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Pig

pig

猪年快乐 Zhūnián Kuàilè

Happy Year of the Pig! (2019)

February 5, 2019 is the beginning of 猪年 zhūnián, year of the pig (or boar). (The previous year was dog; the next, rat.)

People born in the year of the pig are said to be honest and friendly. Let's have more people like that in the world! This is the last (12th) year of a traditional 12-year cycle. The modern Chinese word for pig is zhū; the character 猪(or 豬) is composed of 犭(or 豕) and 者 zhě phonetic. Here is an interesting photograph of a modern usage of the ancient seal form of 猪 on a giant 鼓灯 drum lantern:

gudeng

Other years of the pig include: 2031, 2019, 2007, 1995, 1983, 1971, 1959, 1947, 1935, 1923, 1911.

See the whole 12-year cycle!