Description: INCLUDESCharm and necklace chain in a black velvet jewelry bag. You can also choose just the charm alone, to use on your own cord or chain. SIZEThe charm is about .748" long x .276" across x .220" thick (19mm x 7mm x 5.6mm)The necklace chain is offered in your choice of length from 16" to 36" (40cm to 91cm) MATERIALSThe charm is an antiqued silver zinc alloy casting. The necklace chain is hypo-allergenic Stainless steel. ABOUTThe Rat or Mouse is the first of the repeating 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac, constituting part of the Chinese calendar system (with similar systems in use elsewhere). The Year of the Rat in standard Chinese is Chinese: pinyin: shunián. The rat is associated with the first branch of the Earthly Branch symbol (zi), which starts a repeating cycle of twelve years. The Chinese word shu refers to various small rodents (Muroidea), such as rats and mice. The term "zodiac" ultimately derives from an Ancient Greek term referring to a "circle of little animals". There are also a yearly month of the rat and a daily hour of the rat (Chinese double hour, midnight, 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.). Years of the rat are cyclically differentiated by correlation to the Heavenly Stems cycle, resulting in a repeating cycle of five years of the rat (over a sixty-year period), each rat year also being associated with one of the Chinese wu xing, also known as the "five elements", or "phases": the "Five Phases" being Fire (huo), Water (shui), Wood (mù), Metal (jin), and Earth (tu). In Chinese tradition, the first year was the equivalent of 2637 BCE (although others give other dates). The Prime Minister of the first emperor, Huangdi (also known as the Yellow Emperor), is said in this year to have worked out the sixty-year zodiacal cycle. Part of this achievement was the discovery and incorporation of the nineteen-year so-called Metonic cycle which correlates lunar and solar dates, as part of the system (using leap months). People born within these date ranges can be said to have been born in the "Year of the Rat", while bearing the following elemental sign: The following is a chart of the dates of the Gregorian calendar. Start date End date Heavenly branch11 February 1804 30 January 1805 Wood Rat23 January 1816 16 January 1817 Fire Rat14 February 1828 3 January 1829 Earth Rat2 February 1840 22 January 1841 Metal Rat20 February 1852 3 February 1853 Water Rat8 February 1864 26 January 1865 Wood Rat26 January 1876 12 February 1877 Fire Rat12 February 1888 30 January 1889 Earth Rat31 January 1900 18 February 1901 Metal Rat18 February 1912 5 February 1913 Water Rat5 February 1924 23 January 1925 Wood Rat24 January 1936 10 February 1937 Fire Rat10 February 1948 28 January 1949 Earth Rat28 January 1960 14 February 1961 Metal Rat15 February 1972 2 February 1973 Water Rat2 February 1984 19 February 1985 Wood Rat19 February 1996 6 February 1997 Fire Rat7 February 2008 25 January 2009 Earth Rat25 January 2020 11 February 2021 Metal Rat11 February 2032 30 January 2033 Water Rat30 January 2044 16 February 2045 Wood Rat15 February 2056 3 February 2057 Fire Rat3 February 2068 22 January 2069 Earth Rat22 January 2080 8 February 2081 Metal Rat7 February 2092 26 January 2093 Water Rat In traditional Chinese astrology as well as traditional Chinese astronomy the sky was mapped into various asterisms or what are sometimes referred to as Chinese constellations. This is actually more similar to the zodiac of Western astrology than is the 12-animal cycle. The stars along the plane of the ecliptic were divided into groups known as the Twenty-Eight Mansions. Because the moon during its monthly cycle could be observed to appear to move from one mansion (or "camp") into the next each night in turn, they are also known as Lunar Mansions. Traditionally, these mansions were divided into four groups of seven each, and associated with one of four spiritual entities. The rat is generally associated with the celestial region of the Mystical Warrior, or Xuánwu, and specifically with the mansion Xu , which in turn is associated with the direction North and the darkest part of the winter season, in the northern hemisphere. (Xu is more-or-less equivalent to Beta Aquarii, also known as Sadalsuud). In old Chinese tradition, the hours of a day-night period were divided into 12 double-hours, each corresponding to one of the twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac, with similar symbolic motif and astrological significance. The first of the twelve double hours encompasses midnight, at the middle of the double hour, corresponding with 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., with midnight being the midpoint of the first double-hour, which is the Hour of the Rat, or the hour zi . In popular culture, the zodiacal idea of year of the rat is associated with various beliefs about prognostications for the upcoming year, lucky numbers, lucky colors, auspicious romantic connections, similarities between persons born in those years, correlations between Chinese astrology and Western astrology and the like. Traditional Chinese astrology and horoscope has paid much more attention to the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches than to the zoology or symbolism of the 12 animals; rather the reference to the animals was more of a way of horology, keeping track of time. Nevertheless, modern times have shown an increased interest in the zodiacal animals, with a great deal of popular interest, in various places of the world. In any case, the rat has long been associated with keen and quick intelligence. Basic astrology elementsEarthly Branches of Birth Year: ZiThe Five Elements: WaterCardinal Point: North (N)Yin / Yang: YangLunar Month: EleventhSeason: WinterClosest Western Zodiac: SagittariusEarthly Branch Ruling Hours: 23:00 to 00:59Twelve Heavenly Generals: Sanskrit: Vikala (Hanzi: )Lucky Flowers: Lily of each and every speciesLucky Numbers: 2, 3, 6, 8; Avoid: 4, 5, 9Lucky Colors: gold, blue, green; Avoid: yellow, brown A popular modern story has it that the order of the animals in the twelve-year cycle was due to a competition between animal candidates, held by the ruler of Heaven, Earth, and Hell — the Jade Emperor. According to one version of this tale, the emperor's advisors selected twelve candidates from among the animal types, including the rat and the cat. The winner was to be selected based upon merit, as to personal appearance, lifestyle, and contributions to the world. Before the competition, the cat asked the rat for a wake up call in order to get to the show on time; however, the rat apprehensive of the competition, especially as to the cat's apparent beauty, did not wake the cat, who then overslept (and, ever afterwards, the embittered cat became a ratter and a mouser). The Jade Emperor mystified as to why there were only eleven candidate animals to show up inquired of his servants. These servants hastily acquired the first possible replacement animal which they encountered, (a pig). After the start of the competition, the rat achieved first place by performing on the flute while upon the back of the ox. Impressed, the Jade Emperor placed the rat at the beginning of the twelve-year cycle (and the ox second, for being so generous as to allow the rat to play the flute upon the ox's back). Then the other animals were placed in order according to the Jade Emperor's judgment. In popular culture, much attention is directed towards supposed similarities of personalities of persons born in the year of the rat. For example, Al Gore, Richard Simmons, William Shakespeare, T. S. Eliot, and George Washington, and more, are all presented as examples of some sort of theme based upon being born in the year of the rat. The zodiacal rat is known in other cultures besides China, in Asia and beyond. Generally, the rat/mouse is the first of a twelve-year animal cycle, although some of the other animals tend to vary. In Japan, the rat is known as nezumi, and is the first in a twelve-year zodiacal cycle of animals. The Year of the Rat and the years of the subsequent other zodiacal animals is celebrated during Chinese New Year, in many parts of the world, with the animal appropriate to each new year serving as an artistic motif for decorations. The Rat and other zodiacal animals are also a popular motif on Chinese lunar coins and other coin series minted by various countries and also on various internationally issued postage stamps.
Price: 12 USD
Location: Lubbock, Texas
End Time: 2023-11-30T11:46:24.000Z
Shipping Cost: 3.99 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money back or replacement (buyer's choice)
Return policy details:
Main Stone Creation: n/a
Color: Silver
Cut Grade: n/a
Main Stone Color: not applicable
Material: Metal
Metal: Mixed Metals
Item Length: Pick 16"-50" (40-127cm)
Gender: Any
Secondary Stone: not applicable
Necklace Length: Pick 16" to 50" inches (40cm to 92cm)
Main Stone: not applicable
Brand: Ann Claridge
Setting Style: n/a
Main Stone Treatment: n/a
Type: Necklace
Metal Purity: n/a
Main Stone Shape: n/a
Chain Style: Snake chain
Style: Vintage
Theme: Animals
Finish: Antique
Country of Origin: United States
Available Variations
Color: 18" - $16
Price: 16 USD
Available Quantity: 10
Quantity Sold: 2
Color: 20" - $17
Price: 17 USD
Available Quantity: 10
Quantity Sold: 1
Color: 22" - $18
Price: 18 USD
Available Quantity: 9
Quantity Sold: 0
Color: 24" - $19
Price: 19 USD
Available Quantity: 9
Quantity Sold: 0
Color: 26" - $20
Price: 20 USD
Available Quantity: 9
Quantity Sold: 0
Color: 28" - $21
Price: 21 USD
Available Quantity: 9
Quantity Sold: 0
Color: 30" - $22
Price: 22 USD
Available Quantity: 9
Quantity Sold: 0
Color: 36" - $25
Price: 25 USD
Available Quantity: 9
Quantity Sold: 0
Color: Charm only, No chain - $12
Price: 12 USD
Available Quantity: 14
Quantity Sold: 5
Color: 16" - $16
Price: 16 USD
Available Quantity: 9
Quantity Sold: 0