Open Chord Charts - why are they rotated?

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I'm taking a beginning guitar class, and I'm wondering this:

Why are the open chord charts rotated 90 degrees from what would be the "natural map" of those frets? I'm finding them MUCH easier to read if I turn the paper sideways!

Example with D major:

X__X__O__________
|___|___|___|___|___|
|___|___|__ *___|__ *
|___|___|___|__ *___|
|___|___|___|___|___|
|___|___|___|___|___|
___________1__3__2
The chord, as indicated.


_______o___________2
__|___|___|_o|___|___|3
__|___|_o|___|___|___|1
O|___|___|___|___|___|
X|___|___|___|___|___|
X|___|___|___|___|___|
The "natural map" of your fingers on the fretboard.

Why do most books of guitar chords indicate it the former way?

It might be because of a font named FretQwik. After setting up the layout, each character represents the fret used in the next string, starting from the low E. If FretQwik or FretQwikC is in effect, "°À ¡ Á Á Á ¡ " will produce a diagram for an A major chord. Low E is unused, A & High E are open, and other three strings are on the 2nd fret.

At any rate, it's kind of an industry standard now. Once you learn the chords and can recognize the fingering diagrams (if you have to) it will be much easier.

Good luck!