Over the years of study, I know the important position of the wisdom of the ancient Chinese philosophy classic "Book of Changes" in Chinese culture.
"Book of Changes" teaches us that the position of the sun, moon and stars in the sky will affect the fate of human beings, and based on this basis, the year is divided into twelve zodiac signs, and each zodiac sign is also combined with gold, wood, water, fire, earth and five elements.
Written by: Joycelyn Chey
The past 2022 is the year of the tiger, and the five elements belong to water.
This year is the Year of the Rabbit, and the five elements also belong to water, but there is a big difference between the two "water".
The tiger is the king of beasts, symbolizing strength and majesty.
The water brought by the tiger in 2022 is the turbulent waves of the surging river.
The 2023 year of the rabbit will bring the opposite water.
Rabbit is the most docile, kind, happy and carefree animal, which symbolizes love for family, happiness in making friends, and open branches and leaves.
The water in the Year of the Rabbit is the spring rain that breeds crops, and the clear spring that springs up when the rain comes.
The twelve zodiac signs and each unit in the five elements are divided into yin and yang according to the principle of Taiji Shengliangyi.
Last year was Yang, full of vigor and drive.
And on January 22, the first day of the Lunar New Year, it turns from yang to yin.
"Yin" represents restraint, gentleness, and thinking.
This is destined to be very different this year from last year.
As the rhythm of the pace changes, so will last year's bang, although not everything will come to a standstill.
The White Rabbit is agile and smart, and can always respond quickly in critical moments.
There is a Chinese idiom: "The three caves of the cunning rabbit", which means that human beings, like the clever and clever white rabbits, must adapt to the environment and avoid crises.
The wisdom of the I Ching is widely accepted in East Asia (my Chinese friends often nod their heads when they find out that I was born in the year of the tiger, they know not to underestimate the tigress).
I believe Chinese families will choose to have a baby in the Year of the Rabbit because the Year of the Rabbit is good for fertility.
Chinese authorities will also be happy to see it happen, because they are concerned about the decline in the national birth rate.
The science of human cognition tells us that things that we weigh to have a higher chance of happening are often based on our beliefs, which in turn influence our behavior.
China today embraces scientific materialism, but traditional beliefs still prevail in China and influence Chinese behavior.
The revelation of the Book of Changes has influenced how Chinese people view their own destiny, as well as the destiny of others.
The same applies to the fate of nations and businesses, and many people believe in it.
A rich man I know in Hong Kong always consults a fortune teller and a feng shui master before making any investment decision, including whether his business should enter Australia.
Ordinary citizens will also follow the revelation of the Book of Changes to decide whether to buy or sell, whether to go out, or whether to start construction.
In mainland China and Hong Kong, the Year of the Tiger has included a prolonged lockdown resulting from a zero-coronavirus policy that constrains international relations, and Chinese President Xi Jinping (who was born in the Year of the Snake) consolidating his leadership.
The year of the tiger does not give us room to turn, but as the tiger comes and the rabbit comes, and the new year turns from yang to yin, this is the time to make a change.
Leaders on all sides are considering their strategic options, and people are hoping for peace, restrictions being lifted, and people wanting to get out and about.
We should take these astrologically based beliefs into account as Australia re-examines its relationship with China.
I'm not suggesting that we bring in an astrologer or Feng Shui master to our capital, Canberra, but our policy makers must understand how powerful these traditional beliefs are in our region.
My advice is: the same plan does not apply to the Year of the Rabbit.
The long ears of the white rabbit are used to receive messages early in order to seize the opportunity.
Beijing will respond more flexibly to changing situations, demographic and social changes, the new international strategic environment, the war in Ukraine, and the tense Sino-US relationship; Australia should also be as sensitive and astute as a white rabbit in handling our internal affairs and diplomacy, dealing with extreme weather and natural disasters, doing business well, and expanding our strategic alliances in the region.
Most importantly, both Australia and China should abandon the tiger-like approach to problem solving.
The author of this article, Joycelyn Chey, is a former Australian diplomat who once went to China as a diplomatic mission and served as the Australian Consul General in Hong Kong from 1992 to 1995.
She is currently a Visiting Professor at the University of Sydney and a Visiting Professor at the University of Western Sydney. She is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of International Affairs.
The original article was published on Pearls and Irritations, an Australian news commentary website. Hong Kong 01 was authorized to publish the Chinese version, and it was translated by Yang Zhigang, the columnist of "Conceited".
The article is only the opinion of the author and does not represent the position of Hong Kong 01.
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