Ralph the rat learns what his best qualities really are when his friend Bing needs help after a big bunch of balloons carries him away. Lists the birth years and characteristics of individuals born in the Chinese Year of the Rat.

Featuring sumptuous illustrations based on Chinese painting techniques, a lively retelling of the mythological animal race that led to the 12 signs in the Chinese Zodiac traces the proclamation of the Jade Emperor and the respective efforts of 13 animals.

Draws on the archetypes of the 12 signs of the ancient Eastern zodiac to offer insight into astrologically influenced personalities, providing coverage of such related topics as how a birth element shapes one's destiny, Chinese love signs and the qualities of one's Chinese birth-hour "companion."

This guide brings Chinese astrology back to its ancient roots, providing all the information you need for understanding one of the world's oldest systems of divination. The ancient Chinese people developed a sophisticated science of astrology that continues to have profound influence in China today. Rooted in the fundamentals of Taoism, it evolved into a system vastly different from Western astrology. Rather than determining personality by the time of the year in which you are born, in Taoist astrology it is the year itself that determines your character. The years form a twelve-year cycle of signs, each named after an animal. Additionally, your personality depends on which of the five traditional Taoist elements you are born under--water, wood, fire, earth, or metal. This makes for a cycle of sixty unique signs. Taoist Astrology includes information for each sign's personality, compatibility, child-parent relations, and rising and falling fortunes during the twelve-year cycle. Discussions of yin and yang, Confucianism and Buddhism, Taoist alchemy, and the connection between Taoist astrology and Western astrology give you all the background you need for understanding one of the oldest systems of divination known to humanity. Taoist Astrology differs from other books on the subject by grounding its concepts in the ancient traditions from which it originated.

As Ruby travels to her grandmother's house to bring her a gift for Chinese New Year, she is joined by all of the animals of the zodiac. Includes the legend of the Chinese horoscope and instructions for crafts. Full color.

According to the Chinese system of horoscopes, each person is born under a different animal sign depending on the year of their birth. This animal personality determines the person's character and effects emotional make-up, family life, health and relationships.

The Story of the Chinese Zodiac. As the new year approaches, each animal wants it to be named after them, but no one can agree. The Jade Emperor decides there should be a race to decide the winner, but who will win?