When did the year of the Dog 1958 begin? - briefly
The Year of the Dog in 1958 began on February 7th. This date marks the start of the Chinese New Year for that specific animal sign and year.
When did the year of the Dog 1958 begin? - in detail
The Year of the Dog in the Chinese zodiac is traditionally associated with the lunar calendar, which determines the start and end dates of each year. In 1958, according to the Gregorian calendar, the Year of the Dog began on February 7th and ended on January 26th, 1959. This discrepancy arises because the Chinese lunar calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, whereas the Gregorian calendar follows the Earth's revolution around the sun.
To provide a more detailed explanation, let's delve into the specifics of the lunisolar calendar used in China and other East Asian countries. The Chinese zodiac operates on a 12-year cycle, with each year corresponding to one of the 12 animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Each animal year is associated with one of five elements—metal, water, wood, fire, or earth—which rotates on a separate 5-year cycle. In 1958, the Dog was paired with the Earth element, making it the Year of the Earth Dog.
The lunar calendar year starts with the first new moon after the winter solstice, which usually falls between late January and mid-February in the Gregorian calendar. In 1958, the first new moon after the winter solstice occurred on February 7th. This date marked the beginning of the lunar Year of the Dog 1958.
It is important to note that the start and end dates of Chinese New Year can vary slightly each year due to the complexities of the lunisolar calendar. Therefore, while 1958 was officially the Year of the Dog according to the Chinese zodiac, its precise beginning in the Gregorian calendar was February 7th, 1958.