The Yellow Emperor had intercourse with twelve hundred women, and thereby became immortal. Ordinary men have but one woman, and that is normally enough to kill them.
Records of the Bedchamber, Sui Dynasty

We have a fascination for Oriental cultures, having discovered over a number of years that they are tremendously rich and varied. Nearly all of them are influenced to some degree by Chinese culture and even where the religions of China have been put aside in favour of Indian influenced buddhism, Islam or Christianity, Chinese traditions and festivals are still widely observed. During the Chinese Lunar New Year (Tet in Viet Nam), most of Asia shuts down for a week or more.

The Chinese Lunar Calendar uses animal signs for dating the years within a 12-year cycle. They represent a cyclical concept of time, rather than the Western linear concept of time. The calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, and is constructed in a different fashion than the Western solar calendar, with the beginning of the year falling somewhere between late January and early February.

According to the Chinese Lunar Calendar, my birth sign is that of the Dog; my wife was born under the sign of the Dragon. Strangely enough being a Dragon lady is not at all ominous in Chinese culture, unlike in the West. However, girls born in the Year of the Tiger can often have great difficulty finding husbands.

People born in the Year of the Dog possess the best traits of human nature. They have a deep sense of loyalty, are honest, and inspire other people's confidence because they know how to keep secrets. But Dog People are somewhat selfish, terribly stubborn, and eccentric. They care little for wealth, yet somehow always seem to have money. They can be cold emotionally and sometimes distant at parties. They can find fault with many things and are noted for their sharp tongues. Dog people make good leaders. They are compatible with those born in the Years of the Horse, Tiger, and Rabbit, which is a bit of a blow really...

People born in the Year of the Dragon are healthy, energetic, excitable, short-tempered, and stubborn. They are also honest, sensitive, brave, and they inspire confidence and trust. Dragon People are the most eccentric of any in the eastern zodiac. They neither borrow money nor make flowery speeches, but they tend to be soft-hearted which sometimes gives others an advantage over them. They are compatible with Rats, Snakes, Monkeys, and Roosters, which says it all...