In a controversial move, Sanxing Transportation, based in Guangdong Province, China, has explicitly excluded individuals born under the Zodiac sign of the Dog from applying for a clerk position, citing superstition. The company’s job advertisement specifies a salary range of 3,000 to 4,000 yuan but notes that Dog zodiac sign holders need not apply.
This decision stems from deep-rooted beliefs in Chinese culture, where business practices often incorporate superstitions, including numerology, feng shui, and zodiac compatibility. Specifically, Sanxing Transportation addresses the astrological conflict between the Dragon and the Dog signs. The company’s head, a Dragon sign holder, believes that hiring someone from the Dog sign could bring misfortune, as historically, these signs are incompatible with Chinese astrology.
According to a South China Morning Post report and statements to Hubei Television on August 2, the firm justifies its hiring policy by highlighting the elemental conflict between water (Dragon) and fire (Dog), which allegedly leads to disagreements and potential misfortune for Dragons. The company is willing to consider less qualified candidates, provided they were not born in the Year of the Dog.
This adherence to zodiac-based discrimination has sparked a viral response on Chinese social media, reflecting ongoing tensions between traditional beliefs and modern employment practices. Superstitions suggest that while Dog individuals can be seen as vindictive by Dragons, solutions like hanging lucky charms could mitigate potential workplace disharmony—a blend of ancient beliefs with modern work environments.
