Chinese Zodiac

Chinese zodiac derives from the similar concept in western astrology and means "circle of animals". It is a scheme and systematic plan of future action that relates each year to an animal and its reputed attributes according to a 12-year mathematical cycle and it remains popular in several East Asian countries including China, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, and Thailand.

The zodiac traditionally begins with the sign of the Rat. The following are the twelve zodiac signs (each with its associated Earthly Branch) in order and their characteristics.

  • Rat – 鼠 (子) (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Water)

  • Ox – 牛 (丑) (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Earth)

  • Tiger – 虎 (寅) (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Wood)

  • Rabbit – 兔 or 兎 (卯) (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Wood)

  • Dragon – 龍 / 龙 (辰) (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Earth)

  • Snake – 蛇 (巳) (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Fire)

  • Horse – 馬 / 马 (午) (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Fire)

  • Goat / Sheep – 羊 (未) (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Earth)

  • Monkey – 猴 (申) (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Metal)

  • Rooster – 雞 / 鸡 (酉) (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Metal)

  • Dog – 狗 / 犬 (戌) (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Earth)

  • Pig – 豬 / 猪 (亥) (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Water)


In Chinese astrology the animal signs assigned by year represent what others perceive you as being or how you present yourself. It is a common misconception that the animals assigned by year are the only signs and many western descriptions of Chinese astrology draw solely on this system. In fact, there are also animal signs assigned by month (called inner animals), by day (called true animals) and hours (called secret animals).

While a person might appear to be a Dragon because they were born in the year of the Dragon, they might also be a Snake internally, an Ox truly, and a Goat secretively.
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