The Year of the Rooster

The Dau sign corresponds to the cock (or rooster) and is a yin sign. The period of time from 5:00 to 7:00p.m. is the Dau hour - a period of twilight when roosters see badly and even conduct themselves awkwardly. Many people born in a Dau year have a tendency to be affected by eye and mental disorders. They are also likely to earn their living from small businesses which they run with diligence, like a rooster scratching the soil for worms or insects. Vietnamese people usually refer to bad handwriting as the scratchings made by a rooster.

Basically, Rooster people have a very keen and observing mind. And most of the time, they are very accurate and precise with their observation. It might not be an exaggeration to say that Roosters have a very sensitive "sixth sense." There are no hidden depths to the Rooster’s character: They are very straightforward and are not afraid to "call a spade a spade."

In addition, they have a flamboyant and colorful personality and are very distinguished in their appearance, and also take great delight in being the center of attention. They are excellent organizers and like to plan their various activities. Rooster people are very intelligent and are insatiable readers. Many of them become very good teachers. They also have a good sense of humor and are effective and convincing speakers. They love to engage in debates with friends on any kind of topic. With these skills, they excel in public relations work or any jobs that bring them into contact with the media. They have a wide circle of friends and build up contacts easily. They are members of a variety of clubs and societies and involve themselves in many activities.

With their cautious and perceptive mind, Roosters become excellent trouble-shooters, detectives, doctors, nurses and psychiatrists. The main virtue in the Rooster character is loyalty: They make devoted friends. They always keep their promises and are always true to their word.

Finally, the Roosters usually have large families, and as parents, they take great interest in educating their children. Roosters are very loyal to their partners, and they are especially compatible with those born under the signs of the Snake, Horse, Buffalo and Dragon.

Five different types of rooster

In addition to the 12 signs of the Vietnamese zodiac, there are five elements that have a strengthening or moderating influence on the sign. "Five elements" does not only mean metal, water, wood, fire and soil. "Element" in Chinese also means movement, change and development. The effects of the five elements on the Roosters are described below, together with years in which the elements were exercising their influence. As a result, all Roosters born in 1909, 1969 are Earth Roosters, and those born in 1933 and 1993 are Water Roosters, and so on.

METAL rooster
Feb. 8, 1921 to Jan. 27, 1922
Feb. 5, 1981 to Jan. 24, 1982

People born in the years of the Metal element are conscientious workers and are extraordinarily talented. They know exactly what they want in life and will pursue their goals with confidence and determination. The Metal people can distinguish right from wrong very clearly. If they face a big problem, they will immediately see a solution thanks to their analytical, logical way of thinking. They are unwavering in their efforts to achieve their objectives and are undeterred by setbacks, failure or hardships. Of all 12 Zodiac signs, the Metal Rooster is probably the most high-minded of them all. They like to choose their own way and will fashion their lives towards this end. They also possess the strength and the energy to bring about the changes they desire. In addition, the Metal Roosters are articulate, and astute when dealing with financial matters.

WATER rooster
Jan. 26, 1933 to Feb. 13, 1934
Jan. 23, 1993 to Feb. 9, 1994

People born under the Water element have outstanding skills in social relations and persuasion. They are intelligent, well-read, and very interested in taking part in debates. They communicate well and are able to wear away any opposition from others through their firm, friendly manner. They have a good sense of humor and an inexhaustible source of energy and are ready to work long hours to get what they aim at. By nature, people born under the Water element are flexible, diplomatic and unimposing. They have talent for judging things that have potential resources. Water element people are ready to get a project, once identified, into action. Their weak point lies in the way they tend to be too conciliatory and will look for the easiest way out. This attitude makes them inconstant and passive. They also depend too much on others for support in case of trouble. If they want to be effective and successful in life they should be more definite and assertive. Only by this way can they realize their dreams.

WOOD rooster
Feb. 13, 1945 to Feb. 1, 1946
Feb. 9, 2005 to Jan. 28, 2006

Those born in the years dominated by the Wood element are people of high morals and great confidence. They are reserved but at the same time they can be quite sociable when the occasion calls for it, always considerate and liking to please others. Their interests are wide and varied and this makes them interesting company. They are systematic in their thinking and possess executive personalities. Their expansive and co-operative natures will allow them to do things on a large scale.

Wood people like to spread their wings and diversify in as many areas as possible. They are individuals who see renewal and growth as important aspects in life. They are unselfish and will share whatever recognition or rewards they receive, as they believe in team effort.

Their main shortcoming is that they tend to take on more than they can handle. They may not finish what they start if they spread themselves too thinly. They must learn to work within manageable limits.

FIRE rooster
Jan. 31, 1957 to Feb. 17, 1958

People of the Fire element are born to become leaders. It seems that Fire Roosters have adrenaline flooding through their bodies: They enjoy jumping to the goal ahead and therefore engage in competition of all kinds. When there’s a target to reach, enemy to combat, and goal to achieve, they know how to make big things happen. They are decisive and confident. They are also more aggressive and positive than other Roosters. These individuals love adventure and innovation. They are constantly on the move and they like to explore new horizons. They are true to their element and they usually attract others through their brilliance and warmth. They have all the requirements to be winners in life but they must be sympathetic to the views of others before taking action. The more Fire people try to achieve their goals by force, the more they will encounter obstacles. People of this element must keep a check on their emotions.

EARTH rooster
Jan. 22, 1909 to Feb. 9, 1910
Feb. 17, 1969 to Feb. 5, 1970

People born under the Earth element are serious, logical and methodical. They also possess foresight and excellent deductive powers. They are intelligent and objective and they know where best to direct their resources for the best possible results. With these qualities, they make good planners and administrators. They have the ability to optimize the use of resources and are wise and prudent in financial matters. This has a spillover effect, as they are equally good at handling their own money. People of the Earth element like to keep things in perspective. They are conservative by nature and they rarely blow things out of proportion. Their most common fault however, is that they are too governed by their own interests. They also lack imagination and have too se-cure an outlook on life. They must find it in themselves to be more adventurous. Nevertheless, Earth people will impress others with their sound reasoning, reliability, discipline and steadiness.

Some spiritual beliefs of the Vietnamese

The Vietnamese practice three official belief systems: Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. Confucianism came to Vietnam with the Chinese invasion when China was ruled by the Han dynasty. It is represented by the practice of ancestor worship, the village guardian spirit worship. Confucianism as a humanistic ethic centre around relationships, lines of authority and duties, and responsibilities in society.

Taoism aims beyond worldly realities and its main theme is the accord of man with the Tao or the way and the realization of a cosmic design. Taoism as a religion originated during the first to the third centuries. It, while coming to Vietnam, mixed with the local folk beliefs and practices, and became a richly textured religion of gods, superheroes, ghosts and integrated shamanism, and primitive agricultural beliefs.

Buddhism is a compassionate belief system which grapples with human suffering. Perhaps because of this aim, it became the spiritual foundation of most ordinary people, while Confucianism became the ideology of intellectuals and state officials. When Buddhism integrated with Taoist and folk beliefs, it became "folk Buddhism."

The concept of fate, although not unique to Vietnamese, is very important to their view of life. Legends about national heroes and great personalities are full of incidents related to prophecies, geomancy, physiognomy, and astrology. Popular versions of the lunar calendar give advice on what can be done and avoided on each day of the year. Some dates are considered unlucky for everyone, and others only for an individual. The individual’s horoscope can be determined according to his or her birth date. At New Year, some Vietnamese have their fortune read and other will open the famous national literary work, the Kim Van Kieu as a divinatory work. After prayers to the favorite god or the ancestors, one opens the book and puts a finger at random on the page (on the left side for men and the right side for women). The verse to which the finger points constitutes an answer.

As scientific thinking has transformed the present Vietnam, mystical beliefs and practices are vanishing, while religious origins of customs have given way to the secular social customs, the sense of warmth and wonder has persisted.

New Year celebrations combine religious beliefs, pagan agarian rites, secular and the social customs. The Vietnamese do not think of Tet as a mainly religious holiday.