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Sixth Article
It explains that the year turns according to twelve animals (signs of the zodiac) and changes, resembling one of them each year, thereby causing effects on the earth.
O esteemed one! It is known that Indian philosophers have, through experience, proven that the year turns according to twelve animals (signs of the zodiac). Each year, they are imbued with the character of one of these signs, and, by command of the Sublime Essence, spread and exert their influence upon the people of the world. The people of Turkistan generally give credence to this and adhere to what is said about it. Therefore, they have named the time’s rulings “The Year of Turkestan.”
Now, it has become appropriate to write our rhymed verse explaining the time's rulings.
Rhyme:
1- The name of God is the beginning of good deeds;
He who remembers God at all times is a saint.
2- Praise be to God, and prayers and blessings,
The pride of both worlds, and his family eternally.
3- After the name of God, praise, and prayers,
The Year of Turkestan is eighty-three verses.
4- I say, “I have composed ‘The Year of Turkestan’,”
To its proportion and ruling, I have alluded in symbolism.
5- All the rulings of the Year of the Turks
Are known by those who follow the doctrine of the wise men.
6- I cannot accept the saying of the wise men as belief,
Nor can I completely deny it as utter falsehood. [91/b]
7- Most have become aware of circumstances;
They have found them through reason and experience.
8- The Year of the Turks whose cycle is eternal,
Is established with twelve beasts.
9- Each year a beast’s character flows,
Continuously affecting all people of time.
10- It is the mouse, then the ox, the tiger, and the leopard;
Then the rabbit, the viper, and the monkey.
11- When it becomes 1265, this year,
In 1563 will be the Rûmî year.
12- In the month of Azar there are sixty-four days;
There is an intercalation of thirty-three years.
13- If Azar were to coincide with Muharram,
Then designate that as one year of the Hijra.
14- If you wish to know what year you are in,
Find its proportion according to which beastly form it is.
15- Look at this date of the Hijra for that year,
Take from the Rûmî years that have occurred.
16- Calculate these three years with joy,
Then subtract twelve each time.
17- Whatever year remains, begin with the mouse;
Grant one year to each.
18- Whichever beast is last, it is then,
Is the ruler of that year.
19- The year has four months in its beginning and three in its end;
Count four months for the middle.
20- The year is with the solar year; its condition is thus:
The beginning of Aries is the beginning of the year.
21- If someone finds the year of their birth,
Their character, temperament, and circumstances are known.
22- When the Year of the Mouse arrives, there is pleasure;
In the middle of the year, there will be much rain.
23- At the end of the year, sedition awakens;
Wars occur, and many a tribe is dyed [in blood].
24- It is also cold and long winter;
Mice commit theft and plunder.
25- If one is born at the beginning of the year,
He will be more beautiful in character and appearance.
26- If a child is born in the middle of the year, they say he is a liar with a bad disposition.
27- If born at the end of the year, he will be ill-tempered;
He will be envious and scheming.
28- When the year of illness arrives,
Much black bile and lamentation occurs.
29- Kings become sorrowful from sedition;
The four-footed kind are destroyed.
30- Winter becomes short and very cold;
Fruits perish from the cold.
31- If a girl or boy is born in that year,
Others will be preoccupied with their affairs.
32- Those born in the middle of the year become full of light;
They are beautiful-faced and joyful.
33- Those born at the end of the year become attached;
Their hearts are sorrowful, and their bodies sick.
34- When the Year of the Tiger arrives with affliction,
Hatred and anger fall upon the people.
35- Broken covenants occur among men;
All fear and trepidation descend.
36- Disagreement among kings occurs at that time;
The beastly nature increases in that moment.
37- An earthquake occurs in some deserts;
A disaster befalls ships in the sea.
38- Winter is short and very cold;
Rivers overflow with water. [92/a]
39- Those born at the beginning of that year are foolish,
And ill-featured, and do evil deeds.
40- Those born in the middle become gentle and kind;
Those born at the end are ill-tempered and shameless.
41- When the Year of the Rabbit becomes expansive,
There will be much fruit and every blessing.
42- Peace prevails throughout the earth and time;
People find safety and security with health.
43- The winter is pleasant, the spring is springtime,
The summer is a beautiful and delightful season.
44- If one is born in that year, they will have wealth;
They are ill-tempered but faithful.
45- Those born in the middle of the year are kind;
Those born at the end are wild.
46- When the Year of the Fish arrives abundantly,
Wars and sedition awaken.
47- Wheat and barley will be plentiful and cheap;
Much snow and ice will fall.
48- Winter becomes extremely long and cold;
It damages the trees.
49- Those born at the beginning of that year are compelled [to hardship];
They are foolish, ill-featured, and do evil deeds.
50- Those born in the middle become gentle and kind;
Those born at the end are ill-tempered and shameless.
51- When the Year of the Serpent arrives with price and expensiveness,
The cost of every food will be high.
52- Winter becomes extremely mild and short;
Sorrow occurs in every heart because of barrenness.
53- Those born in that year become silent;
Their words are knowledgeable, and their deeds pleasant.
54- Those born in the middle of the year become ugly;
Those born at the end become ill-shaped and do evil deeds.
55- When the Year of the Horse arrives with manliness and reason,
War, strife, and sedition will appear.
56- Summer is pleasant, and much pure gall and plunder occurs;
The four-footed kind reach destruction and ruin.
57- Winter becomes very mild and long;
A disaster befalls the genus of fruit.
58- Those born at the beginning of the year will endure hardship;
They become full of love and wisdom.
59- Those born in the middle are good workers with a pleasant disposition;
Those born at the end are sorrowful, ill-tempered, and slanderous.
60- When the Year of Gain arrives with sorrow,
Ships will be destroyed in the sea.
61- War finds peace quickly;
Many people strive for good deeds and generosity.
62- Winter becomes real and long;
Those born in that year are beneficial.
63- Those born in the middle of the year are carefree;
Those born at the end become muddy and ruined.
64- When the Year of the Monkey arrives, it is unlucky;
Many cutters and the toothless will be found.
65- Much injustice occurs to the people that year;
Disease and fever find them.
66- Winter becomes extremely short and cold;
The few eat with their teeth.
67- Those born in that year have an ugly face;
But they are joyful and pleasant.
68- Those born in the middle of the year become envious;
Those born at the end are without lineage.
69- When the Year of the Bird arrives, there is no disease;
Gall and fruits abound.
70- Winter becomes very mild and long;
A disaster befalls pregnant women.
71- Those born in that year have beauty and grace;
Their fortune is meager and unfortunate.
72- Those born in the middle of the year are honored by others, their enemies;
Those born at the end love guests.
73- When the Year of the Dog arrives with gain and bread,
It becomes precious and its price high.
75-Much occurs, and death and slaughter of humankind,
And also the wicked, the base, and devils.
76-Winter is light, and fruits are cheap,
In winter there is safety and security, day and night.
77-If a girl or boy is born in that year,
They will be ill-spoken, covetous, and gluttonous.
78-Born in its middle, they quarrel,
At the end, they practice contentment and fidelity.
79-When the year of dominion arrives, sickness occurs,
The emir and notables of the city are afflicted.
80-Kings disagree among themselves,
Strife and warfare increase.
81-Much wheat and barley become scarce,
A calamity hastens to the earth.
82-The people migrate from place to place,
And the populace is displaced and scattered.
83-Much of the wicked and plunderers occur,
Winter will be mild and long at that time.
84-If a child is born in that year,
They will be quick-tongued and well-pleasing.
85-Born in its middle, they are deceitful,
At the end, they become gentle and desirous.
86-Then comes the year of the mouse, the revolution of time,
It completes its course with this arrangement.
87-If you have understood the people, O Truth,
Annul all else and find God.
1-This year's winter will pass mild and short. A blight will fall upon the fruits, like a calamity.
2-Those born at the beginning of the year will suffer hardship. They lack love, and their words are without wisdom.
3-The middle of the year is beautiful; its nature is pleasing. At its end, the work and word of fate are harsh; its water cannot be drunk.
4-When the year of the sheep arrives, sorrows increase. Destruction prevails in the seas; ships sink.
5-If war breaks out that year, it will quickly turn to peace. Many people will work for good and reconciliation.
6-The winter passes mild and short. Those born at the beginning of the year are the best of society.
7-Those born in its middle are comfortable and peaceful. Those born at its end are bad, dull, and troubled.
8-The year of the monkey is an unlucky year. In that year, thieves and pickpockets will increase.
9-People will suffer much hardship that year. Disease will be seen frequently; among horses and camels.
10-The winter passes very short but intensely. Though grapes are scarce, those who chew their cud [550] are blessed.
11-The appearance of those born at the beginning of the year is ugly. They are happy, have beautiful character, and are peaceful.
12-Those born in its middle are envious and jealous. For those born at its end, life is abundance and bliss.
13-When the year of the bird arrives, diseases vanish. In that year, grain and fruits will be abundant.
14-The winter passes short and mild. It reaches pregnant women; it is a calamity in many places.
15-The face of nature at the beginning of the year is beautiful; its structure is good. Alas, his fortune is meager, he is poor and destitute.
16-Those born in its middle cause distress; people are hostile to them. Those born at its end are generous and hospitable.
17-When the year of the dog arrives, grain and food become valuable and expensive.
18-Many deaths occur; murders increase. Theft, deceit, and devilry cover the land.
19-The winter passes lightly; fruits are plentiful and cheap. The season passes safely; no one is troubled.
20-If born at the beginning of the year, whether male or female, they will be ill-tempered, ambitious, and gluttonous.
21-Those born in its middle are quarrelsome with everyone. Those born at its end are content and faithful.
22-When the year of the rooster arrives, rulers become sick. This condition leaves the people in mourning.
23-Disputes increase among rulers. In this year, wars will be many.
24-Wheat is blessed, barley insufficient. A calamity comes to the rye; people remain helpless.
25-Thus they migrate from place to place. Society suddenly becomes confused, fleeing right and left.
26-Theft and plunder spread everywhere. The winter of this year is considered mild and short.
27-Male children born at the beginning of the year are quick-witted and self-satisfied.
28-Those born in the middle of the year are liars. Those born at its end are harmonious, desirous, and constructive.
29-In the year of the mouse, time recurs. Thus, revolutions turn according to this arrangement.
30-When you have understood the created beings, O Truth! Disregard that which is other than God, and find God.
Now, here, I will suffice with explaining these matters pertaining to ancient astronomy to this extent, and cities have been depicted on the surface of the sphere with circles drawn according to their latitudes and longitudes. As in all things, only Allah knows the truth of the matter and the most correct state of affairs. We praise Allah, who possesses power and creates with wisdom. His glory is exalted [546].
[547] This number was mistakenly recorded as three hundred in the manuscript.
[548] Arpa boyu: A measurement unit where one grain is standing and the other lying down.
[549] Remmâl: One who practices divination through dots and lines from the unseen, a form of fraud.
[550] Those who chew their cud: Sheep, goats, cattle, and camels that re-chew food they have eaten, which are also animals whose meat is consumed.
1-The name of Allah is the beginning of every good deed. Whoever mentions Allah in every moment is surely a friend [velī].
O beloved! It should be known that astronomers and geometers have drawn eighteen meridian circles (daire-i nısf-ı nehâr) on the surface of the earth, and eight latitude circles (daire-i arz) from the equator to the south and north. Assuming this to be so, they have divided each circle into three hundred sixty degrees in this manner. Thus, the longitudinal degrees are determined by the meridian circle, and the latitudinal circles parallel to the equator are established. The distance between these two circles is determined as ten degrees -by means of a multiplication account- with chess calculation. It has been deemed that the beginning of the climate latitude is the latitude of the city, from the equator in both directions. In this case, one of these lines is the northern latitude and the other is the southern latitude. The beginning longitude of the climate and the beginning longitude of the city are known as the line connecting the point where the Hâlidât Islands’ meridian circle intersects with the equator, to the point where the city's meridian circle intersects with the equator, starting from the equator. The latitude of the city is called the path between the zenith (head) point and the equator in the city's meridian circle. This latitude of the city has been found equal to the height of either pole of the world, north or south, and the depth of the opposite pole. With this method of determining latitudes and longitudes, the locations of cities and regions on the earth have been determined, their directions known, and their relative proximity and distance approximately known.
(The opening of the old measurement unit fersah is as follows): One fersah is three miles, each mile is three thousand zira’s, each zira‘ is thirty-two fingers, and each finger is six arpa boyu.
The fourth part is the region called Africa, situated between the west and south. It belongs to the fourth triplicity. The lands of this region—Egypt, Sudan, and West (Africa)—have been found as they are. This is because Mars and Venus share dominion over this triplicity. Women do not refrain from interfering in the affairs of their rulers. Men and women are mixed in most endeavors. Men wear women’s clothing. They are mostly diviners and fortune-tellers, having strayed from truth.
Ruminants: These include sheep, goats, cattle, and camels—animals that chew the food they eat a second time before digesting it, and which also consume meat.
This number was erroneously recorded as three hundred in the manuscript.
In the measure referred to as "an arpa's length," one grain is upright and the other is sideways.
Reml/Remil: A form of fraudulent divination using dots and lines. The person who practices this is called a remmal.
A *wali*: A friend, beloved, or devoted companion; in Sufism, it signifies a friend and servant of God.