The Chivalrous Pig

The last of the twelve astrological signs, the Pig or Boar is the symbol of completion. Their ambitions are not so much with their current career, but with the benefits that they reap at the end of their careers. The Pig personality looks forward to retirement.

Unlike the animal that Americans think of when they consider a Pig, the Chinese consider the Pig as one of the most pleasant and productive animals. They are home-lovers who put a lot of attention toward family matters. Pigs are models of sincerity, purity, tolerance, and honor.

Pigs simply want to do everything right, and have an unrelenting optimistic attitude.

Pigs are industrious in business as well as home life. They finish the projects that they begin, and do so with great enthusiasm. In business, they can become extremely successful and usually reap the financial benefits of such accomplishments.

Pigs get along well with almost everyone, and they typically have a large and varied collection of good friends. Like the Monkey, the Pig is intellectual-- a character with a great thirst for knowledge.

The Pig was such an integral part of the home in China that the Chinese character for "family" consists of the sign for a roof, under which is the character for a Pig.

Personality

When encountering the Boar, we sense his or her quiet sincerity and purity. The Boar is so honest that they feel guilty for the slightest error, and they are more indulgent and forgiving of others than they is of themselves. They are without artifice or pretense, and dislikes forcing themselves on others or being the center of attention. Chivalrous, gallant, obliging, scrupulous to a fault, the Boar is naive, innocent, confident, and defenseless. They allow themselves to be duped easily, accepts their own faults calmly, and those of others with tolerant understanding. They are incredibly sincere, almost to the point of doing themselves harm, and always disarmed by the bad faith of others. They lie rarely, and then only to defend themselves. Powerless against hypocrisy, they will often crucify themselves in an attempt to justify their actions. They are absolutely straight dealers and it's very rarely that they will accept a compromise. Ironically, though the Boar believes without question whatever anyone tells them, they are always finding it necessary to produce proof of what they themselves assert!

People born in the Year of the Boar have a taste for the good life. Possessing a strong sense of luxury, they can be extravagant and take great pleasure in pampering themselves and their loved ones; they delight in the stimulation of the senses. However, when they need to work they will get right to it. At these times a halfhearted attitude just won't do; where they're concerned, it's all or nothing.

The Boar is a splendid companion, so much fun, and game for a risqué evening. They don't say much, but when they do decide to speak, suddenly the barriers are down and nothing can stop them until the subject's exhausted.

Like the Monkey, the Boar is intellectual, a character with a great thirst for knowledge. They read a lot, but read anything that happens to be around. Although they appears to be well read, the Boar's knowledge is only superficial. Referring to this, a Japanese proverb says that the Boar is "wide of face but narrow in the back."

The Boar is sensitive, caring, and indulgent. Not only intelligent and cultured, the Boar also has a streak of bawdiness and earthiness. Their various indulgences can verge on gluttony. Unlike the conniving Machiavellian pigs of Animal Farm, Chinese Pigs tend to be helpless and insecure. During fat spells they suddenly lose all and are unable to defend themselves, much less attack others. Boars in general are lucky but lazy.

Boars can be very practical, logical and down to earth. They may at times be considered somewhat cool and reserved because, blessed as they are with composure and self-control, they don't usually allow emotion to cloud the issue. They are cheerful and love company and social life. They find it very easy to make friends and also seem to hang on to them for life. For them the Boar is capable of the greatest sacrifices. They are extremely considerate of the chosen few who do merit their affection. The women of this sign like nothing better than to make presents for people and organize parties; they are marvelous hostess.

Whatever their ambitions may be, whatever the tasks and goals they have set themselves, the Boar will do their duty with all the strength they are capable of, and that same strength can be an inner force to be reckoned with, a force that nothing can oppose. Once a Boar has come to a decision, nothing can stop them from carrying it out. But before they arrive at it, they spend ages weighing the pros and cons, which sometimes gives the impression that they are indecisive. Nothing could be further from the truth, but to make sure they are avoiding any possible complications, they will sometimes ponder for so long that they destroy their own case.

Untiring workers, Boars will succeed in their careers, especially if they are their own boss. Because they like to accumulate ancient objects and fine pictures, they might become art dealers, specializing in antiquities. Their aim is to live in relative affluence, both for themselves and their families, and to enjoy the pleasures of life. Materially, the Boar will always have all the necessities of life, regardless of their chosen career. Work and money in sufficient quantities seems to gravitate their way without their having to make any particular effort. People will help them all their life, and thanks to this help they will be able, if they wishes, to reach the highest heights in the financial world.

Popular superstition in the East says that people help them thus just to fatten them up so they will make a better meal over the New Year. Because of this, the Boar may be overwary and trust nobody. If the Boar's birthdate is a long time before the traditional feasts, they will escape a lot of the disappointments in store for them. However, the closer it is to the Asiatic New Year, the more they will be betrayed, ridiculed, duped, and perhaps in the long run, eaten!

Though generally tolerant and fairly placid people, when absolutely backed into a corner, Boars can turn vicious. When they find that their friendship and good nature have been seriously abused, they will give no quarter and that friendship will somewhat unceremoniously be cut short. Perhaps they can be accused of exhibitionism, of being flirtatious and even licentious at times, but there is no doubt that Boars in general are very good sorts -- honest, decent, generous, supportive, loyal to their friends, and thoroughly trustworthy.

The first phase of the Boar's life will be relatively calm. During the second, every conceivable conjugal problem will be visited upon them. But whatever their trouble, the Boar, discreet and shy, will never ask anybody else for help; they will try to get out of the mess by themselves. Their reticence in this respect may do them harm, for nobody will even suspect the torment they are going through.

The Passionate Boar

Above all else, Boars are sensual, self-indulgent creatures. They adore anything that smacks of physical pleasure, whether it is gorging themselves with sweetmeats or idling a whole day away with their newfound heart throbs between their satin sheets. Passionate by nature, some younger Boars could tend towards promiscuity while some of the older ones could well become bawdy and lascivious. Unfortunately for them, love seems somehow to befog many a Boar; when deeply smitten, their emotions become rather transparent and they can become putty in the hands of unscrupulous types who can induce them to behave quite out of character. They may often be deceived, often disappointed, often made a fool of ... and often loved. The female Pig makes a very good mother.

Relationships

Boars are loving and loyal to their mates, and caring and considerate towards those they love. In any close, intimate relationship it is friendship that the Boar will value most. Settled with the right partner, these generous, warm hearted individuals will enjoy happy and contented lives, developing their talents within that supportive framework and devoting themselves completely to their family and their loved ones. With their simplicity of soul and their sensual appreciation of nature, the Boar always seeks the authentic and the true in personal relationships.

The Boar would be well advised to share his or her life with those born under the sign of the Rabbit -- that's the surest way of avoiding arguments. They must keep out of the clutches of the Snake, who will make a complete slave out of the Boar in no time, enmeshing the Pig in their coils to the extent that the poor Boar loses all power of movement. The Ram will take advantage of them. Like the Rabbit, the Tiger and Rat are excellent partners for the Boar, but the Monkey is not honest enough for their taste.