Looking forward to the Year of the Pig
The 4705th Chinese New Year starts on Sunday – this year being the Year of the Pig, a zodiac animal traditionally viewed as luxuriating in excess. What exactly is the new year going to bring?
Chinese fortune tellers say it will be a good time to have a baby, but also warn there will be an upsurge in epidemics, disasters and violent conflicts across the world.
Pig years can be turbulent because they are dominated by fire and water – two of the five elements that Chinese mystics say are the basis of the universe, a Hong Kong feng shui master said.
Conflicting elements
Since fire and water are conflicting elements, they tend to whip up trouble, he said.
A Malaysian feng shui master agreed with him, warning for epidemics and health problems.
Predictions
One of the predictions for this year is that the North Korean communist nation will undergo a power struggle that will bring leadership changes around May.
Other predictions include the situation in Iraq will not settle, global economy continues to grow, a Japanese city will be struck by an earthquake, US president Bush will have a bad year and the next president of France will be a lady.
Growth
Whatever the future will bring, China is most likely to continue its growth.
At the treshold of this new year in the Chinese calendar, the Shanghai Stock Exchange saw a staggering 112% growth last year.
No wonder, Chinese investors are hoping the new Chinese year will be just as good.
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