Mar. 15, Sunday: “Years of Living Dangerously: History of the Metal Rat”, an RASBJ Zoom discussion with James Nobles of Bizarre Beijing

WHAT: RASBJ members-only online discussion on why danger lurks in the current Year of the Metal Rat, or Geng Zi Nian in the Chinese zodiac.  RASBJ Council Member James Nobles, local expert on the strange and supernatural, will give a talk followed by Q&A.

WHEN: March 15, Sunday, 7-8pm China time

WHERE: This is an online members-only event; members have been emailed details on how to join the event (via Zoom). If you’d like to become an RASBJ member, please befriend on Wechat our Treasurer John Olbrich at johnobeijing, sending him your name, nationality, mobile number and email address plus subscription amount (RMB 300/year for those resident in China, RMB 200 for overseas residents, RMB RMB for students).

HOW MUCH: Free and available to RASBJ members worldwide

MORE ABOUT THE EVENT:

Unlike the western zodiac (which has 12 signs each year) the Chinese zodiac uses an individual sign (an animal) for the whole of each lunar year, in a 12-year cycle. It also assigns one of the 5 traditional elements (fire, water, earth, wood, metal) to each year, in rotation. We’re now in the Year of the Metal Rat, a combination which comes around just once every 60 years.  Our discussion will explore the tumultuous events that have erupted during this notorious year in Chinese history, its influence on other zodiacal signs, and its impact on current events. The talk does not endorse belief in the Chinese zodiac or other divinatory practices, but will provide historical perspective and entertainment.