12-Animal Turkish Calendar
DerdaKse
In this calendar, each animal represents a year, and it is believed that each year is shaped by the characteristics of its respective animal. For example, the Year of the Monkey is believed to bring increased fun and trickery. The calendar progresses in cycles called Çağ, which consists of 12 x 5 = 60 years — approximately the average human lifespan. The 12-Animal Turkish Calendar begins with the accession of Mete Han to the throne in 209 BC.
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Александр П.
Can I get a link to a reliable source? The search only gives "Tengrian (Turkic-Mongolian) calendar". Which is a copy of the Chinese zodiac. And all sources are questionable.
DerdaKse
Александр П.
The 12-animal calendar has been used by many societies across Asia, primarily by the Chinese and Turkic-Mongolic peoples. With a simple online search, you can discover the differences between them. Nevertheless, I will outline some of the key distinctions for you below.
Origin and Cultural Context
Chinese Calendar:
The Chinese version has been in use since the 2nd millennium BCE. It is rooted in Chinese mythology, agricultural cycles, and Taoist astrology. The calendar operates on a 60-year cycle that combines animals with five elements (earth, water, fire, metal, and wood).
Turkic Calendar (12-Animal Turkic Calendar):
Developed independently of the Chinese system, this calendar was used by ancient Turkic societies in Central Asia. The earliest record goes back to the Orkhon Inscriptions (8th century). It was adopted by the Göktürks, Uighurs, and even some Mongol tribes. It is associated with the sky belief system known as Tengrism.
Animal Order and Symbolism
Both calendars feature 12 animals; however:
The order is not always identical.
Some animals differ—for example, the Chinese "dragon" may be replaced by a mythical creature such as a "lu" or a "lone wolf" in Turkic versions.
The animals in the Turkic calendar tend to reflect species observed more commonly in nature.
Purpose and Usage
Chinese Calendar:
Primarily used for astrological interpretations, fortune-telling, choosing auspicious dates (such as weddings), and other ceremonial purposes.
Turkic Calendar:
Mainly served practical functions such as designating years, maintaining state records, organizing military campaigns, tracking astronomical events, and managing migratory patterns. It was not traditionally used for horoscopic or fortune-related purposes, but rather to conceptualize time in a cyclical way.
Written Sources
The Chinese calendar is well-documented in numerous historical texts.
Key sources for the Turkic calendar include:
Dīwān Lughāt al-Turk by Mahmud al-Kashgari (11th century)
The Orkhon Inscriptions (8th century)
Uighur manuscripts and certain Tibetan and Chinese texts that reference Turkic practices