Chinese Zodiac

The Chinese zodiac, also known as the “Shengxiao(生肖)”, is based on a twelve-year cycle, each year in that cycle related to an animal sign, including rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. 2019 is a year of the Pig, starting from February 5th 2019 and ending on January 24th 2020. Next year is a year of rat and 2021 is the year of ox. You can use the zodiac calculator to search for your Chinese zodiac animal sign.

Origin of Chinese Zodiac

The origin of the Chinese zodiac is related to animal worship. According to the Qin Jian unearthed in Shuihudi(Yunmeng) of Hubei province, and Fangmatan(tianshui) of Gansu province, a relatively complete zodiac system existed in the pre-Qin period. The earliest recorded  literature of 12 zodiac is Lun Heng(论衡) written by Wang Chong of the eastern Han dynasty. Ancient people observe that there are 12 full moons within one year. So, its origin is associated with astrology. Each animal sign is usually related with an earthly branch, so the animal years were called Zi Rat, Chou Ox, Yin Tiger, Mao Rabbit, Chen Dragon, Si Snake, Wu Horse, Wei Sheep, Shen Monkey, You Rooster, Xu Dog and Hai Pig.

Like so many ancient traditions, the origin stories of the Chinese zodiac vary. Some say that a Great Race was held to determine which animals would be placed in the zodiac for eternity, others say the Buddha (or Jade Emperor) called on all animals to help mankind and only 12 responded. The Great Race determined each animal’s position in the zodiac.

12 Zodiac Signs

Animal Sign Rat  Ox  Tiger
Year 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020  1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021  1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022
Animal Sign  Rabbit  Dragon  Snake
Year  1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023  1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025
Animal Sign Horse Goat Monkey
Year 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028
Animal Sign Rooster Dog Pig
Year 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031

The Nature of the Animals

 Animal  Nature Characteristics Personalities
 Rat  Water Inner self, art and beauty, it represents the season of winter. Communicate well, diplomatic and persuasive, flexible and adaptable.
 Ox  Earth Grow and development, nurturing environment. Supportive and loyal, not like rush in doing things, patient and steady.
 Tiger  Wood Represents spring, growth and plant life. Energetic, artistic, outgoing and progressive.
 Rabbit  Wood Represents spring, growth and plant life. Energetic, artistic, outgoing  and progressive.
 Dragon  Earth Grow and development, nurturing environment  Supportive and loyal, not like rush in doing things, patient and steady.
 Snake  Fire Fire, heat and represents the season of summer. Leaders, and to makes others to follow, not like rules.
 Horse  Fire Fire, heat and represents the season of summer. Leaders, and to make others to follow, not like rules.
 Goat  Earth Grow and development, nurturing environment. Supportive and loyal, not like rush in doing things, patient and steady.
 Monkey  Mental Strength, solidity and the ability, represents the season of autumn. Strong, dogmatic and resolute, good organizers, independent, serious but inflexibility.
 Rooster  Mental Strength, solidity and the ability, represents the season of autumn. Strong, dogmatic and resolute, good organizers, independent, serious but inflexibility.
 Dog  Earth Grow and development, nurturing environment. Supportive and loyal, not like rush in doing things, patient and steady.
 Pig  Water Inner self, art and beauty, it represents the season of winter. Communicate well, diplomatic and persuasive, flexible and adaptable.

Chinese Zodiac Compatibility

Chinese people associate each animal with certain characteristics. It’s believed that people born in a given year have the personality of that year’s animal. Some signs are perfect matches while some are less compatible or even born opponents.

Best Matches for 12 Signs:

Sign Best Matches Sign Best Matches
Rat Ox, Dragon, Rabbit Ox Rat, Monkey, Rooster
Tiger Dragon, Horse, Pig Rabbit Rat, Goat, Monkey, Dog, Pig
Dragon Rat, Tiger or Snake Snake Dragon, Rooster
Horse Goat, Tiger Goat Rabbit, Horse, Pig
Monkey Ox, Rabbit Rooster Ox, Snake
Dog Rabbit Pig Goat, Tiger, Rabbit

Ben Ming Nian (Zodiac Year of Birth)

Ben Ming Nian (Zodiac Year of Birth) is the animal year when a person was born. As the Chinese zodiac recurs every 12 years, the animal year will come around when you are 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, etc. According to ancient Chinese superstition, people in their own Ben Ming Nian may offend “Taisui”, also called the God of Age, so they will have bad luck during that year, such as such as sickness, economic loss, physical injuries and obstacles in career.

However, there are some effective ways to reduce the influence of misfortune. The most popular method is to wear red underwear, socks or belts, as red is believed to bring good luck. Some jewelry accessories may also help, such as pendants and bracelets with auspicious images.

Chinese Zodiac Hours

In ancient times, people divided the day into 12 2-hour period in order to tell time and designated an animal to represent each period according to each animal’s “special time” according to ancient
memory and common observation.

Zodiac Animal  Hours Description
Rat  Zi Shi(子时): 11pm-1am Rats forage most actively.
Ox  Chou Shi(丑时): 1am-3am Oxen chew the cud most comfortably.
Tiger  Yin Shi(寅时): 3am-5am Tigers hunt most ferociously.
Rabbit  Mao Shi(卯时): 5am-7am Rabbits pound the ground most fervently.
Dragon  Chen Shi(辰时): 7am-9am Dragons hover most thickly.
Snake  Si Shi(巳时): 9am-11am Snakes emerge most readily.
Horse  Wu Shi(午时): 11am-1pm Horses stand most impressively.
Goat  Wei Shi(未时): 1pm-3pm Goats eat and urinate most frequently.
Monkey  Shen Shi(申时): 3pm-5pm Monkeys play most vigorously.
Rooster  You Shi(酉时): 5pm-7pm Roosters return to their coops most routinely.
Dog  Xu Shi(戊时): 7pm-9pm Dogs guard most dutifully.
Pig  Hai Shi(亥时): 9pm-11pm Pigs snuffle most sweetly.

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