The Chinese Zodiac
The Ancients30 Tammi 2025

The Chinese Zodiac

The Year of the Snake is here! But how did a legendary tale of twelve animals shape Chinese astronomy and culture for over 3,000 years?


In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Professor John Steele from Brown University to dive into the origins of the Chinese Zodiac to mark the Chinese New Year. They uncover how this ancient zodiac, associated with 12 animals, ties into Chinese astronomy and philosophy. Professor Steele explains the intricate cycles of 12 earthly branches and 10 heavenly stems that form a 60-year pattern deeply embedded in Chinese culture. Discover the mythical origins, the influence of lunar calendars, and the evolution of this zodiac from the Shang dynasty to today.


Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan, the producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.


Theme music from Motion Array, all other music from Epidemic Sounds


The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.


Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.


You can take part in our listener survey here.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jaksot(605)

The Romans and India with William Dalrymple

The Romans and India with William Dalrymple

Ancient India was the single greatest trading partner of the Roman Empire. For centuries, Indian sailors navigated the Indian Ocean and Red Sea to bring goods, ideas and religious beliefs to the Greco...

5 Syys 202448min

Battle of Teutoburg Forest: The Roman Invasion

Battle of Teutoburg Forest: The Roman Invasion

Tristan Hughes travels to the site of the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, one of the most epic defeats of the Roman army when an alliance of Germanic peoples ambushed three Roman legions.Across two ep...

1 Syys 202441min

Petra: Ancient Wonder of the World

Petra: Ancient Wonder of the World

Despite being one of the most visited historic spots on the planet today, Petra was once a so-called ‘lost city,’ hidden from western eyes in a vast desert landscape for hundreds of years.What is the ...

29 Elo 202444min

The Sirens

The Sirens

The word 'Sirens' conjures up many images, possibly of beautiful mermaid-like creatures luring sailors to their watery deaths. These ancient Greek mythical creatures, linked to the Queen of the Underw...

25 Elo 202439min

Origins of Beer

Origins of Beer

It's one of the most popular alcoholic drinks in the world. But did you know that beer is also one of the world's oldest beverages, with a history that stretches back more than 10,000 years. Beer was ...

22 Elo 202444min

The First Cats

The First Cats

Cats! These much loved furry friends have brightened people’s lives for millenia. And it was the same in ancient times. They were pets. They were pest control against rats. They were even in some case...

18 Elo 202436min

The Parthenon: Wonder of Athens

The Parthenon: Wonder of Athens

It is the most famous monument of ancient Greece. Its remains standing tall above modern Athens today, more than 2,000 years old. The Parthenon. A temple, treasury, the residence of a powerful general...

15 Elo 202458min

Mycenae: Cradle of Bronze Age Greece

Mycenae: Cradle of Bronze Age Greece

Overlooking the Argolid Plain in the eastern Peloponnese, Mycenae was once the envy of the Mediterranean world. It rose to prominence in the late Bronze Age, centuries before the great Greek states of...

11 Elo 202452min

Suosittua kategoriassa Historia

olipa-kerran-otsikko
gogin-ja-janin-maailmanhistoria
mayday-fi
huijarit
rss-ikiuni
mystista
totuus-vai-salaliitto
tsunami
konginkangas
rouva-diktaattori
rss-kalmakabinetti
rss-sattuu-sita-suomessakin
rss-i-dont-like-mondays-2
sotaa-ja-historiaa-podi
rss-kirkon-ihmeellisimmat-tarinat
maailmanpuu
rss-iltanuotiolla
historiaa-suomeksi
historian-nurkkapoyta
tiedetta-ja-sirkushuveja-vanhojen-aikojen-podcast