, grounded. Parallel to the Earth element (戊己) in BaZi — stabilising, tangible.
- Air Signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius): Intellectual, relational, concept-driven. No direct Chinese element parallel, though Metal (庚辛) shares the quality of refinement and abstraction.
- Water Signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces): Emotional, intuitive, depth-seeking. Parallel to Chinese Yin Water (壬癸) — flowing, hidden, ancestral.
Sign Rulers
Each sign has a planetary ruler — the planet whose nature most resonates with the sign's quality. Before the discovery of modern planets, each outer sign shared a ruler with an inner sign (Saturn ruled both Capricorn and Aquarius; Jupiter ruled both Sagittarius and Pisces; Mars ruled both Aries and Scorpio). Modern astrology has assigned Uranus to Aquarius, Neptune to Pisces, and Pluto to Scorpio, but many traditional practitioners retain the classical rulerships.
Vedic Comparison
The Vedic Rashis (राशि, ராசி) correspond almost exactly to the Western signs in name and character, though plotted in the sidereal zodiac. Because of the roughly 23° ayanamsa difference, most people's Vedic Sun sign is one sign earlier than their Western Sun sign — a fact that often surprises newcomers when exploring both traditions.