The Chinese Boar - My commented version...

Our dear blogger friend Minge, while recently travelling about in the Empire of the Rising Sun, asked us whether or not we knew anything about the Chinese Zodiac. Of course, right after that conversation across three continents, everyone went googling for their respective animals, depending on the birth year. Here is what I obtained, with my personal comments added. Enjoy!


Boars are self-reliant, very sociable, dependable, and extremely determined.

– Oh yeah, you bet! We're beautiful people indeed!

Boars are peace lovers and don't hold grudges. They hate arguments, tense situations, and try to bring both sides together.

– And then we just get caught in the middle… That's our pay…

In life Boars make deep and long-lasting friendships.

– That's really the best of it all!

Boars enjoy social gatherings of all kinds, and look for parties to attend.

– Stay at home washing dishes?! No way! Let's party right now!

Boars must watch themselves so that their incessant pursuit of pleasure doesn't interfere with other aspects of their lives.

– Well… Some times we exceed ourselves a little bit. We're so hedonistic.

Boars belong to clubs and make terrific fund raisers. They have a real gift for charity and social work.

– That's really nothing, please don't mention it…

Boars always listen to problems. They won't mind getting involved and try to help.

– So much so that we tend to forget ours own…

Boars have big hearts. They are too innocent and naïf, honest and trustworthy. They have a hard time understanding the motives of those with fewer scruples.

– Sometimes so much goodness turns easily into imbecility…

Boars do not dazzle or shimmer. They possess the old-fashioned chivalry that grows on you until you totally depend on it.

– Yeah, we enjoy a lot keeping a seductive low profile…

It is so easy to trust Boars. They have a calm expression and a sincere manner.

– That's just the way we are! No more, no less.

Boars are blessed with endurance and work steadily at tasks with great patience until completion.

– Okay, but we're often led by our huge stubbornness.

Once Boars arrive at a decision nothing stops them. Of course, before they reach that decision they weigh all the pros and cons. They definitely want to avoid complications. Sometimes they ponder so long they miss the opportunity altogether. But never mind, because they always believe in miracles, and miracles always happen to them.

– Once we say no, there's just no way back… If miracles do happen to us it's a whole different matter.

Fortune favours Boars. They always find someone to help them without having to beg.

– If we truly believed that, we'd be long extinct…

In romance, if not careful, Boars may be taken advantage of.

– There's always a s.o.b. or a mf. ready to con us…

Boars trust everyone and believe everything they hear.

– You see?! We're really quite stupid!

Boars are unselfish and enjoy helping their friends.

– What wouldn't we do for a beloved friend?

Although Boars are gullible, they are actually quite intelligent and know how to take care of their own.

– Well, we have to, don't we?

If you hurt their feelings, Boars often carry the pain for years.

– Please, don't ever test us on that; you'd be sorry forever!

Boars have a hard time saying no to those of concern. Often they wish they had said no.

– … But it's so hard… We just like them so much, you know…

Boars will always be looking for ways to work off all their extra energy.

– … Until exhaustion or madness…

Boars work and play hard; even if they lose everything, they manage to bounce back.

– Yeah, we're definitely a bit crazy, but we manage to keep our heads on…

Their life path supplies them with all they need.

– Wishful thinking? We tend to avoid it, but…

The Chinese believe Boars own the Horn of Plenty.

– We wish, oh yes, we do wish so much they were actually right…


… And you, dear blogger friends, do you have any idea about the animal corresponding to your birth year? Tell us all about it!
(Minge will be home from Japan today, I think…)