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The zodiac animal of China's coming Lunar New Year has caused much confusion in the English world, as its translation results in at least two candidates: sheep or goat.

The zodiac animal of China's coming Lunar New Year has caused much confusion in the English world, as its translation results in at least two candidates: sheep or goat.

Chinese folklorists say the animal symbol can be either a sheep or a goat but more likely goat, given the latter's popularity as a farm animal among Han Chinese.

The Chinese lunar calendar assigns an animal symbol to each year in every 12-year cycle. Yet the Chinese character for the eighth zodiac animal is "Yang", which can refer to either of the two ruminants when used without attributes.

Huang Yang, a prominent researcher on the role of sheep/goats in Chinese culture, says tracing the origin of the zodiacal Yang could be difficult, as the Chinese zodiac first appeared after the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC), when the Chinese people did not differentiate between sheep and goats in language or in sacrificial offering.

Both species have a long history of domestication in China and have appeared on oracle bone scripts and other artifacts since prehistoric times, according to Huang, who in 2012 challenged the saying that Chinese are "descendants of the dragon" by arguing that the earliest Chinese actually worshipped the meek ruminants.

"But if we judge from the fact that the Chinese zodiac is a Han tradition, Yang are more likely goats, which are more common livestock for the Han Chinese," he tells Xinhua in a phone interview.

Shaggy sheep are a common sight in north China's prairies and were domesticated by Chinese earlier than goats, but goats are more commonly raised in areas populated by Han Chinese, Huang says.

Images on China's zodiac stamps and papercuttings are often bearded goats. The replica of the Yang bronze statue that once formed part of a zodiac fountain in the looted Old Summer Palace also has a goat head.

Fang Binggui, a folklorist based in southeast China's Fuzhou City, says the image of the zodiac Yang is open to regional interpretation. "People depict the zodiac animal based on the most common Yang in their region. So it's often sheep in the north while goats in the south."

Few ordinary Chinese are troubled by the sheep/goat distinction.

"I've never thought about that question before. Do we have to tell them apart?" asks Chen Xufeng, an office clerk in Beijing.

"I've seen more goats in zodiac images, but I prefer to buy a sheep mascot, as sheep are more fluffy and lovely," he says.

However, the ambiguity has whipped up discussion in the West. A story run by the Associated Press said this year's animal "is subject to interpretation".

"We just had this discussion a few weeks ago. What exactly is it?" AP quoted a worker in Brooklyn Chinatown as saying. "It can be a ram, sheep or goat -- any ruminant mountain animal with horns."

In England, the Manchester Evening News also posed the question: "Later this month, we will enter the Chinese Year of the Ram. Or should that be sheep? Or even Goat?"

Other media outlets, including Bloomberg, have described the coming Lunar New Year as the Year of the Sheep, Goat or Ram.

Xiang Daohua, a teacher of Chinese language and culture at China Foreign Affairs University, believes cultural connotations should be taken into consideration in translation.

"The English word 'sheep' better fits the Yang image in traditional Chinese cultures, which is meek and even a bit weak," he says.

I believe there is a dark storm hovering up against us...

Maybe we can use the true meaning of CIVILITY...DIPLOMACY...AND YES TOLERANCE?

I too, am guilty with such brazen act. But nobody is perfect and let us atone ourselves and restore some peace on here shall we?

Have all a nice day/evening/morning from Manila to the Amazon? And all the (corners) PARTS of the world?

We are after all...connected..aren't we?????

Here are a few thoughts to help your week be a good one




This is a MUST for a HAPPY day/week



Ask yourself this question...



AND remember always to.....



May God Bless you all have a .......

WONDERFUL HAPPY WEEK!!!

Group hugs to all CS blogland members

Theres a "Speakers Corner" In England In Hyde Park
And theres One here Also
And Im Up On The podium and this is What I have To say

Why do We have to hear you say.."Why Am I Alone"?(How ta hell Do we Know!).........Or
Why did he/She leave me?(Youre asking The wrong Ones)(Were only human And Dont have The Crystal ball Thats needed To tell You)
Or
"Do You Think Ill Ever find my Soulmate?"(How ta hell Do we know??!)(Most of us are In The same boat as you Are)..
Or
(This is The best One)
"Ive been On here for a month now"
"And nobody has messaged Me yet"
"This Site Is no good"
"Is There something Wrong With Me?"
(And Then Someone Will Come on and Pander to The Poor Soul)
telling him/her To Just settle Down and give it Time
and Then you have to read all That mushy stuff Thats been Said to make The Poor Soul feel better
Is That All There is to talk about?!

Now ill get Down from The podium and let Someone Else get up There And say Their say
(Im Sure ill catch hell)
And as That Oldtime movie star said
"Frankly Dear".."I Dont give A Damn"

would you like to spend a week or two with on a beautiful tropical isle?

Don't be bashful!

Does any one remember this British Situation Comedy. I quoted it to one of our CS friends and he doesn't seem to understand that this was a funny show on British TV some years ago.

Please back me up here!

MINE IS.
SAGITTARIUS.
WRITE YOURS.

St Patrick’s Day is nearly upon us and on March 17, millions of people will be adorning themselves in green, orange and white and toasting with a pint of Guinness. But the annual holiday, honoring the patron saint of Ireland, isn’t just for Irishmen and women—it’s celebrated the world over.

As well as being a national holiday in Ireland and Northern Ireland, St Patrick’s Day pride has spilled over into other parts of the world including London, home to an annual party in Trafalgar Square, various cities in the U.S., Tokyo in Japan and Australia.

The revelry, of course, is all in the name of Saint Patrick, who was born in Britain but sold into slavery in Ireland as a child. He eventually escaped but after becoming deeply religious he decided to return to Ireland to spread the word of Christ. Legend has it Saint Patrick was responsible for making the shamrock synonymous with Ireland after using the three-leaf clover to demonstrate the Holy Trinity. He’s also been attributed with driving snakes out of Ireland.

What will you be doing on Saint Patrick's Day?

"Will You Look At That!".."Look Whats Coming Down The Streets Of Queens"(New York City Area)..(Just Walking Along ..Passing The Stores And Shops In The City)(And Totally Looking Out of Place)
Its A Cow!!
What Ta Hell Is A Cow Doing Walking Around In The City?

Seems This Cow Wasnt Very Happy As To What Was Going To Happen To Him(Maybe He Knew What Was Going To Happen?)
Anyway
He Escaped A Queens "Slaughter House"..And Wanted Nothing To Do With What These Humans Were About To Do With Him And His "Fellow Friends"

He Was Finally Caught By The Citys Police Department

But Mike Stura
Of The "Skylands Animal Sanctuary And Rescue" Stepped In And Asked The Owner Of The Cows To Let This Cow Have Sanctuary At His Sanctuary

Finally..The Owner Agreed
Mr Stura Picked Up The Cow
Named Him "Freddie"After The Lead Singer Of "Queen"

Because Of What "Freddie" Did...It Was His Luck That Some Humans (The Owner.. Mr Stura..And Probably Public Opinion)Realized That Poor Freddie Has Feelings And These People Couldnt Live With Themselves If They Sent Him Back To His Death

So..Being He Was given The Name "Freddie"(After The Lead Singer Of Queen
Its Only Fitting That I Give The Title of This Blog
The Song By Queen
"I Want To Break Free"
And "Freddie"?...You Certainly Did!!
"Long Live Freddie!!"

Here is a funny video...made me laugh...sometimes you just have to laugh...