黃道十二宮與農曆
關於黃道體系、日月之象與農曆運作的清晰指南。
What kinds of zodiac are there: a complete guide
The zodiac is a system of 12 sectors of the ecliptic, used to describe the position of celestial bodies. Over millennia of history, several fundamentally different zodiacal systems have formed, each with its own logic, purpose and cultural context. In this article we will look at what kinds of zodiac exist, how they differ and how they came about.
The types of zodiac system: tropical, sidereal and astronomical
Short answer: the zodiac comes in three types — tropical (by equinoxes and seasons), sidereal (by the fixed stars, shifted by the ayanamsha) and astronomical (by the real constellation boundaries of the IAU). A comparison table and a hint on which one to choose.
The zodiac before 500 BCE: from lunar stations to Babylonian omenology
Before the 5th century BCE, the classical 12-sign zodiac we are accustomed to today did not exist. In Mesopotamia (Sumer, Akkad, Babylon) the sky was perceived not as a mathematical grid but as a living canvas of divine signs. During this period the fundamental astronomical and astrological concepts were being formed that would later become the foundation of the Western and Vedic traditions.
12 zodiac signs and constellations: what's the difference
Short answer: there are 12 zodiac signs — equal sectors of 30° — and 13 constellations on the ecliptic. We explain the difference, provide a table of dates, and explain why the Sun doesn't 'switch' from sign to sign together with a constellation.
Where to find the full texts of "Enuma Anu Enlil" and "MUL.APIN"
An important caveat before we begin: these two monuments are at fundamentally different stages of publication. MUL.APIN is a compact text of two tablets, and it has long been published in full. Enuma Anu Enlil (EAE) is a series of 68–70 tablets with about 7,000 omens, and it has not been published in full even in academic scholarship.
The Zodiac Across Cultures: From Babylon to China
Zodiac schemes existed in Babylon, Greece, India, China and among the Maya. Each culture divided the sky in its own way: solar constellations, stars, lunar cycles. A comparison table and an explanation of why there are so many zodiacs.
Tropical and sidereal zodiac: what's the difference
The difference between the tropical and sidereal zodiac is in the reference point: the tropical zodiac starts from the vernal equinox and tracks the seasons, while the sidereal zodiac starts from fixed stars and is offset by about 24°. We explain with examples and a comparison table.
What is ayanamsha in astrology
Ayanamsha is the angle of difference between the tropical and sidereal zodiac (about 24°). It shows how far the sidereal sign is shifted from the seasonal one. We explain it simply, with a list of popular ayanamshas.