The Pig is the twelfth of all zodiac animals. According to one myth, the Jade Emperor said the order would be decided by the order in which they arrived to his party. Pig was late because he overslept. Another story says that a wolf destroyed his house. He had to rebuild his home before he could set off. When he arrived, he was the last one and could only take twelfth place.
The Pig is also associated with the Earthly Branch (地支—dì zhī) hài (亥), and the hours 9–11 in the night. In terms of yin and yang (阴阳—yīn yáng), the Pig is yin. In Chinese culture, pigs are the symbol of wealth.
Their chubby faces and big ears are signs of fortune as well.
Pigs have a beautiful personality and are blessed with good fortune in life.
Recent years of the Pig are: 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019
Paired with the Celestial Stems (天干—Tiān gān), there is a 60-year calendrical cycle. Although hài is associated with earth, the years also cycle through the five elements of nature (五行—wǔ xíng).
See the table below for the full details of each year.
| YEAR |
CELESTIAL STEM |
EARTHLY BRANCH | ZODIAC | ELEMENT | YIN YANG |
| 1935 | yǐ | Hài | Pig | Wood | Yin |
| 1947 | ding | Hài | Pig | Fire | Yin |
| 1959 | jǐ | Hài | Pig | Earth | Yin |
| 1971 | xīn | Hài | Pig | Metal | Yin |
| 1983 | guǐ | Hài | Pig | Water | Yin |
| 1995 | yǐ | Hài | Pig | Wood | Yin |
| 2007 | ding | Hài | Pig | Fire | Yin |
| 2019 | jǐ | Hài | Pig | Earth | Yin |
| 2031 | xīn | Hài | Pig | Metal | Yin |
Personality and characteristics
Pigs might not stand out in a crowd. But they are very realistic. Others may be all talk and no action. Pigs are the opposite.
Though not wasteful spenders, they will let themselves enjoy life. They love entertainment and will occasionally treat themselves. They are a bit materialistic, but this is motivation for them to work hard. Being able to hold solid objects in their hands gives them security.
They are energetic and are always enthusiastic, even for boring jobs. If given the chance, they will take positions of power and status. They believe that only those people have the right to speak, and that’s what they want.
Men born in the Pig year are optimistic and gentle. They are very focused. Once they decide on a goal, they’ll put everything into it.
They are not the best with money. Though cool-headed, they are also gullible. They trust others easily and are often scammed. This can cause them to lose a fortune.
These men are also quiet. They love learning but don’t really know how to put their knowledge into words. They’re not conversationalists, but treat everyone warmly. This results in a large social circle. Whenever they run into difficulties, there are always people who stand up to help. Though people will lie to them, more will love them.
Women born in the Pig year are full of excitement. They attend social events whenever possible and treat everyone genuinely. Combined with their easygoing personality, they gain everyone’s trust.
However, they are sometimes over-friendly. In their excitement, they can forget to give others personal space.
They also have good fortune with wealth. As long as they keep at it, the efforts will not go to waste. Though they don’t start with an advantage, their hard work will keep money flowing in.
At home, they are highly organized. If the room is messy, they’d stay up the entire night to clean it up. These women love children too. Playing with children is one of the things that bring them the greatest joy.
Compatibility
Most compatible with Pig: Tiger, Rabbit, Goat
Pigs are the most compatible with Tigers. The brave Tiger gives Pigs the security they need.
The Rabbit will be attracted by the Pig’s intelligence and warmth. With the Goat, there are many common interests and topics.
Least compatible with Pig: Snake, Monkey
Pigs and Snakes have clashing personalities and are the least compatible. They have biases against each other and can’t compromise. It’s hard to get along with Monkeys as well. The relationship is full of tension.
Lucky things for Pigs
- Colors: yellow, gray, brown
- Numbers: 2, 5, 8
- Mineral: agate
- Directions of auspiciousness: southeast, east
- Directions of wealth: northeast
- Directions of love: north
Unlucky things
- Colors: blue, green
- Numbers: 1, 7, 9
Careers fit for Pigs
Pigs are gentle and rarely lose their temper. Even when they do, it’s never a dramatic commotion. They’ll always try to compromise and settle things quickly. Because their goal in life is for everyone to live in harmony, they are suitable for careers related to charity and fundraisers.
They are also very tolerant and understanding. If someone makes a mistake, they’ll try to help the person fix it. They are patient and want the best for everyone. This makes them great teachers and coaches.
If Pigs are interested in business, they should be braver. Take some risks in investments, but to an extent. After some small obstacles, the road to wealth would be smooth. Real estate is a good option for these Pigs.
Health and lifestyle
Pigs mostly have a great build and a resilient body. They are always spirited, as if they will never run out of energy. Their natural health is something Pigs are proud of.
But sometimes they can be overconfident and overlook some minor symptoms. If neglected for too long, even the smallest things can become grave.
In addition, Pigs lead very busy lives. Even if they don’t feel tired, they should still remember to take breaks. Seasonal changes have an effect on Pigs’ health too. They may be at risk for respiratory diseases. Unhealthy diets can lead to diabetes, high cholesterol and heart problems too.
Pigs are never one to give in to difficulties. This is a positive trait in the workplace, but might not be here. For good health, Pigs must learn to take small illnesses seriously and get regular checkups.
Horoscope
2019 2018
Pigs in the Year of the Pig (2019)
The year of one’s zodiac sign is their 本命年 (ben ming nian). It is traditionally the most unlucky year with trouble and danger lurking at every corner.
Similar to the previous year, Pigs may find luck in some areas of their life, but others will require hard work to avoid potential pitfalls. Pigs will most likely experience many emotional ups and downs, making them feel frustrated and sad at times.
This will not be a transitional year for Pigs, and it is best to try and “stick it out” in situations if at all possible. While that can be terribly frustrating, try to remember that a key element to utilizing your luck is timing. Next year will bear good fruit for Pigs, but the time isn’t right to harvest the fruits of your labor. Instead, familiarize yourself with possible oversights and improve upon them so you may take advantage of similar situations as they occur in the future. This is a key element in many Asian religions, that is to say, you may be stuck consulting the same problem over and over until you solve it.
In order to bring as much good luck as possible to your year, it’s a good idea to attend happy events such as weddings or family gatherings. It’s also not a bad idea to pray for safety at your favorite temples over the course of the year in order to shield yourself from bad luck. As always, try to avoid places with overly negative Qi such as hospitals and graveyards.
Career
Pigs’ 2019 horoscope reveals that changing careers may bring unforeseen consequences, and in most cases should be avoided. Instead, keep your nose to the grindstone and be wary of conflict. Pigs have a way of directly confronting their problems and at times this can impair their ability to see the deeper meaning of an issue. While Pigs can expect confrontation this year it will be best to face these problems with patience and practicality, two tools that are in Pigs “tool belt” but aren’t always utilized when they should be.
The fortune for Pigs this year is somewhat sardonic, as their sign brings luck to a bevy of other zodiac signs, but Pigs themselves are not overly fortunate this year. It’s not a good time to make investments or to try your hand at the casino. However, if Pigs can avoid these potentially large pitfalls, they will escape the year relatively unscathed and in great position for next year.
Luckiest Months: April 8th – July 20th
Unluckiest Months: September 12th – December 2nd
Education
The education forecast for Pigs, however, reveals some good fortune. For those seeking higher education, it seems the stars are aligned in your favor. The 2019 Pig horoscope shows that investing in education will position them to take better advantage of future opportunities.
There will be some potential problems that arise due to administrative disorder, but Pig’s inherent charm will help smooth things over quickly. Remember, “you will catch more flies with honey than you will with vinegar.” Your charm will also help win you favor with your professors, a small factor that certainly helps when they are grading exams.
Health
Health can be rated as a mediocre category for Pigs this year. While there are no major illnesses on your horizon, Pigs will have to pay attention to minor ailments to keep them from growing into something large.
If you feel ill, don’t delay in consulting a physician or healer, this is a major key to staying healthy this year. Other than this, maintain a consistent exercise regimen and a diet made up of healthy, unprocessed foods. Add more fruits and vegetables to your diet for an extra boost to your immunity.
It is important to note that your mental health this year may experience some complications. You expected this to be your year, and it may not be working out like you had intended. Don’t be afraid to share this frustration with others as your friends and family can be the key to getting through hard times. If it gets too difficult to bear, seek the help of a licensed professional such as a therapist.
Relationships
The love forecast for Pigs is also pretty unremarkable for 2019. It seems that while this is not the year for true romance, there will be plenty of enjoyable moments and new prospects during this year. However, it is important to be observant as these opportunities are meant to teach you a lesson about what is and isn’t important in a suitor.
Fortunately for Pigs, the lack of relationship drama means they can focus on making new friends and connections. Extending their network could have a significant impact on Pigs’ future, and in some respects be more rewarding than an intimate relationship. Remember not to be too quick to jump into a relationship as it may lead to more problems than it is worth, focus instead on enlarging your circle of friends.
For Pigs who are already in a committed relationship, it will be important to communicate your desires to your mate. A failure of communication usually denotes the imminent breakdown of other major relationship foundations. In order to prevent this from happening, actively listen to your partner and don’t be afraid to tell them how you feel as well, or you may find yourself harboring some resentment.
Lifestyle
Pigs are in for almost an unfair year it seems. This year is about favoring the characteristics of Pigs in order to succeed, but for Pigs, to whom this comes naturally, they will have a difficult year and must practice patience and discipline.
It is important to remember not to be short sighted. You could focus on this year and say it is unfair, or you could focus on the future and realize that this time is meant to set up opportunities for the long term and practice the elements that will make you successful in your future endeavors.
