Welcome to Chinese New Year 2022. It’s been a whole year since our last CNY special article, yet I personally feel as though I’ve aged about a decade.
2021 was the year of the Metal Ox. A year of great troubles and challenges, yet also one which rewarded those who were able to work hard and persevere through it all.
Now, however, we are entering the year of the Water Tiger. This promises a whole new set of difficulties… as well as opportunities to rise higher than ever before.
The Origins of the Chinese Zodiac
To understand why the Chinese zodiac is the way it is, we need to look back to its roots. The traditional zodiac that we all know today dates back to the Qin Dynasty — around 2,000 year ago.
According to legend, the Jade Emperor challenged all the animals in the kingdom to an event called the “Great Race”, promising to reward whoever arrived at his palace first.
As you might expect, the whole story is rather long (though still rather interesting for anyone who’s interested in old myths). In the end, the top three winners were the Rat, the Ox and of course, the Tiger.
It is said that while the Tiger was fierce and confident, the Ox’s quiet, nose-to-the-grindstone attitude eventually left him in the dust. The Rat, however, managed to get ahead of them both through a trick, securing first place in both the race and the zodiac.
So What Does This Mean For The Tiger?
While the Rat is “cunning” and the Ox is “hardworking”, the Tiger is “brave”.
As a zodiac sign, the Tiger is a symbol of courage and strength. Those who are born during the year of the Tiger are said to be competitive, independent, ambitious and generous.
Aside from that, 2022 is also a year associated with the element of Water.
Water years are linked to strong emotions, while Water Tigers in particular are believed to be very family oriented and have good interpersonal relationships — though they may be brash and ambitious, they always aim to do what is best for everyone and not just themselves.
What Challenges Can We Expect in the Year of the Tiger?
2020 (the year of the Rat) was about survival in the face of an unpredictable situation, while 2021 (the year of the Ox) was about gritting our teeth and working hard to rebuild a new normal.
2022 however, is the year of the Tiger and that means that this will be a year of big changes. This will be the time for taking risks and going on adventures. After enduring all the chaos and exhaustion of the past few years, people are finally starting to pick themselves up and get fired up once again.
As a creature associated with the Yang element, Tigers want to do things their own way and hate being told what to do. For better or worse, don’t expect this year to be as boring or stable as before. Things are going to be changing rapidly now, with possible disruptions in career, romance and even home life. While some of us will flourish under these new circumstances, it will be all to easy to crash and burn if you cannot keep up.
To sum it up, 2022 will be a year of great passion and change. It’s time to go big or go home, so to speak.
So What Does That Mean For You?
Although these general themes may affect us all, each of us will experience our own unique twists based on our animal signs. Here is a quick summary for what each zodiac member can expect from the year ahead:
Rat
Born in the Year: 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020
Lucky Number: 7，8，9，0
Lucky Colour: Black, Blue, Grey, White, Silver, Golden
This year will bring you many potential opportunities, especially in terms of wealth and career. However, although your cleverness will be useful, you must remember to remain patient and humble. If you allow success to get to your head, you might end up losing more than you expect.
Ox
Born in the Year: 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021
Lucky Number: 3, 4, 5, 6
Lucky Colour: Red, Purple, Yellow, Brown
For the Ox, this is the time to be focusing on your personal relationships. 2022 will be a good year to form new connections as well as strengthen old ones. However, while it’s good to meet new people, you must also be careful to avoid getting involved with any bad apples. Remember: you don’t have to stick with someone whose negativity is dragging you down.
Tiger
Born in the Year: 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010
Lucky Number: 1, 2, 9, 0
Lucky Colour: Black, Blue, Grey, Green
This is YOUR year, so you should be prepared to take your moment in the spotlight. In other words, you need to avoid distractions. Focus on achieving your goals first, but be sure to spend some time with your loved ones as well. No man is an island, after all.
Rabbit
Born in the Year: 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011
Lucky Number: 1, 2, 9, 0
Lucky Colour: Black, Blue, Grey, Green
After the challenges that you’ve faced in 2021, this year should be a breath of fresh air. As long as you remain focused on your goals, you will find the help you need in both your career and love life. However, don’t forget to take care of your health — it’s going to be the main weak spot for you this year.
Dragon
Born in the Year: 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012
Lucky Number: 3, 4, 5, 6
Lucky Colour: Red, Purple, Yellow, Brown
This year may be a rather turbulent one for you. Though your money and career remains stable, the same cannot be said for your love life. Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed by everything that’s happening. It is important to take some time to self-reflect and consider your next step before moving forward.
Snake
Born in the Year: 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013
Lucky Number: 1, 2, 3, 4
Lucky Colour: Green, Red, Purple
For you, 2022 will be a chance to showcase your talents. This will be an inspiring year, and as long as you maintain the right mindsight you will be able to find wealth and opportunity aplenty. Unfortunately, love may not be on the cards for you this year. Be sure not to neglect those closest to you or else you may find yourself losing more than you might expect.
Horse
Born in the Year: 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014
Lucky Number: 1, 2, 3, 4
Lucky Colour: Green, Red, Purple
In terms of wealth, this is your lucky year. In terms of health, however, it’s the other way around. Be sure to take care of yourself — not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. Although you may find yourself flourishing in terms of career, try to find a good work-life balance to avoid overworking yourself. Cherish the moment, for your hard work and efforts are finally about to pay off.
Goat
Born in the Year: 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015
Lucky Number: 3, 4, 5, 6
Lucky Colour: Red, Purple, Yellow, Brown
You will find strong growth in terms of wealth this year, but only if you’re willing to work for it. Avoid wasting money unnecessarily, but if you can put in the effort you will surely be able to reach your goals. This will also be a good year in terms of relationships. Now might be the best time if you’re interested in tying the knot.
Monkey
Born in the Year: 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016
Lucky Number: 5, 6, 7, 8
Lucky Colour: Yellow, Brown, White, Silver, Golden
This year will be a challenge for you in many ways. In terms of wealth, now is a good time for careful expansion or growth. On the other hand, your health and relationships may not be at their best this year. Although there are plenty of obstacles in your path, as long as you play to your strengths you may still be able to find great fortune this year.
Rooster
Born in the Year: 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017
Lucky Number: 5, 6, 7, 8
Lucky Colour: Yellow, Brown, White, Silver, Golden
For the Rooster, now is the time when it all starts coming together. In terms of both wealth and career, there will be plenty of opportunities coming your way. However, all the opportunities in the world won’t help unless you are brave enough to take that first step. Relationship-wise, patience and honest communication are going to be key this year.
Dog
Born in the Year: 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018
Lucky Number: 3, 4, 5, 6
Lucky Colour: Red, Purple, Yellow, Brown
You are going to be a bit of underdog this year (pun intended). Don’t be afraid to flex those creative muscles, but be sure to watch your spending. Health-wise, you are going to be relatively fragile this year. But on the plus side, this may be the time for your love life to bloom brighter than ever.
Pig
Born in the Year: 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019
Lucky Number: 7, 8, 9, 0
Lucky Colour: Black, Blue, Grey, White, Silver, Golden
Now might be a good time to learn moderation, both in terms of spending money as well as taking care of your health. Your career has a good chance of getting boosted this year, but be wary of opportunities that might seem too good to be true. Relationship-wise, this is the year to make lots of happy memories for you to cherish later in life.
Are You Ready to Face 2022?
Whether you believe in them or not, in the end these horoscopes can only give you a general guide for what lies ahead. However, in the end the core lesson remains the same. 2022 may be a year of opportunities, but only those who have the courage to step forward and seize them will be able to enjoy their rewards.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Chinese zodiac and the various elements and factors behind it, be sure to check out:
Year of the Metal Ox: What Does 2021 Have in Store for Your Zodiac?
