Chinese zodiac


The Chinese zodiac is a classification scheme based on the lunar calendar that assigns an animal and its reputed attributes to each year in a repeating 12-year cycle. The 12-year cycle is an approximation to the 11.85-year orbital period of Jupiter. Originating from China, the zodiac and its variations remain popular in many Asian countries, such as Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand.
Identifying this scheme using the generic term "zodiac" reflects several superficial similarities to the Western zodiac: both have time cycles divided into 12 parts, each labels at least the majority of those parts with names of animals, and each is widely associated with a culture of ascribing a person's personality or events in their life to the supposed influence of the person's particular relationship to the cycle.
Nevertheless, there are major differences between the two: the animals of the Chinese zodiac are not associated with constellations spanned by the ecliptic plane. The Chinese 12-part cycle corresponds to years, rather than months. The Chinese zodiac is represented by 12 animals, whereas some of the signs in the Western zodiac are not animals, despite the implication of the etymology of the English word , which derives from wikt:la:zodiacus, the Latinized form of the Ancient Greek zōidiakòs kýklos, meaning "cycle or circle of little animals".

Signs

The zodiac traditionally begins with the sign of the Rat. The following are the twelve zodiac signs in order, each with its associated characteristics.
  1. Rat –, shǔ
  2. Ox –, niú
  3. Tiger –, hǔ
  4. Rabbit –, tù
  5. Dragon – /, lóng
  6. Snake –, shé
  7. Horse – /, mǎ
  8. Goat –, yáng
  9. Monkey –, hóu
  10. Rooster – /, jī
  11. Dog –, gǒu
  12. Pig – /, zhū
In Chinese astrology the animal signs assigned by year represent how others perceive you 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, by day and hours. The Earth is all 12 signs, 5 seasons.
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 secretly.
A conflict between a person's zodiac sign and how they live is known as Tai Sui or kai sui.

Chinese calendar

Years

Within the Four Pillars, the year is the pillar representing information about the person's family background and society or relationship with their grandparents. The person's age can also be easily deduced from the sign of the person, the current sign of the year and the person's perceived age. For example, a person who is a Tiger is either 12, 24, 36 or 48 years old in 2010, the year of the Tiger. In 2011, the year of the Rabbit, that person is one year older.
The following table shows the 60-year cycle matched up to the Gregorian calendar for the years 1924–2043. The sexagenary cycle begins at lichun about February 4 according to some astrological sources.
YearAssociated
element		Heavenly
stem		Earthly
branch		Associated
animal		Year
1924–1983Associated
element		Heavenly
stem		Earthly
branch		Associated
animal		1984–2043
1Feb 05 1924–Jan 23 1925Yang Wood甲子RatFeb 02 1984–Feb 19 1985
2Jan 24 1925–Feb 12 1926Yin Wood乙丑OxFeb 20 1985–Feb 08 1986
3Feb 13 1926–Feb 01 1927Yang Fire丙寅TigerFeb 09 1986–Jan 28 1987
4Feb 02 1927–Jan 22 1928Yin Fire丁卯RabbitJan 29 1987–Feb 16 1988
5Jan 23 1928–Feb 09 1929Yang Earth戊辰DragonFeb 17 1988–Feb 05 1989
6Feb 10 1929–Jan 29 1930Yin Earth己巳SnakeFeb 06 1989–Jan 26 1990
7Jan 30 1930–Feb 16 1931Yang Metal庚午HorseJan 27 1990–Feb 14 1991
8Feb 17 1931–Feb 05 1932Yin Metal辛未GoatFeb 15 1991–Feb 03 1992
9Feb 06 1932–Jan 25 1933Yang Water壬申MonkeyFeb 04 1992–Jan 22 1993
10Jan 26 1933–Feb 13 1934Yin Water癸酉RoosterJan 23 1993– Feb 09 1994
11Feb 14 1934–Feb 03 1935Yang Wood甲戌DogFeb 10 1994–Jan 30 1995
12Feb 04 1935–Jan 23 1936Yin Wood乙亥PigJan 31 1995–Feb 18 1996
13Jan 24 1936–Feb 10 1937Yang Fire丙子RatFeb 19 1996–Feb 06 1997
14Feb 11 1937–Jan 30 1938Yin Fire丁丑OxFeb 07 1997–Jan 27 1998
15Jan 31 1938–Feb 18 1939Yang Earth戊寅TigerJan 28 1998–Feb 15 1999
16Feb 19 1939–Feb 07 1940Yin Earth己卯RabbitFeb 16 1999–Feb 04 2000
17Feb 08 1940–Jan 26 1941Yang Metal庚辰DragonFeb 05 2000–Jan 23 2001
18Jan 27 1941–Feb 14 1942Yin Metal辛巳SnakeJan 24 2001–Feb 11 2002
19Feb 15 1942–Feb 04 1943Yang Water壬午HorseFeb 12 2002–Jan 31 2003
20Feb 05 1943–Jan 24 1944Yin Water癸未GoatFeb 01 2003–Jan 21 2004
21Jan 25 1944–Feb 12 1945Yang Wood甲申MonkeyJan 22 2004–Feb 08 2005
22Feb 13 1945–Feb 01 1946Yin Wood乙酉RoosterFeb 09 2005–Jan 28 2006
23Feb 02 1946–Jan 21 1947Yang Fire丙戌DogJan 29 2006–Feb 17 2007
24Jan 22 1947–Feb 09 1948Yin Fire丁亥PigFeb 18 2007–Feb 06 2008
25Feb 10 1948–Jan 28 1949Yang Earth戊子RatFeb 07 2008–Jan 25 2009
26Jan 29 1949–Feb 16 1950Yin Earth己丑OxJan 26 2009–Feb 13 2010
27Feb 17 1950–Feb 05 1951Yang Metal庚寅TigerFeb 14 2010–Feb 02 2011
28Feb 06 1951–Jan 26 1952Yin Metal辛卯RabbitFeb 03 2011–Jan 22 2012
29Jan 27 1952–Feb 13 1953Yang Water壬辰DragonJan 23 2012–Feb 09 2013
30Feb 14 1953–Feb 02 1954Yin Water癸巳SnakeFeb 10 2013–Jan 30 2014
31Feb 03 1954–Jan 23 1955Yang Wood甲午HorseJan 31 2014–Feb 18 2015
32Jan 24 1955–Feb 11 1956Yin Wood乙未GoatFeb 19 2015–Feb 07 2016
33Feb 12 1956–Jan 30 1957Yang Fire丙申MonkeyFeb 08 2016–Jan 27 2017
34Jan 31 1957–Feb 17 1958Yin Fire丁酉RoosterJan 28 2017–Feb 15 2018
35Feb 18 1958–Feb 07 1959Yang Earth戊戌DogFeb 16 2018–Feb 04 2019
36Feb 08 1959–Jan 27 1960Yin Earth己亥PigFeb 05 2019–Jan 24 2020
37Jan 28 1960–Feb 14 1961Yang Metal庚子RatJan 25 2020–Feb. 11 2021
38Feb 15 1961–Feb 04 1962Yin Metal辛丑OxFeb 12 2021–Jan 31 2022
39Feb 05 1962–Jan 24 1963Yang Water壬寅TigerFeb 01 2022–Jan 21 2023
40Jan 25 1963–Feb 12 1964Yin Water癸卯RabbitJan 22 2023–Feb 09 2024
41Feb 13 1964–Feb 01 1965Yang Wood甲辰DragonFeb 10 2024–Jan 28 2025
42Feb 02 1965–Jan 20 1966Yin Wood乙巳SnakeJan 29 2025–Feb 16 2026
43Jan 21 1966–Feb 08 1967Yang Fire丙午HorseFeb 17 2026–Feb 05 2027
44Feb 09 1967–Jan 29 1968Yin Fire丁未GoatFeb 06 2027–Jan 25 2028
45Jan 30 1968–Feb 16 1969Yang Earth戊申MonkeyJan 26 2028–Feb 12 2029
46Feb 17 1969–Feb 05 1970Yin Earth己酉RoosterFeb 13 2029–Feb 02 2030
47Feb 06 1970–Jan 26 1971Yang Metal庚戌DogFeb 03 2030–Jan 22 2031
48Jan 27 1971–Feb 14 1972Yin Metal辛亥PigJan 23 2031–Feb 10 2032
49Feb 15 1972–Feb 02 1973Yang Water壬子RatFeb 11 2032–Jan 30 2033
50Feb 03 1973–Jan 22 1974Yin Water癸丑OxJan 31 2033–Feb 18 2034
51Jan 23 1974–Feb 10 1975Yang Wood甲寅TigerFeb 19 2034–Feb 07 2035
52Feb 11 1975–Jan 30 1976Yin Wood乙卯RabbitFeb 08 2035–Jan 27 2036
53Jan 31 1976–Feb 17 1977Yang Fire丙辰DragonJan 28 2036–Feb 14 2037
54Feb 18 1977–Feb 06 1978Yin Fire丁巳SnakeFeb 15 2037–Feb 03 2038
55Feb 07 1978–Jan 27 1979Yang Earth戊午HorseFeb 04 2038–Jan 23 2039
56Jan 28 1979–Feb 15 1980Yin Earth己未GoatJan 24 2039–Feb 11 2040
57Feb 16 1980–Feb 04 1981Yang Metal庚申MonkeyFeb 12 2040–Jan 31 2041
58Feb 05 1981–Jan 24 1982Yin Metal辛酉RoosterFeb 01 2041–Jan 21 2042
59Jan 25 1982–Feb 12 1983Yang Water壬戌DogJan 22 2042–Feb 09 2043
60Feb 13 1983–Feb 01 1984Yin Water癸亥PigFeb 10 2043–Jan 29 2044

Months and solar terms

Within the Four Pillars, the month is the pillar representing information about the person's parents or childhood. Many Chinese astrologers consider the month pillar to be the most important one in determining the circumstances of one's adult life.
The 12 animals are also linked to the traditional Chinese agricultural calendar, which runs alongside the better known Lunar calendar. Instead of months, this calendar is divided into 24 two week segments known as Solar Terms. Each animal is linked to two of these solar terms for a period similar to the Western month. Unlike the 60 year Lunar calendar, which can vary by as much as a month in relation to the Gregorian calendar, the agricultural calendar varies by only one day, beginning on the Gregorian calendar on 3 or 4 February every year. Again unlike the cycle of the lunar years, which begins with the Rat, the agricultural calendar begins with the Tiger as it is the first animal of spring.
As each sign is linked to a month of the solar year, it is thereby also linked to a season. Each of the elements is also linked to a season, and the element that shares a season with a sign is known as that sign's fixed element. In other words, that element is believed to impart some of its characteristics to the sign concerned. The fixed element of each sign applies also to the year and hour signs, and not just the monthly sign. The fixed element is separate from the cycle of elements which interact with the signs in the 60-year cycle.
SeasonLunar monthFixed
element		Solar
longitude		Solar termGregorian dateApprox.
Western
zodiac
Spring1st – 寅 TigerWood314°立春 lìchūnFeb 4 – Feb 19Aquarius
Spring1st – 寅 TigerWood329°雨水 yǔshuǐFeb 20 – Mar 5Pisces
Spring2nd – 卯 RabbitWood344°啓蟄 qǐzhé Mar 6 – Mar 20Pisces
Spring2nd – 卯 RabbitWood359°春分 chūnfēnMar 21 – Apr 4Aries
Spring3rd – 辰 DragonEarth14°清明 qīngmíngApr 5 – Apr 20Aries
Spring3rd – 辰 DragonEarth29°穀雨 gǔyǔApr 21 – May 4Taurus
Summer4th – 巳 SnakeFire44°立夏 lìxiàMay 5 – May 21Taurus
Summer4th – 巳 SnakeFire59°小滿 xiǎomǎnMay 22 – Jun 5Gemini
Summer5th – 午 HorseFire74°芒種 mángzhòngJun 6 – Jun 21Gemini
Summer5th – 午 HorseFire89°夏至 xiàzhìJun 22 – Jul 6Cancer
Summer6th – 未 GoatEarth104°小暑 xiǎoshǔJul 7 – Jul 22Cancer
Summer6th – 未 GoatEarth119°大暑 dàshǔJul 23 – Aug 6Leo
Autumn7th – 申 MonkeyMetal134°立秋 lìqiūAug 7 – Aug 22Leo
Autumn7th – 申 MonkeyMetal149°處暑 chùshǔAug 23 – Sep 7Virgo
Autumn8th – 酉 RoosterMetal164°白露 báilùSep 8 – Sep 23Virgo
Autumn8th – 酉 RoosterMetal181°秋分 qiūfēnSep 24 – Oct 7Libra
Autumn9th – 戌 DogEarth194°寒露 hánlùOct 8 – Oct 23Libra
Autumn9th – 戌 DogEarth211°霜降 shuāngjiàngOct 24 – Nov 6Scorpio
Winter10th – 亥 PigWater224°立冬 lìdōngNov 7 – Nov 22Scorpio
Winter10th – 亥 PigWater244°小雪 xiǎoxuěNov 23 – Dec 6Sagittarius
Winter11th – 子 RatWater251°大雪 dàxuěDec 7 – Dec 21Sagittarius
Winter11th – 子 RatWater271°冬至 dōngzhìDec 22 – Jan 5Capricorn
Winter12th – 丑 OxEarth284°小寒 xiǎohánJan 6 – Jan 20Capricorn
Winter12th – 丑 OxEarth299°大寒 dàhánJan 21 – Feb 3Aquarius

Day

calculators can determine the zodiac animal of the day. Chinese animal signs rule over days of the week, too. The term for them is “True Animals”. If your astrologer wishes to prepare an astrological chart, it is essential he or she knows the animals of your day of birth. Given there are only seven days of the week and 12 animals, there is some repetition or doubling up. The animals for each day are as follows:
As the Chinese zodiac is derived according to the ancient Five Elements Theory, every Chinese sign is composed of five elements with relations, among those elements, of interpolation, interaction, over-action, and counter-action—believed to be the common law of motions and changes of creatures in the universe. Different people born under each animal sign supposedly have different personalities, and practitioners of Chinese astrology consult such traditional details and compatibilities to offer putative guidance in life or for love and marriage.
Chinese Zodiac Compatibility Grid
SignBest Heavenly Match
Better Match
Possible Match
MatchNo Match
Gossip
RatRat, Dragon, MonkeyOxPig, Rat, OxSnake, Rooster, Ox, Pig, Rabbit, Goat, Dog, TigerHorseGoat
OxOx, Snake, RoosterRatPig, Rat, OxDragon, Monkey, Rat, Dog, Tiger, Horse, Pig, RabbitGoatHorse
TigerTiger, Horse, DogPigTiger, Rabbit, DragonPig, Rabbit, Goat, Snake, Rooster, Ox, Dragon, RatMonkeySnake
RabbitRabbit, Goat, Pig,DogTiger, Rabbit, DragonDog, Tiger, Horse, Dragon, Monkey, Rat, Snake, OxRoosterDragon
DragonDragon, Monkey, RatRoosterTiger, Rabbit, DragonSnake, Rooster, Ox, Pig, Rabbit, Goat, Tiger, HorseDogRabbit
SnakeSnake, Rooster, OxMonkeySnake, Horse, GoatDragon, Monkey, Rat, Dog, Tiger, Horse, Rabbit, GoatPigTiger
HorseHorse, Dog, TigerGoatSnake, Horse, GoatPig, Rabbit, Goat, Snake, Rooster, Ox, Dragon, MonkeyRatOx
GoatGoat, Pig, RabbitHorseSnake, Horse, GoatDog, Tiger, Horse, Dragon, Monkey, Rat, Snake, RoosterOxRat
MonkeyMonkey, Rat, DragonSnakeMonkey, Rooster, DogSnake, Rooster, Ox, Pig, Rabbit, Goat, Dog, HorseTigerPig
RoosterRooster, Ox, SnakeDragonMonkey, Rooster, DogDragon, Monkey, Rat, Dog, Tiger, Horse, Pig, GoatRabbitDog
DogDog, Tiger, HorseRabbitMonkey, Rooster, DogPig, Rabbit, Goat, Snake, Rooster, Ox, Monkey, RatDragonRooster
PigPig, Rabbit, GoatTigerPig, Rat, OxDog, Tiger, Horse, Dragon, Monkey, Rat, Rooster, OxSnakeMonkey

Four Pillars

The Four Pillars method can be traced back to the Han dynasty, and is still much used in Feng shui astrology and general analysis today. The Four Pillars or columns chart is called such as the Chinese writing causes it to fall into columns. Each pillar or column contains a stem and a branch—and each column relates to the year, month, day and hour of birth. The first column refers to the year animal and element, the second to the month animal and element, the third to the day animal and element, and the last to the hour animal and element.
Within the Four Pillars, the year column purports to provide information about one's ancestor or early age, and the month column about one's parents or growing age. The day column purports to offer information about oneself and one's spouse or adult age, and the hour column about children or late age.

Four Animal Trines

First Trine

The first Trine consists of the Rat, Dragon, and Monkey. These three signs are said to be intense and powerful individuals capable of great good, who make great leaders but are rather unpredictable. The three are said to be intelligent, magnanimous, charismatic, charming, authoritative, confident, eloquent and artistic, but can be manipulative, jealous, selfish, aggressive, vindictive, and deceitful.

Second Trine

The second Trine consists of the Ox, Snake, and Rooster. These three signs are said to possess endurance and application, with slow accumulation of energy, meticulous at planning but tending to hold fixed opinions. The three are said to be intelligent, hard-working, modest, industrious, loyal, philosophical, patient, goodhearted and morally upright, but can also be self-righteous, egotistical, vain, judgmental, narrow-minded, and petty.

Third Trine

The third Trine consists of the Tiger, Horse, and Dog. These three signs are said to seek true love, to pursue humanitarian causes, to be idealistic and independent but tending to be impulsive. The three are said to be productive, enthusiastic, independent, engaging, dynamic, honorable, loyal and protective, but can also be rash, rebellious, quarrelsome, anxious, disagreeable, and stubborn.

Fourth Trine

The fourth Trine consists of the Rabbit, Goat, and Pig. These three signs are said to have a calm nature and somewhat reasonable approach; they seek aesthetic beauty and are artistic, well-mannered and compassionate, yet detached and resigned to their condition. The three are said to be caring, self-sacrificing, obliging, sensible, creative, empathetic, tactful and prudent, but can also be naïve, pedantic, insecure, selfish, indecisive, and pessimistic.

Zodiac origin stories

There are many stories and fables to explain the beginning of the zodiac. Since the Han Dynasty, the 12 Earthly Branches have been used to record the time of day. However, for the sake of entertainment and convenience, they have been replaced by the 12 animals. The 24 hours are divided into 12 periods, and a mnemonic refers to the behavior of the animals:
Earthly Branches may refer to a double-hour period. In the latter case it is the center of the period; for instance, 马 means noon as well as a period from 11:00 to 13:00.
An ancient folk story called the "Great Race" tells that the Jade Emperor decreed that the years on the calendar would be named for each animal in the order they reached him. To get there, the animals would have to cross a river.

Variations

Another folk story tells that the Rat deceived the Ox into letting it jump on its back, in order for the Ox to hear the Rat sing, before jumping off at the finish line and finishing first. Another variant says that the Rat had cheated the Cat out its place at the finishing line, having stowed-away on the dog's back, who was too focused to notice that he had a stow-away; this is said to account for the antagonistic dynamic between cats and rats, beyond normal predator-and-prey behaviour; and also why dogs and cats fight, the cat having tried to attack the rat in retaliation, only to get the dog by accident.
In Chinese mythology, a story tells that the cat was tricked by the Rat so it could not go to the banquet. This is why the cat is ultimately not part of the Chinese zodiac.
In Buddhism, legend has it that Gautama Buddha summoned all of the animals of the Earth to come before him before his departure from this Earth, but only 12 animals actually came to bid him farewell. To reward the animals who came to him, he named a year after each of them. The years were given to them in the order they had arrived.
The twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac were developed in the early stages of Chinese civilization, therefore it is difficult to investigate its real origins. Most historians agree that the cat is not included, as they had not yet been introduced to China from India with the arrival of Buddhism. However, the Vietnamese, unlike all other countries who follow the Sino lunar calendar, have the cat instead of the rabbit as a zodiac animal. The most common explanation is that the ancient word for Rabbit sounds like cat.

Problems with English translation

Due to confusion with synonyms during translation, some of the animals depicted by the English words did not exist in ancient China. For example:
The Chinese zodiac signs are also used by cultures other than Chinese. For one example, they usually appear on Korean New Year and Japanese New Year's cards and stamps. The United States Postal Service and several other countries' postal service issue a "Year of the ____" postage stamp each year to honor this Chinese heritage.
The Chinese lunar coins, depicting the zodiac animals, inspired the Canadian Silver Maple Leaf coins, as well as varieties from Australia, South Korea, and Mongolia.
The Chinese zodiac is also used in some other Asian countries that have been under the cultural influence of China. However, some of the animals in the zodiac may differ by country.

Asia

The Korean zodiac is essentially identical to the Chinese zodiac, but the Sino-Korean word 양 normally refers specifically to a sheep in the Korean language, although the Chinese source of the loanword yang may refer to any goat-antelope.
The Japanese zodiac includes the Sheep instead of the Goat, and the Wild boar instead of the Pig. Since 1873, the Japanese have celebrated the beginning of the new year on 1 January as per the Gregorian calendar.
The Vietnamese zodiac varies from the Chinese zodiac with the second animal being the Water Buffalo instead of the Ox, and the fourth animal being the Cat instead of the Rabbit.
The Cambodian zodiac is exactly identical to that of the Chinese although the dragon is interchangeable with the Neak Cambodian sea snake. Sheep and Goat are interchangeable as well. Unlike China, Cambodians start their new year in April rather than in the beginning of the year. That is why the Cambodian New Year is celebrated in April rather than in January like most countries.
The Cham zodiac uses the same order as the Chinese zodiac, but replaces the Monkey with the turtle.
Similarly the Malay zodiac is identical to the Chinese but replaces the Rabbit with the mousedeer and the Pig with the tortoise. The Dragon is normally equated with the nāga but it is sometimes called Big Snake while the Snake sign is called Second Snake.
The Thai zodiac includes a nāga in place of the Dragon and begins, not at the Chinese New Year, but either on the first day of the fifth month in the Thai lunar calendar, or during the Songkran New Year festival, depending on the purpose of the use.
The Gurung zodiac in Nepal includes a Cow instead of Ox, Cat instead of Rabbit, Eagle instead of Dragon, Bird instead of Rooster, and Deer instead of Pig.
The Bulgar calendar used from the 2nd Century and that has been only partially reconstructed uses a similar 60 years cycle of 12 animal-named years groups which are:
  1. Mouse
  2. Ox
  3. Uncertain, probably Tiger / Wolf
  4. Rabbit
  5. Uncertain, probably Dragon
  6. Snake
  7. Horse
  8. Ram
  9. Unattested, probably Monkey
  10. Hen or Rooster
  11. Dog
  12. Boar
The Old Mongol calendar uses the Mouse, the Ox, the Leopard, the Hare, the Crocodile, the Serpent, the Horse, the Sheep, the Monkey, the Hen, the Dog and the Hog.
The Volga Bulgars, Kazars and other Turkic peoples replaced some animals by local fauna: Leopard,
Fish, Crocodile, Hedgehog, Elephant, and Camel.

Gallery

Citations