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Chinese zodiac · Chinese zodiac 7

Horse

Horse · 馬 mǎ

The Horse (馬 mǎ), sign 7 of the Chinese zodiac: earthly branch Wu 午, fixed element fire, yang.

The Horse stands for energy, freedom and speed. Horse-born people are traditionally described as lively and independent. The Fire Horse year, which recurs every sixty years, gained a reputation in Japan for being unlucky for girls, and births dropped sharply in 1966.

In Chinese astrology the year animal is only one part of a horoscope: the element of the year's heavenly stem, the month, day and hour of birth (the Four Pillars) and their interactions are read together. The traditional characterisations of each animal belong to folk belief and popular almanacs rather than to a single authoritative text.

Personality

energetic · independent · lively · free-spirited · sociable · impatient · enthusiastic

In Chinese popular astrology the Horse is described as lively, energetic and independent, a lover of freedom, movement and open country. Linked with the earthly branch Wu, yang and the element fire, it stands for speed, vitality and the urge to keep moving forward.

Almanac portraits credit Horse-born people with enthusiasm, warmth, quick wits and an infectious cheerfulness that makes them popular; they are said to be hard-working when engaged and to love travel, sport and company. The weaknesses traditionally named are impatience, restlessness, a dislike of restraint and routine, a tendency to change course suddenly and a temper that flares quickly. The Fire Horse year, which returns every sixty years, gained a particular reputation in Japan, where folklore held that girls born in it would be headstrong; births there fell sharply in 1966.

In love the Horse is portrayed as passionate and open-hearted but in need of space, happiest with a partner who shares its adventures; the traditional triad places it in harmony with the Tiger and the Dog. At work it is linked with travel, sales, sport, journalism, performance and any career with variety and movement. Chinese astrologers read the Horse together with the year's element and the other pillars of birth.

Sources and further reading