355 



assigned to the zodiacal constellations. Among 

 the Hindoos, for instance, we find, beside the 

 nacshatras, or lunar mansions, twelve laquenons 

 the names of which are the same as those of the 

 signs of the Greek and Egyptian zodiac. The 

 Chinese divide the ecliptic in three manners, 

 namely, into twenty-eight nacshatras, which they 

 call die or eal-che-po-sieou* ; into twelve tse, 

 which answer to our signs, but which bear 

 names, partly mystical, and partly borrowed 

 from the productions of the country, as great 

 splendor, profound void, head and tail of the 

 quail'Y ; and into twenty-four tsieki. The de- 

 nominations of these tsieki, or half-tse, relate to 

 the climate, and the variations of temperature^. 

 The Chinese have besides two other cycles of 

 twelve signs ; that of the tchi ; and that of the 

 animals, the names of which are identic with 

 those of the cycles of Thibet and Tartary ; seven 

 che answer to three tse, as six tsieki answer to 

 three tchi, and three celestial animals. The 

 cycle of these twelve Chinese animals, among 

 which we have found the ape, the tiger, the rat 

 (symbol of water), the dog, the bird, the serpent, 

 and the hare, of the Mexican calendar, gives the 



* Sonciet and Gaubil, vol. 3, p. 80. 

 t L. c, vol. 3, p. 98. 



% L, c. vol. 3, p. 94. Bailly, Astr. ind. p. 96. 

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