G Babn SaratcLandra Das — Tibetan Zodiac. ■ [Jan. 



age of individuals, is the cycle of twelve years, in wLicli each year is 

 denominated from a certain animal of the twelve signs in the following 

 order : 



To-lo (hare-year). 



Dnl-lo (serpent-year). 



Lug-lo (sheep- year). 



Chya-lo (cock year). 



Phag-lo- (pig-year) . 



Lang-lo-(ox-year). 

 These twelve signs, in combination with the twelve signs of the 

 zodiac, are also employed in reckoning the twelve months of the year. 

 Thas the new year of the Tibetans commences with the Tiger and is 

 called JSorda-tang-po. The common saying with the people is Horda- 

 tang-po Tag-gi-da, the first month of the year is Tiger's-month. 



Chyi-da-ra-wa (the Spring season). 

 First month Tag-gi-da- wa (tiger-month). 



Middle „ Yo-gi-da-wa (hare-month). 



Last „ Dug-ki-da-wa (dragon-month). 



Yar-ra-wa (Summer season). 

 4th month is Dul-ki-da-wa (serpent-month). 

 5th „ Ta-da-wa (horse-month). 



6th „ Lug-da-wa (sheep-month). 



Ton-ra-wa (Autumn Season). 

 7th „ Tel-da-wa (monkey-month). 



8th „ Chya-da-wa (cock-month). 



9th ,, Khyi-da-wa (dog-month), 



Gun-da-rawa (Winter season). 

 10th „ Phag-da-wa (i^ig-month). 



11th „ Chi-da-wa (mouse-month). 



12th „ Lang-da-wa (ox-nionth). 



These signs are also used in reckoning every two hours of the day 

 called " DH-c7J?oi" commencing from the dawn called " TJwrang." The 

 time between 3 to 5 A. M. is called the hours of the Tiger. 



The time of the hours of the break of day is called Nam lang 

 and that of Nivia shar, is called the hours of the hare which is really 

 the beginning of the day. The dawn consequently comes at the end of 

 these twelve divisions. They are as follows : 



1. Nam-lang, daybreak. 2. Nimashar, sun-rise. 



"Yo"-hare Dug, dragon. 



