animal symbolism, astrology, chinese influence, cultural traditions, dog, dragon, east asian culture, eto, folklore, horoscope, horse, japan, japanese zodiac, juunishi, lunar calendar, monkey, myth and legends, ox, personality traits, pig, rabbit, rat, rooster, sheep, snake, tiger, wild boar, zodiac animals

The Japanese Zodiac: Which Animal Are You?

Japan is a country steeped in rich cultural traditions and folklore. The Japanese have a deep connection with nature, reflected in their symbolic use of animals.  These creatures, whether real or mythical, have profound meanings in Japanese society. Over time, they have been woven into 12 zodiac animals known as juunishi, each representing a year ...

Nathan Machoka

Twelve animals of the Japanese zodiac.

Unique Metallic Akhal-Teke Horses: an Ancient Turkmenistan Breed

Akhal-Teke horses are a rare horse breed that has an amazing beauty —they almost look photoshopped. It’s actually one of the world’s most ancient and mysterious breeds and is found in a remote desert country, hidden until the late 1800s. A light-golden horse like the one featured above has been touted as the most beautiful ...

Jack Roberts

A golden akhal-teke horse running in desert.

Find Your Chinese Zodiac Sign

The characteristics of Chinese zodiac signs can be surprisingly accurate. To find your Chinese zodiac sign, you can use the Chinese calendars and charts that we have prepared for our readers. Here’s how to use them. The Chinese zodiac cycle repeats every 12 years, starting with the Rat sign. You are assigned an animal sign ...

Emma Lu

A cartoon rendering of the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodia: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.

A Man Loses His Horse: Bad Luck or Good Luck?

On the north side of the frontier, there was a man who raised horses. His name was Saiweng. One day, Saiweng’s horse escaped from his stable and ran across the border into the territory of the Hu people. Saiweng’s neighbors were saddened and tried to comfort him, but Saiweng smiled and said: “Yes, I’ve lost ...

David Jirard

Saiweng lost a horse, but that may not have been bad luck. (Image: By Guillaume Jacquet - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link)