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→Origin stories: Changed the misleading "pronunciation" section to "name of the period", as the terms noted there are the names for the corresponding two-hours period, and NOT of the animals. Correct tone spelling added.
 
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{{Short description|Lunar calendar classification in a 12-year cycle}}
{{For|the 2012 film|CZ12}}
{{For|the 2012 film starring [[Jackie Chan]]|CZ12}}
{{more citations needed|date=October 2014}}
{{Hatnote|Unless otherwise specified, Chinese text in this article is written in the format ''[[Simplified Chinese]] / [[Traditional Chinese]], [[Pinyin]]''. If the Simplified and Traditional Chinese characters are identical, they are written only once.}}
{{Chinese
{{Infobox Chinese
|pic=Chinese Zodiac carvings on ceiling of Kushida Shrine, Fukuoka.jpg
|pic=Chinese Zodiac carvings on ceiling of Kushida Shrine, Fukuoka.jpg
|picsize=
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|c={{linktext|生肖}}
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|mi={{IPAc-cmn|sh|eng|1|.|x|iao|4}}
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|wuu=sen平-siau去
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The '''Chinese zodiac'''<!--Chinese in infobox--> is a [[Class (set theory)|classification]] [[Scheme (mathematics)|scheme]] 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]], the largest [[planet]] of the [[Solar System]].<ref name="Zai 2015">Dr Zai, J. [https://books.google.com/books?id=-WzMCQAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover1 ''Taoism and Science: Cosmology, Evolution, Morality, Health and more'']. Ultravisum, 2015.</ref> It and its variations remain popular in many [[Asia]]n [[Country|countries]] including [[China]], [[Japan]], [[South Korea]], [[Vietnam]], [[Mongolia]], [[Cambodia]], [[Laos]], [[Nepal]], [[Bhutan]], and [[Thailand]].


The '''Chinese zodiac''' is a traditional classification scheme based on the [[Chinese calendar]] that assigns an animal and its reputed attributes to each year in a repeating twelve-year cycle.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Chinese Zodiac |url=https://lammuseum.wfu.edu/education/teachers/chinese-new-year/the-chinese-zodiac/ |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=Timothy S. Y. Lam Museum of Anthropology |language=en}}</ref> The zodiac is very important in traditional Chinese culture and exists as a reflection of [[Chinese philosophy]] and [[Chinese culture|culture]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chinese Zodiac {{!}} Home |url=https://depts.washington.edu/triolive/quest/2007/TTQ07030/index.html |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=UW Departments Web Server}}</ref> Chinese folkways held that one's personality is related to the attributes of their zodiac animal.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Gao |first=Jinlin |last2=Joh |first2=Yoon-kyoung |date=2019-04-30 |title=Chinese Zodiac Culture and the Rhetorical Construction of ''A Shu B'', ''C'' |url=https://s-space.snu.ac.kr/bitstream/10371/153111/1/03%2019-004%20Jinlin%20Gao%20and%20Yoon-kyoung%20Joh.pdf |journal=Lanaguage Research |language=en |volume=55 |issue=1 |pages=2 |doi=10.30961/lr.2019.55.1.55 |doi-access=free |publisher=Seoul National University |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106115356/https://s-space.snu.ac.kr/bitstream/10371/153111/1/03%2019-004%20Jinlin%20Gao%20and%20Yoon-kyoung%20Joh.pdf |archive-date= Jan 6, 2024 }}</ref> Originating from [[China]], the zodiac and its variations remain popular in many [[East Asia]]n and [[Southeast Asia]]n [[Sovereign state|countries]], such as [[Japan]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thoughtco.com/japanese-zodiac-overview-2028019|title=The Twelve Japanese Zodiac Signs|last=Abe|first=Namiko|website=ThoughtCo|language=en|access-date=2019-07-16|archive-date=2017-10-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014105037/https://www.thoughtco.com/japanese-zodiac-overview-2028019|url-status=live}}</ref> [[South Korea]],<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.astroica.com/chinese-astrology/chinese-zodiac/|title=Chinese Zodiac and Chinese Year Animals|website=astroica.com|access-date=2019-07-16|archive-date=2011-03-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110324135646/https://www.astroica.com/chinese-astrology/chinese-zodiac/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Vietnam]],<ref name=":0" /> [[Singapore]], [[Nepal]], [[Bhutan]], [[Cambodia]], and [[Thailand]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thaizer.com/culture-shock/animals-of-the-thai-zodiac-and-the-twelve-year-cycle/|title=Animals of the Thai Zodiac and the Twelve Year Cycle|date=2011-09-08|website=Thaizer|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-07-16|archive-date=2012-08-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120814163343/https://www.thaizer.com/culture-shock/animals-of-the-thai-zodiac-and-the-twelve-year-cycle/|url-status=live}}</ref>
dog
The Chinese zodiac is called ''Shēngxiào'' ({{lang|zh|生肖}}) in [[Standard Chinese|Mandarin]]. Identifying this [[Scheme (mathematics)|scheme]] using the generic term "''[[zodiac]]''" reflects several superficial similarities to the [[Western culture|Western]] [[western astrology|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 [[Chinese culture|culture]] of ascribing a person's personality or events in his or her life to the supposed influence of the person's particular relationship to the cycle.


Identifying this scheme as a "''[[zodiac]]''" reflects superficial similarities to the [[western astrology|Western zodiac]]: both divide time cycles into twelve parts, label the majority of those parts with animals, and are used to ascribe a person's personality or events in their life to the person's particular relationship to the cycle. The 12 Chinese zodiac animals in a cycle are not only used to represent years in China but are also believed to influence people's personalities, careers, compatibility, marriages, and fortunes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chinese Zodiac: 2024 Year of Dragon, 12 Animal Signs, Calculator |url=https://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/social_customs/zodiac/ |access-date=2023-12-26 |website=www.travel china guide.com}}</ref>
Nevertheless, there are major differences between the two: the animals of the Chinese zodiac are not associated with [[constellati on]]s spanned by the [[Ecliptic|ecliptic plane]]. The [[Chinese language|Chinese]] 12-part cycle corresponds to years, rather than months.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}} The Chinese zodiac is represented by 12 animals, whereas some of the signs in the [[Western culture|Western]] [[western astrology|zodiac]] are not animals, despite the implication of the [[etymology]] of the word ''[[zodiac]]''.

For the starting date of a zodiac year, there are two schools of thought in [[Chinese astrology]]: [[Chinese New Year]] or the [[Lichun|start of spring]].

== History ==
{{multiple issues|
{{confusing section|date=February 2024}}
{{copy edit|section|date=February 2024}}
}}
There are theories that suggest the twelve animals were chosen for their symbolic traits, based on their revered status in traditional Chinese culture. The selection process varied regionally before being standardized in the Han Dynasty (Cao, 2008). This standardization connected these animals into a cyclical timekeeping system, which is seen as a way to reflect personality traits and the broader society (Zhou, 2017).

The Chinese zodiac, as an essential part of Chinese culture, started to take shape during the Han Dynasty. This era formalizes a twelve-year cycle, where each year is associated with a specific animal, as part of a timekeeping system. This system, known as the zodiac cycle, combined the twelve ''Earthly Branches'' (地支) with the ten ''Heavenly Stems'' (天干) to create a total of a 60-year cycle. Each Earthly Branch was linked to an animal, and to the twelve zodiac signs: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.

According to legend, the [[Jade Emperor]] held a contest to decide which animals would be lucky enough to be included in the calendar. The winner of the race – the rat – received the first year of the 12-year cycle, and so on.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Markarian |first=Taylor |date=2023-08-12 |title=The 12 Chinese Astrology Signs and What They Mean for You |url=https://www.rd.com/article/what-is-my-chinese-zodiac-sign/ |access-date=2023-12-26 |website=Reader's Digest |language=en-US}}</ref>

However, according to historical records and research,{{by whom|date=February 2024}} the Chinese zodiac appeared after the establishment of the "Ganji Chronicle Law",{{when|date=February 2024}} and each of the twelve animals corresponded one of the twelve branches. People born in any given year have animals belonging to that branch of the earth, and accordingly, twelve animals are used for chronology and the genus of each person.

In the [[Eastern Han dynasty]], [[Xu Shen]] said that the character ''si'' (巳) was the image of a snake, and the same was true for ''hai'' (亥) and ''shi'' (豕; 'pig'). Since the twelve [[Earthly Branches]] of the zodiac were easily confused, folks replaced them with animals and borrowed the ordinal symbols to match them with the Earthly Branches to form a chronological symbol system.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-22 |title=The origin of the twelve zodiac signs is like this. |url=https://author.baidu.com/home?from=bjh_article&app_id=1646093932972296 |access-date=2023-12-26 |website=author.baidu.com |language=zh}}{{title missing|partial=yes|date=February 2024}}<!-- Specific URL seems to be https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1681229008769108933 --></ref>

"Totem and celestial combination theory", suggests the zodiac is ancient animal totem worship combined with astronomical images in astronomy. Among them, the explanation of the totem and celestial combinations is more scientific.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}


==Signs==
==Signs==
[[File:Daoist-symbols Qingyanggong Chengdu.jpg|thumb|right|A stone carving of the Chinese zodiac.]]
[[File:Daoist-symbols Qingyanggong Chengdu.jpg|thumb|right|A stone carving of the Chinese zodiac.]]
[[File:Animal horaire à tête de dragon, M.C. 9856(3).jpg|thumb|Ceramic [[figurine]]s of calendar animals, from left to right: Tiger-headed, Dragon-headed, Snake-headed, Monkey-headed and Rooster-headed. [[Tang dynasty]] era. [[Musée Cernuschi]]]]
The [[zodiac]] [[Chinese culture|traditionally]] begins with the sign of the [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]]. The following are the twelve [[zodiac]] signs (each with its associated [[Earthly Branches|Earthly Branch]]) in order and their [[Chinese characters|characteristics]].<ref>Theodora Lau, ''The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes'', pp. 2–8, 30–5, 60–4, 88–94, 118–24, 148–53, 178–84, 208–13, 238–44, 270–78, 306–12, 338–44, Souvenir Press, New York, 2005</ref> [[Wood (Wu Xing)|Wood]], [[Fire (Wu Xing)|Fire]], [[Earth (Wu Xing)|Earth]], [[Metal (Wu Xing)|Metal]], and [[Water (Wu Xing)|Water]] as five [[Wu Xing|nature elements]].
The [[zodiac]] [[Chinese culture|traditionally]] begins with the sign of the [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}} The following are the twelve [[zodiac]] signs in order, each with its associated characteristics ([[Heavenly Stems]], [[Earthly Branches|Earthly Branch]], [[Yin and yang|yin/yang force]], [[Astrological aspect#Trine|Trine]], and [[Wuxing (Chinese philosophy)|nature element]]).<ref>Theodora Lau, ''The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes'', pp. 2–8, 30–35, 60–64, 88–94, 118–124, 148–153, 178–184, 208–213, 238–244, 270–278, 306–312, 338–344, Souvenir Press, New York, 2005</ref> The belief that everyone and every animal has a role to play in society conforms to Confucian beliefs in a hierarchical society. Just as Confucian beliefs persist in Asia today alongside more modern social views, so does zodiac use.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Learn the History of the Chinese Zodiac |url=https://www.thoughtco.com/origins-of-the-chinese-zodiac-687597 |access-date=2023-12-26 |website=ThoughtCo |language=en|author-first1=Lisa|author-last1=Chiu|date=2019-07-21}}</ref>
# '''[[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]]''' – [[wiktionary:鼠|鼠]] ([[wiktionary:子|子]]) ([[Yin and yang|Yin]], 1st [[Astrological aspect#Trine|Trine]], Fixed [[Wu Xing|Element]] [[Water (Wu Xing)|Water]])
# '''[[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]]''' – [[wiktionary:牛|牛]] ([[wiktionary:丑|丑]]) ([[Yin and yang|Yin]], 2nd [[Astrological aspect#Trine|Trine]], Fixed [[Wu Xing|Element]] [[Earth (Wu Xing)|Earth]])
# '''[[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]]''' – [[wiktionary:虎|虎]] ([[wiktionary:寅|寅]]) ([[Yin and yang|Yang]], 3rd [[Astrological aspect#Trine|Trine]], Fixed [[Wu Xing|Element]] [[Wood (Wu Xing)|Wood]])
# '''[[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]]''' – [[wiktionary:兔|兔]] ([[wiktionary:卯|卯]]) ([[Yin and yang|Yin]], 4th [[Astrological aspect#Trine|Trine]], Fixed [[Wu Xing|Element]] [[Wood (Wu Xing)|Wood]])
# '''[[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]]''' – [[wiktionary:龍|龍]] ([[wiktionary:辰|辰]]) ([[Yin and yang|Yang]], 1st [[Astrological aspect#Trine|Trine]], Fixed [[Wu Xing|Element]] [[Earth (Wu Xing)|Earth]])
# '''[[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]]''' – [[wiktionary:蛇|蛇]] ([[wiktionary:巳|巳]]) ([[Yin and yang|Yang]], 2nd [[Astrological aspect#Trine|Trine]], Fixed [[Wu Xing|Element]] [[Fire (Wu Xing)|Fire]])
# '''[[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]]''' – [[wiktionary:馬|馬]] ([[wiktionary:午|午]]) ([[Yin and yang|Yin]], 3rd [[Astrological aspect#Trine|Trine]], Fixed [[Wu Xing|Element]] [[Fire (Wu Xing)|Fire]])
# '''[[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]]''' – [[wiktionary:羊|羊]] ([[wiktionary:未|未]]) ([[Yin and yang|Yin]], 4th [[Astrological aspect#Trine|Trine]], Fixed [[Wu Xing|Element]] [[Earth (Wu Xing)|Earth]])
# '''[[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]]''' – [[wiktionary:猴|猴]] ([[wiktionary:申|申]]) ([[Yin and yang|Yang]], 1st [[Astrological aspect#Trine|Trine]], Fixed [[Wu Xing|Element]] [[Metal (Wu Xing)|Metal]])
# '''[[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]]''' – [[wiktionary:雞|雞]] ([[wiktionary:酉|酉]]) ([[Yin and yang|Yin]], 2nd [[Astrological aspect#Trine|Trine]], Fixed [[Wu Xing|Element]] [[Metal (Wu Xing)|Metal]])
# '''[[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]]''' – [[wiktionary:狗|狗]] ([[wiktionary:戌|戌]]) ([[Yin and yang|Yang]], 3rd [[Astrological aspect#Trine|Trine]], Fixed [[Wu Xing|Element]] [[Earth (Wu Xing)|Earth]])
# '''[[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]]''' – [[wiktionary:豬|豬]] ([[wiktionary:亥|亥]]) ([[Yin and yang|Yang]], 4th [[Astrological aspect#Trine|Trine]], Fixed [[Wu Xing|Element]] [[Water (Wu Xing)|Water]])


{| class="wikitable sortable"
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 culture|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"). The [[Earth (Wu Xing)|Earth]] is all 12 signs, 5 seasons.
|-
! scope="col" | Number
! scope="col" | English
! scope="col" | Animal
! scope="col" | [[Earthly branch]]
! scope="col" | Yin/yang
! scope="col" | [[Astrological aspect#Trine|Trine]]
! scope="col" | Fixed element
|-
| 1 || '''[[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]]''' || {{linktext|鼠}} ''shǔ''
|{{linktext|子}} ''zǐ''|| [[Yin and yang|Yang]] || 1st || [[Water (Wu Xing)|Water]]
|-
| 2 || '''[[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]]''' || {{linktext|牛}} ''niú''
|{{linktext|丑}} ''chǒu''|| [[Yin and yang|Yin]] || 2nd || [[Earth (Wu Xing)|Earth]]
|-
| 3 || '''[[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]]''' || {{linktext|虎}} ''hǔ''
|{{linktext|寅}} ''yín''|| [[Yin and yang|Yang]] || 3rd || [[Wood (Wu Xing)|Wood]]
|-
| 4 || '''[[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]]''' || {{linktext|兔}} ''tù''
|{{linktext|卯}} ''mǎo''|| [[Yin and yang|Yin]] || 4th || [[Wood (Wu Xing)|Wood]]
|-
| 5 || '''[[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]]''' || {{linktext|龍}}/{{linktext|龙}} ''lóng''
|{{linktext|辰}} ''chén''|| [[Yin and yang|Yang]] || 1st || [[Earth (Wu Xing)|Earth]]
|-
| 6 || '''[[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]]''' || {{linktext|蛇}} ''shé''
|{{linktext|巳}} ''sì''|| [[Yin and yang|Yin]] || 2nd || [[Fire (Wu Xing)|Fire]]
|-
| 7 || '''[[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]]''' || {{linktext|馬}}/{{linktext|马}} ''mǎ''
|{{linktext|午}} ''wǔ''|| [[Yin and yang|Yang]] || 3rd || [[Fire (Wu Xing)|Fire]]
|-
| 8 || '''[[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]]''' || {{linktext|羊}} ''yáng''
|{{linktext|未}} ''wèi''|| [[Yin and yang|Yin]] || 4th || [[Earth (Wu Xing)|Earth]]
|-
| 9 || '''[[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]]''' || {{linktext|猴}} ''hóu''
|{{linktext|申}} ''shēn''|| [[Yin and yang|Yang]] || 1st || [[Metal (Wu Xing)|Metal]]
|-
| 10 || '''[[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]]''' || {{linktext|雞}}/{{linktext|鸡}} ''jī''
|{{linktext|酉}} ''yǒu''|| [[Yin and yang|Yin]] || 2nd || [[Metal (Wu Xing)|Metal]]
|-
| 11 || '''[[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]]''' || {{linktext|狗}} ''gǒu''
|{{linktext|戌}} ''xū''|| [[Yin and yang|Yang]] || 3rd || [[Earth (Wu Xing)|Earth]]
|-
| 12 || '''[[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]]''' || {{linktext|豬}}/{{linktext|猪}} ''zhū''
|{{linktext|亥}} ''hài''|| [[Yin and yang|Yin]] || 4th || [[Water (Wu Xing)|Water]]
|}


In [[Chinese astrology]] the animal signs assigned by '''year''' represent self-presentation or perception by others.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}} It is a common misconception that the animals assigned by year are the only signs, and many [[Western culture|Western]] descriptions of [[Chinese astrology]] only reference this system. There are also animal signs assigned by '''month''' (called "inner animals"), by '''day''' (called "true animals"), and '''hours''' (called "secret animals"). The [[Earth (Wu Xing)|Earth]] is all twelve signs, with five seasons.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}
While a person might appear to be a [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]] because they were born in the year of the [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]], they might also be a [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]] internally, an [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]] truly, and a [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]] secretively.


[[Michel Ferlus]] (2013) notes that the Old Chinese names of the earthly branches are of [[Austroasiatic languages|Austroasiatic]] origin.<ref name="Ferlus2013">Ferlus, Michel (2013). ''[https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/halshs-00922842/document The sexagesimal cycle, from China to Southeast Asia]''. 23rd Annual Conference of the Southeast Asian Linguistics Society, May 2013, Bangkok, Thailand. <halshs-00922842v2></ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=April 2023}} Some of Ferlus's comparisons are given below, with Old Chinese reconstructions cited from Baxter & Sagart (2014).<ref>{{cite book|last=Baxter|first=William H.|last2=Sagart|first2=Laurent|title=Old Chinese: A New Reconstruction|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2014|isbn=978-0-19-994537-5}}</ref>
A conflict between a person's [[zodiac]] sign and how they live is known as [[Tai Sui]] or [[wiktionary:kaisui|kaisui]].

* {{linktext|丑}}: [[Old Chinese]] *[n̥]ruʔ (compare Proto-[[Vietic languages|Viet-Muong]] *c.luː '[[water buffalo]]')
* {{linktext|午}}: [[Old Chinese]] *[m].qʰˤaʔ (compare Proto-[[Vietic languages|Viet-Muong]] *m.ŋəːˀ)
* {{linktext|亥}}: [[Old Chinese]] *[g]ˤəʔ (compare Northern Proto-[[Vietic languages|Viet-Muong]] *kuːrˀ)

There is also a lexical correspondence with [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]]:<ref name="Ferlus2013"/>
* {{linktext|未}}: [[Old Chinese]] *m[ə]t-s (compare [[Atayal language|Atayal]] miːts)

The terms for the earthly branches are attested from [[Shang dynasty]] inscriptions and were likely also used before Shang times. Ferlus (2013) suggests that the terms were ancient pre-Shang borrowings from Austroasiatic languages spoken in the Yangtze River region.<ref name="Ferlus2013"/>


==Chinese calendar==
==Chinese calendar==
Line 52: Line 128:
===Years===
===Years===
{{Main|Sexagenary cycle}}
{{Main|Sexagenary cycle}}
Within the [[Four Pillars of Destiny|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 (teens, mid-20s, 40s). For example, a person who is a [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]] is either 12, 24, 36 or 48 years old in 2010, the year of the [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]]. In 2011, the year of the [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]], that person is one year older.
Within the [[Four Pillars of Destiny|Four Pillars]], the year is the pillar representing information about the person's family background and society or relationship with their grandparents.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}} The person's age can also be easily deduced from their sign, the current sign of the year, and the person's generational disposition (teens, mid-20s, and so on). For example, a person born a [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]] is 12, 24, 36, (etc.) years old in the year of the Tiger (2022); in the year of the [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]] (2023), 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 (see [[sexagenary cycle]] article for years 1804–2043). The [[sexagenary cycle]] begins at [[lichun]] about February 4 according to some [[Astrological sign|astrological]] sources.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://big5.china.com.cn/culture/txt/2009-02/16/content_17286701.htm |title="Almanac" "lunar" zodiac beginning of spring as the boundary dislocation? — China Network |date=16 February 2009 |accessdate=5 January 2011}}</ref>
The following table shows the 60-year cycle matched up to the [[Gregorian calendar]] for 1924–2043. The [[sexagenary cycle]] begins at [[lichun]] about February 4 according to some [[Astrological sign|astrological]] sources.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://big5.china.com.cn/culture/txt/2009-02/16/content_17286701.htm |title="Almanac" "lunar" zodiac beginning of spring as the boundary dislocation? |website=China Network |date=16 February 2009 |access-date=5 January 2011 |archive-date=14 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614220836/http://big5.china.com.cn/culture/txt/2009-02/16/content_17286701.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/YourSign.htm | title=What is Your Chinese Zodiac Sign and Chinese Horoscope Zodiac Birth Chart? | access-date=2020-01-01 | archive-date=2019-09-05 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905081933/http://chinesefortunecalendar.com/YourSign.htm | url-status=live }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
|-
! rowspan=2 | &nbsp;||Year|| rowspan=2 | Associated<br>element|| rowspan=2 | Heavenly<br>stem|| rowspan=2 | [[Earthly Branches|Earthly<br>branch]]|| rowspan=2 | Associated<br>animal||Year
! rowspan=2 | &nbsp; || Year || Year|| rowspan="2" | Associated<br />animal
! rowspan="2" |Yin/yang|| rowspan="2" | Associated<br />element || rowspan=2 | [[Heavenly Stems|Heavenly<br />stem]] || rowspan=2 | [[Earthly Branches|Earthly<br />branch]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
|- style="text-align:center;"
! 1924–1983 || 1984–2043
! 1924–1983 || 1984–2043

|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|1||Feb 05 '''1924'''–Jan 23 1925|| Yang Wood ||甲||子|| [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]]||Feb 02 '''1984'''–Feb 19 1985
|1||Feb 05 '''1924'''–Jan 23 1925||Feb 02 '''1984'''–Feb 19 1985|| [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]]
|Yang|| Wood ||甲||子
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|2||Jan 24 '''1925'''–Feb 12 1926|| Yin Wood ||乙||丑|| [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]]||Feb 20 '''1985'''–Feb 08 1986
|2||Jan 24 '''1925'''–Feb 12 1926||Feb 20 '''1985'''–Feb 08 1986|| [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]]
|Yin|| Wood ||乙||丑
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|3||Feb 13 '''1926'''–Feb 01 1927|| Yang Fire ||丙||寅|| [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]]||Feb 09 '''1986'''–Jan 28 1987
|3||Feb 13 '''1926'''–Feb 01 1927||Feb 09 '''1986'''–Jan 28 1987|| [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]]
|Yang|| Fire ||丙||寅
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|4||Feb 02 '''1927'''–Jan 22 1928|| Yin Fire ||丁||卯|| [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]]||Jan 29 '''1987'''–Feb 16 1988
|4||Feb 02 '''1927'''–Jan 22 1928||Jan 29 '''1987'''–Feb 16 1988|| [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]]
|Yin|| Fire ||丁||卯
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|5||Jan 23 '''1928'''–Feb 09 1929|| Yang Earth ||戊||辰|| [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]]||Feb 17 '''1988'''–Feb 05 1989
|5||Jan 23 '''1928'''–Feb 09 1929||Feb 17 '''1988'''–Feb 05 1989|| [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]]
|Yang|| Earth ||戊||辰
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|6||Feb 10 '''1929'''–Jan 29 1930|| Yin Earth ||己||巳|| [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]]||Feb 06 '''1989'''–Jan 26 1990
|6||Feb 10 '''1929'''–Jan 29 1930||Feb 06 '''1989'''–Jan 26 1990|| [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]]
|Yin|| Earth ||己||巳
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|7||Jan 30 '''1930'''–Feb 16 1931|| Yang Metal ||庚||午|| [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]]||Jan 27 '''1990'''–Feb 14 1991
|7||Jan 30 '''1930'''–Feb 16 1931||Jan 27 '''1990'''–Feb 14 1991|| [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]]
|Yang|| Metal ||庚||午
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|8||Feb 17 '''1931'''–Feb 05 1932|| Yin Metal ||辛||未|| [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]]||Feb 15 '''1991'''–Feb 03 1992
|8||Feb 17 '''1931'''–Feb 05 1932||Feb 15 '''1991'''–Feb 03 1992|| [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]]
|Yin|| Metal ||辛||未
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|9||Feb 06 '''1932'''–Jan 25 1933|| Yang Water ||壬||申|| [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]]||Feb 04 '''1992'''–Jan 22 1993
|9||Feb 06 '''1932'''–Jan 25 1933||Feb 04 '''1992'''–Jan 22 1993|| [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]]
|Yang|| Water ||壬||申
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|10||Jan 26 '''1933'''–Feb 13 1934|| Yin Water ||癸||酉|| [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]]||Jan 23 '''1993'''– Feb 09 1994
|10||Jan 26 '''1933'''–Feb 13 1934||Jan 23 '''1993'''–Feb 09 1994|| [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]]
|Yin|| Water ||癸||酉
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|11||Feb 14 '''1934'''–Feb 03 1935|| Yang Wood ||甲||戌|| [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]]||Feb 10 '''1994'''–Jan 30 1995
|11||Feb 14 '''1934'''–Feb 03 1935||Feb 10 '''1994'''–Jan 30 1995|| [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]]
|Yang|| Wood ||甲||戌
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|12||Feb 04 '''1935'''–Jan 23 1936|| Yin Wood ||乙||亥|| [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]]||Jan 31 '''1995'''–Feb 18 1996
|12||Feb 04 '''1935'''–Jan 23 1936||Jan 31 '''1995'''–Feb 18 1996|| [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]]
|Yin|| Wood ||乙||亥
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|13||Jan 24 '''1936'''–Feb 10 1937|| Yang Fire ||丙||子|| [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]]||Feb 19 '''1996'''–Feb 06 1997
|13||Jan 24 '''1936'''–Feb 10 1937||Feb 19 '''1996'''–Feb 06 1997|| [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]]
|Yang|| Fire ||丙||子
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|14||Feb 11 '''1937'''–Jan 30 1938|| Yin Fire ||丁||丑|| [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]]||Feb 07 '''1997'''–Jan 27 1998
|14||Feb 11 '''1937'''–Jan 30 1938||Feb 07 '''1997'''–Jan 27 1998|| [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]]
|Yin|| Fire ||丁||丑
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|15||Jan 31 '''1938'''–Feb 18 1939|| Yang Earth ||戊||寅|| [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]]||Jan 28 '''1998'''–Feb 15 1999
|15||Jan 31 '''1938'''–Feb 18 1939||Jan 28 '''1998'''–Feb 15 1999|| [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]]
|Yang|| Earth ||戊||寅
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|16||Feb 19 '''1939'''–Feb 07 1940|| Yin Earth ||己||卯|| [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]]||Feb 16 '''1999'''–Feb 04 2000
|16||Feb 19 '''1939'''–Feb 07 1940||Feb 16 '''1999'''–Feb 04 2000|| [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]]
|Yin|| Earth ||己||卯
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|17||Feb 08 '''1940'''–Jan 26 1941|| Yang Metal ||庚||辰|| [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]]||Feb 05 '''2000'''–Jan 23 2001
|17||Feb 08 '''1940'''–Jan 26 1941||Feb 05 '''2000'''–Jan 23 2001|| [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]]
|Yang|| Metal ||庚||辰
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|18||Jan 27 '''1941'''–Feb 14 1942|| Yin Metal ||辛||巳|| [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]]||Jan 24 '''2001'''–Feb 11 2002
|18||Jan 27 '''1941'''–Feb 14 1942||Jan 24 '''2001'''–Feb 11 2002|| [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]]
|Yin|| Metal ||辛||巳
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|19||Feb 15 '''1942'''–Feb 04 1943|| Yang Water ||壬||午|| [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]]||Feb 12 '''2002'''–Jan 31 2003
|19||Feb 15 '''1942'''–Feb 04 1943||Feb 12 '''2002'''–Jan 31 2003|| [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]]
|Yang|| Water ||壬||午
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|20||Feb 05 '''1943'''–Jan 24 1944|| Yin Water ||癸||未|| [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]]||Feb 01 '''2003'''–Jan 21 2004
|20||Feb 05 '''1943'''–Jan 24 1944||Feb 01 '''2003'''–Jan 21 2004|| [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]]
|Yin|| Water ||癸||未
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|21||Jan 25 '''1944'''–Feb 12 1945|| Yang Wood ||甲||申|| [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]]||Jan 22 '''2004'''–Feb 08 2005
|21||Jan 25 '''1944'''–Feb 12 1945||Jan 22 '''2004'''–Feb 08 2005|| [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]]
|Yang|| Wood ||甲||申
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|22||Feb 13 '''1945'''–Feb 01 1946|| Yin Wood ||乙||酉|| [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]]||Feb 09 '''2005'''–Jan 28 2006
|22||Feb 13 '''1945'''–Feb 01 1946||Feb 09 '''2005'''–Jan 28 2006|| [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]]
|Yin|| Wood ||乙||酉
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|23||Feb 02 '''1946'''–Jan 21 1947|| Yang Fire ||丙||戌|| [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]]||Jan 29 '''2006'''–Feb 17 2007
|23||Feb 02 '''1946'''–Jan 21 1947||Jan 29 '''2006'''–Feb 17 2007|| [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]]
|Yang|| Fire ||丙||戌
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|24||Jan 22 '''1947'''–Feb 09 1948|| Yin Fire ||丁||亥|| [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]]||Feb 18 '''2007'''–Feb 06 2008
|24||Jan 22 '''1947'''–Feb 09 1948||Feb 18 '''2007'''–Feb 06 2008|| [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]]
|Yin|| Fire ||丁||亥
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|25||Feb 10 '''1948'''–Jan 28 1949|| Yang Earth ||戊||子|| [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]]||Feb 07 '''2008'''–Jan 25 2009
|25||Feb 10 '''1948'''–Jan 28 1949||Feb 07 '''2008'''–Jan 25 2009|| [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]]
|Yang|| Earth ||戊||子
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|26||Jan 29 '''1949'''–Feb 16 1950|| Yin Earth ||己||丑|| [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]]||Jan 26 '''2009'''–Feb 13 2010
|26||Jan 29 '''1949'''–Feb 16 1950||Jan 26 '''2009'''–Feb 13 2010|| [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]]
|Yin|| Earth ||己||丑
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|27||Feb 17 '''1950'''–Feb 05 1951|| Yang Metal ||庚||寅|| [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]]||Feb 14 '''2010'''–Feb 02 2011
|27||Feb 17 '''1950'''–Feb 05 1951||Feb 14 '''2010'''–Feb 02 2011|| [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]]
|Yang|| Metal ||庚||寅
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|28||Feb 06 '''1951'''–Jan 26 1952|| Yin Metal ||辛||卯|| [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]]||Feb 03 '''2011'''–Jan 22 2012
|28||Feb 06 '''1951'''–Jan 26 1952||Feb 03 '''2011'''–Jan 22 2012|| [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]]
|Yin|| Metal ||辛||卯
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|29||Jan 27 '''1952'''–Feb 13 1953|| Yang Water ||壬||辰|| [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]]||Jan 23 '''2012'''–Feb 09 2013
|29||Jan 27 '''1952'''–Feb 13 1953||Jan 23 '''2012'''–Feb 09 2013|| [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]]
|Yang|| Water ||壬||辰
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|30||Feb 14 '''1953'''–Feb 02 1954|| Yin Water ||癸||巳|| [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]]||Feb 10 '''2013'''–Jan 30 2014
|30||Feb 14 '''1953'''–Feb 02 1954||Feb 10 '''2013'''–Jan 30 2014|| [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]]
|Yin|| Water ||癸||巳
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|31||Feb 03 '''1954'''–Jan 23 1955|| Yang Wood ||甲||午|| [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]]||Jan 31 '''2014'''–Feb 18 2015
|31||Feb 03 '''1954'''–Jan 23 1955||Jan 31 '''2014'''–Feb 18 2015|| [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]]
|Yang|| Wood ||甲||午
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|32||Jan 24 '''1955'''–Feb 11 1956|| Yin Wood ||乙||未|| [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]]||Feb 19 '''2015'''–Feb 07 2016
|32||Jan 24 '''1955'''–Feb 11 1956||Feb 19 '''2015'''–Feb 07 2016|| [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]]
|Yin|| Wood ||乙||未
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|33||Feb 12 '''1956'''–Jan 30 1957|| Yang Fire ||丙||申|| [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]]||Feb 08 '''2016'''–Jan 27 2017
|33||Feb 12 '''1956'''–Jan 30 1957||Feb 08 '''2016'''–Jan 27 2017|| [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]]
|Yang|| Fire ||丙||申
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|34||Jan 31 '''1957'''–Feb 17 1958|| Yin Fire ||丁||酉|| [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]]||Jan 28 '''2017'''–Feb 15 2018
|34||Jan 31 '''1957'''–Feb 17 1958||Jan 28 '''2017'''–Feb 15 2018|| [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]]
|Yin|| Fire ||丁||酉
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|35||Feb 18 '''1958'''–Feb 07 1959|| Yang Earth ||戊||戌|| [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]]||Feb 16 '''2018'''–Feb 04 2019
|35||Feb 18 '''1958'''–Feb 07 1959||Feb 16 '''2018'''–Feb 04 2019|| [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]]
|Yang|| Earth ||戊||戌
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|36||Feb 08 '''1959'''–Jan 27 1960|| Yin Earth ||己||亥|| [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]]||Feb 05 '''2019'''–Jan 24 2020
|36||Feb 08 '''1959'''–Jan 27 1960||Feb 05 '''2019'''–Jan 24 2020|| [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]]
|Yin|| Earth ||己||亥
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|37||Jan 28 '''1960'''–Feb 14 1961|| Yang Metal ||庚||子|| [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]]||Jan 25 '''2020'''–Feb. 11 2021
|37||Jan 28 '''1960'''–Feb 14 1961||Jan 25 '''2020'''–Feb 11 2021|| [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]]
|Yang|| Metal ||庚||子
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|38||Feb 15 '''1961'''–Feb 04 1962|| Yin Metal ||辛||丑|| [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]]|| Feb 12 '''2021'''–Jan 31 2022
|38||Feb 15 '''1961'''–Feb 04 1962||Feb 12 '''2021'''–Jan 31 2022|| [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]]
|Yin|| Metal ||辛||丑
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|39||Feb 05 '''1962'''–Jan 24 1963|| Yang Water ||壬||寅|| [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]]|| Feb 01 '''2022'''–Jan 21 2023
|39||Feb 05 '''1962'''–Jan 24 1963||Feb 01 '''2022'''–Jan 21 2023|| [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]]
|Yang|| Water ||壬||寅
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|40||Jan 25 '''1963'''–Feb 12 1964|| Yin Water ||癸||卯|| [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]]|| Jan 22 '''2023'''–Feb 09 2024
|40||Jan 25 '''1963'''–Feb 12 1964||Jan 22 '''2023'''–Feb 09 2024|| [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]]
|Yin|| Water ||癸||卯
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|41||Feb 13 '''1964'''–Feb 01 1965|| Yang Wood ||甲||辰|| [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]]|| Feb 10 '''2024'''–Jan 28 2025
|41||Feb 13 '''1964'''–Feb 01 1965||Feb 10 '''2024'''–Jan 28 2025|| [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]]
|Yang|| Wood ||甲||辰
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|42||Feb 02 '''1965'''–Jan 20 1966|| Yin Wood ||乙||巳|| [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]]|| Jan 29 '''2025'''–Feb 16 2026
|42||Feb 02 '''1965'''–Jan 20 1966||Jan 29 '''2025'''–Feb 16 2026|| [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]]
|Yin|| Wood ||乙||巳
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|43||Jan 21 '''1966'''–Feb 08 1967|| Yang Fire ||丙||午|| [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]]|| Feb 17 '''2026'''–Feb 05 2027
|43||Jan 21 '''1966'''–Feb 08 1967||Feb 17 '''2026'''–Feb 05 2027|| [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]]
|Yang|| Fire ||丙||午
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|44||Feb 09 '''1967'''–Jan 29 1968|| Yin Fire ||丁||未|| [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]]|| Feb 06 '''2027'''–Jan 25 2028
|44||Feb 09 '''1967'''–Jan 29 1968||Feb 06 '''2027'''–Jan 25 2028|| [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]]
|Yin|| Fire ||丁||未
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|45||Jan 30 '''1968'''–Feb 16 1969|| Yang Earth ||戊||申|| [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]]|| Jan 26 '''2028'''–Feb 12 2029
|45||Jan 30 '''1968'''–Feb 16 1969||Jan 26 '''2028'''–Feb 12 2029|| [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]]
|Yang|| Earth ||戊||申
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|46||Feb 17 '''1969'''–Feb 05 1970|| Yin Earth ||己||酉|| [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]]|| Feb 13 '''2029'''–Feb 02 2030
|46||Feb 17 '''1969'''–Feb 05 1970||Feb 13 '''2029'''–Feb 02 2030|| [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]]
|Yin|| Earth ||己||酉
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|47||Feb 06 '''1970'''–Jan 26 1971|| Yang Metal ||庚||戌|| [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]]|| Feb 03 '''2030'''–Jan 22 2031
|47||Feb 06 '''1970'''–Jan 26 1971||Feb 03 '''2030'''–Jan 22 2031|| [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]]
|Yang|| Metal ||庚||戌
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|48||Jan 27 '''1971'''–Feb 14 1972|| Yin Metal ||辛||亥|| [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]]|| Jan 23 '''2031'''–Feb 10 2032
|48||Jan 27 '''1971'''–Feb 14 1972||Jan 23 '''2031'''–Feb 10 2032|| [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]]
|Yin|| Metal ||辛||亥
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|49||Feb 15 '''1972'''–Feb 02 1973|| Yang Water ||壬||子|| [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]]|| Feb 11 '''2032'''–Jan 30 2033
|49||Feb 15 '''1972'''–Feb 02 1973||Feb 11 '''2032'''–Jan 30 2033|| [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]]
|Yang|| Water ||壬||子
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|50||Feb 03 '''1973'''–Jan 22 1974|| Yin Water ||癸||丑|| [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]]|| Jan 31 '''2033'''–Feb 18 2034
|50||Feb 03 '''1973'''–Jan 22 1974||Jan 31 '''2033'''–Feb 18 2034|| [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]]
|Yin|| Water ||癸||丑
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|51||Jan 23 '''1974'''–Feb 10 1975|| Yang Wood ||甲||寅|| [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]]|| Feb 19 '''2034'''–Feb 07 2035
|51||Jan 23 '''1974'''–Feb 10 1975||Feb 19 '''2034'''–Feb 07 2035|| [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]]
|Yang|| Wood ||甲||寅
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|52||Feb 11 '''1975'''–Jan 30 1976|| Yin Wood ||乙||卯|| [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]]|| Feb 08 '''2035'''–Jan 27 2036
|52||Feb 11 '''1975'''–Jan 30 1976||Feb 08 '''2035'''–Jan 27 2036|| [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]]
|Yin|| Wood ||乙||卯
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|53||Jan 31 '''1976'''–Feb 17 1977|| Yang Fire ||丙||辰|| [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]]|| Jan 28 '''2036'''–Feb 14 2037
|53||Jan 31 '''1976'''–Feb 17 1977||Jan 28 '''2036'''–Feb 14 2037|| [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]]
|Yang|| Fire ||丙||辰
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|54||Feb 18 '''1977'''–Feb 06 1978|| Yin Fire ||丁||巳|| [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]]|| Feb 15 '''2037'''–Feb 03 2038
|54||Feb 18 '''1977'''–Feb 06 1978||Feb 15 '''2037'''–Feb 03 2038|| [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]]
|Yin|| Fire ||丁||巳
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|55||Feb 07 '''1978'''–Jan 27 1979|| Yang Earth ||戊||午|| [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]]|| Feb 04 '''2038'''–Jan 23 2039
|55||Feb 07 '''1978'''–Jan 27 1979|| Feb 04 '''2038'''–Jan 23 2039|| [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]]
|Yang|| Earth ||戊||午
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|56||Jan 28 '''1979'''–Feb 15 1980|| Yin Earth ||己||未|| [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]]|| Jan 24 '''2039'''–Feb 11 2040
|56||Jan 28 '''1979'''–Feb 15 1980||Jan 24 '''2039'''–Feb 11 2040|| [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]]
|Yin|| Earth ||己||未
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|57||Feb 16 '''1980'''–Feb 04 1981|| Yang Metal ||庚||申|| [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]]|| Feb 12 '''2040'''–Jan 31 2041
|57||Feb 16 '''1980'''–Feb 04 1981||Feb 12 '''2040'''–Jan 31 2041|| [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]]
|Yang|| Metal ||庚||申
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|58||Feb 05 '''1981'''–Jan 24 1982|| Yin Metal ||辛||酉|| [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]]|| Feb 01 '''2041'''–Jan 21 2042
|58||Feb 05 '''1981'''–Jan 24 1982||Feb 01 '''2041'''–Jan 21 2042|| [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]]
|Yin|| Metal ||辛||酉
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|59||Jan 25 '''1982'''–Feb 12 1983|| Yang Water ||壬||戌|| [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]]|| Jan 22 '''2042'''–Feb 09 2043
|59||Jan 25 '''1982'''–Feb 12 1983||Jan 22 '''2042'''–Feb 09 2043|| [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]]
|Yang|| Water ||壬||戌
|- style="text-align:left;"
|- style="text-align:left;"
|60||Feb 13 '''1983'''–Feb 01 1984|| Yin Water ||癸||亥|| [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]]|| Feb 10 '''2043'''–Jan 29 2044
|60||Feb 13 '''1983'''–Feb 01 1984||Feb 10 '''2043'''–Jan 29 2044|| [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]]
|Yin|| Water ||癸||亥
|}
|}


==Animal Trines==
===Months and solar terms===
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2022}}
{{Main|Solar term}}
The Chinese zodiac's animal trines are deeply connected with ancient Chinese cosmology, reflecting the Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) and the natural order. Each animal trine has a specific elemental attribute and a celestial pattern, showing the combination of astronomy and philosophy in the system (Hui, n.d.).{{Further|Astrological aspect#Trine}}
Within the [[Four Pillars of Destiny|Four Pillars]], the month is the pillar representing information about the person's parents or childhood. Many [[Chinese astrology|Chinese astrologers]] consider the month pillar to be the most important one in determining the circumstances of one's adult life.


===First===
The 12 animals are also linked to [[Chinese culture|traditional Chinese]] [[Chinese calendar|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 term|Solar Terms]]''. Each animal is linked to two of these [[solar term]]s for a period similar to the [[Western culture|Western]] month. Unlike the 60 year [[Lunar calendar]], which can vary by as much as a month in relation to the [[Gregorian calendar]], the [[Chinese calendar|agricultural calendar]] varies by only one day, beginning on the [[Gregorian calendar]] on February 3 or 4 every year. Again unlike the cycle of the [[Lunar calendar|lunar years]], which begins with the [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]], the [[Chinese calendar|agricultural calendar]] begins with the [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]] as it is the first animal of [[Spring (season)|spring]]. Around [[summer]] days are longer than winter days, because it occurs differences of perihelion and aphelion.{{clarify|date=September 2018}}
The first Trine consists of the '''[[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]], [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]], and [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]]'''. These three signs are considered intense and powerful individuals capable of great good. They are associated with the element of water, seen as great leaders but are also known to be unpredictable. The three are intelligent, adaptive, generous, charismatic, charming, authoritative, confident, eloquent, and artistic. However, they can also exhibit traits such as being manipulative, jealous, selfish, aggressive, vindictive, and deceitful.


===Second===
As each sign is linked to a month of the [[Tropical year|solar year]], it is thereby also linked to a [[season]]. Each of the [[Wu Xing|elements]] is also linked to a [[season]] (see above), and the [[Wu Xing|element]] that shares a [[season]] with a sign is known as that sign's ''fixed [[Wu Xing|element]]''. In other words, that [[Wu Xing|element]] is believed to impart some of its [[Chinese characters|characteristics]] to the sign concerned. The fixed [[Wu Xing|element]] of each sign applies also to the year and hour signs, and not just the monthly sign. The fixed [[Wu Xing|element]] is separate from the cycle of [[Wu Xing|elements]] which interact with the signs in the 60-year cycle.
The second Trine consists of the '''[[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]], [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]], and [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]]'''. These three signs are said to possess endurance and application, with a slow accumulation of energy. They are associated with the element of metal, meticulous at planning but tend to hold fixed opinions. The three are described as intelligent, hard-working, modest, industrious, loyal, philosophical, patient, good-hearted, and morally upright. However, they can also exhibit traits such as being self-righteous, egotistical, vain, judgmental, narrow-minded, and petty.
{| class="wikitable"

===Third===
The third Trine consists of the '''[[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]], [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]], and [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]]'''. These three signs are associated with the element of fire, said to seek true love, pursue humanitarian causes, and be idealistic and independent, but they tend to be impulsive. They are described as productive, enthusiastic, independent, engaging, dynamic, honorable, loyal, and protective. However, they can also display traits such as being rash, rebellious, quarrelsome, anxious, disagreeable, and stubborn.

===Fourth===
The fourth Trine consists of the '''[[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]], [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]], and [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]]'''. These three signs are associated with the element of wood, said to have a calm nature and a somewhat reasonable approach. They seek aesthetic beauty, are artistic, well-mannered, and compassionate, yet they can also be detached and resigned to their condition. The three are described as caring, self-sacrificing, obliging, sensible, creative, empathetic, tactful, and prudent. However, they can also exhibit traits such as being naive, pedantic, insecure, selfish, indecisive, and pessimistic.

These associations extend beyond just symbolism, they reflect ancient people’s deep understanding of the universe's cyclical nature. The trines are also linked to specific seasons and directions, as well as human activities with the Earth's patterns. For example, the Wood element's trine is more connected with spring and the east, meaning renewal and growth. This connection set a direction for agricultural practices and societal rituals, maintaining harmony between humanity and nature (Hui, n.d.).

In addition, the connection of the lunar calendar with the zodiac signs also reflects the importance of celestial movements in day-to-day life. The lunar times dictated the timing of holidays and agricultural events, further linking astronomical observations to cultural traditions. This implication of astronomy, philosophy, and daily life reflected the open worldview of ancient China, where timekeeping was not just a practical tool but a way to achieve a balance between cosmic and societal harmony.

==Compatibility==
[[File:COMPATIBILITY CONFLICT HARM.png|thumb|Chinese Zodiac Compatibility-Conflict-Harm Grid in accordance to one's nature, characteristics, and elements]]
As the Chinese zodiac is derived according to the ancient [[Wuxing (Chinese philosophy)|Five Elements Theory]], every [[Chinese language|Chinese]] sign is associated with 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 [[Chinese culture|traditional]] details and compatibilities to offer putative guidance in life or for love and marriage.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chinese Compatibility Matching|url=http://www.georgetangchineseastrology.com/compatibility-matching-using-the-chinese-zodiac/|date=Jan 2016|access-date=2016-01-05|archive-date=2019-12-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191225230948/https://www.georgetangchineseastrology.com/compatibility-matching-using-the-chinese-zodiac/|url-status=dead}}</ref> A common way to explore zodiac compatibility is with a chart showing how each zodiac sign interacts other signs. For example, constellations that are considered compatible with each other may have similar values and interests, while incompatible constellations may have conflicting personalities and ways of communicating.<ref>{{Cite web |title=十二生肖兼容性的迷人世界-过雪居 |url=https://www.guoxueju.com/zhishi/49073.html |access-date=2023-12-26 |website=www.guoxueju.com}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Chinese zodiac compatibility grid<ref>{{cite web|title=Chinese Zodiac Animal Signs Compatibility|url=http://www.yourchineseastrology.com/zodiac/compatibility/|publisher=yourchineseastrology.com/}}</ref>
|-
|-
! Season
! Sign
! Best match (compatible)
! [[Lunar month]]
! Average match (friendly)
! Fixed<br>[[Wu Xing|element]]
! Super bad (conflict)
! [[Ecliptic coordinate system|Solar<br>longitude]]
! Harmful (best avoid)
! [[Solar term]]
! [[Gregorian calendar|Gregorian]] date
! Approx.<br>[[Zodiac|Western<br>zodiac]]
|-
|-
![[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]]
|rowspan=6| Spring
|rowspan=2| 1st – 寅 (yin) '''[[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]]'''
|[[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]], [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]], [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]]
|[[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]], [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]], [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]], [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]], [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]], [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]], [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]]||[[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]]
|rowspan=2| Wood
|[[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]]
| 314°
| 立春 lìchūn
| '''Feb 4''' – Feb 19
| [[Aquarius (astrology)|Aquarius]]
|-
|-
![[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]]
| 329°
|[[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]], [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]], [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]]
| 雨水 yǔshuǐ
|[[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]], [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]], [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]], [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]], [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]], [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]], [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]]||[[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]]
| Feb 20 – '''Mar 5'''
|rowspan=2| [[Pisces (astrology)|Pisces]]
|[[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]]
|-
|-
|rowspan=2| 2nd – 卯 (mao) '''[[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]]'''
![[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]]
|[[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]], [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]], [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]]
|rowspan=2| Wood
|[[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]], [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]], [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]], [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]], [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]], [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]], [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]]||[[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]]
| 344°
|[[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]]
| 啓蟄 qǐzhé (驚蟄 jīngzhé)
| '''Mar 6''' – Mar 20
|-
|-
![[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]]
| 359°
|[[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]], [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]], [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]]
| 春分 chūnfēn
|[[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]], [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]], [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]], [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]], [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]], [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]], [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]]||[[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]]
| Mar 21 – '''Apr 4'''
|rowspan=2| [[Aries (astrology)|Aries]]
|[[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]]
|-
|-
|rowspan=2| 3rd – 辰 (chen) '''[[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]]'''
![[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]]
|[[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]], [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]], [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]]
|rowspan=2| Wood
|[[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]], [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]], [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]], [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]], [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]], [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]], [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]]||[[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]]
| 14°
|[[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]]
| 清明 qīngmíng
| '''Apr 5''' – Apr 20
|-
|-
![[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]]
| 29°
|[[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]], [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]], [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]]
| 穀雨 gǔyǔ
|[[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]], [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]], [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]], [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]], [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]], [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]], [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]]
| Apr 21 – '''May 4'''
|rowspan=2| [[Taurus (astrology)|Taurus]]
|[[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]]
|[[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]]
|-
|-
![[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]]
|rowspan=6| Summer
|rowspan=2| 4th – 巳 (si) '''[[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]]'''
|[[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]], [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]], [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]]
|[[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]], [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]], [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]], [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]], [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]], [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]], [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]]||[[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]]
|rowspan=2| Fire
|[[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]]
| 44°
| 立夏 lìxià
| '''May 5''' – May 21
|-
|-
![[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]]
| 59°
|[[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]], [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]], [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]]
| 小滿 xiǎomǎn
|[[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]], [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]], [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]], [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]], [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]], [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]], [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]]
| May 22 – '''Jun 5'''
|rowspan=2| [[Gemini (astrology)|Gemini]]
||[[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]]
|[[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]]
|-
|-
|rowspan=2| 5th – 午 (wu) '''[[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]]'''
![[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]]
|[[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]], [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]], [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]]
|rowspan=2| Fire
|[[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]], [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]], [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]], [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]], [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]], [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]], [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]]||[[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]]
| 74°
|[[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]]
| 芒種 mángzhòng
| '''Jun 6''' – Jun 21
|-
|-
![[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]]
| 89°
|[[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]], [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]], [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]]
| 夏至 xiàzhì
|[[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]], [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]], [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]], [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]], [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]], [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]], [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]]||[[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]]
| Jun 22 – '''Jul 6'''
|rowspan=2| [[Cancer (astrology)|Cancer]]
|[[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]]
|-
|-
|rowspan=2| 6th – 未 (wei) '''[[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]]'''
![[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]]
|[[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]], [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]], [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]]
|rowspan=2| Fire
|[[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]], [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]], [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]], [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]], [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]], [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]], [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]]||[[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]]
| 104°
|[[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]]
| 小暑 xiǎoshǔ
| '''Jul 7''' – Jul 22
|-
|-
![[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]]
| 119°
|[[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]], [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]], [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]]
| 大暑 dàshǔ
|[[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]], [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]], [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]], [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]], [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]], [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]], [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]]||[[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]]
| Jul 23 – '''Aug 6'''
|rowspan=2| [[Leo (astrology)|Leo]]
|[[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]]
|-
|rowspan=6| Autumn
|rowspan=2| 7th – 申 (shen) '''[[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]]'''
|rowspan=2| Metal
| 134°
| 立秋 lìqiū
| '''Aug 7''' – Aug 22
|-
| 149°
| 處暑 chùshǔ
| Aug 23 – '''Sep 7'''
|rowspan=2| [[Virgo (astrology)|Virgo]]
|-
|rowspan=2| 8th – 酉 (you) '''[[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]]'''
|rowspan=2| Metal
| 164°
| 白露 báilù
| '''Sep 8''' – Sep 23
|-
| 181°
| 秋分 qiūfēn
| Sep 24 – '''Oct 7'''
|rowspan=2| [[Libra (astrology)|Libra]]
|-
|rowspan=2| 9th – 戌 (xu) '''[[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]]'''
|rowspan=2| Metal
| 194°
| 寒露 hánlù
| '''Oct 8''' – Oct 23
|-
| 211°
| 霜降 shuāngjiàng
| Oct 24 – '''Nov 6'''
|rowspan=2| [[Scorpio (astrology)|Scorpio]]
|-
|rowspan=6| Winter
|rowspan=2| 10th – 亥 (hai) '''[[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]]'''
|rowspan=2| Water
| 224°
| 立冬 lìdōng
| '''Nov 7''' – Nov 22
|-
| 244°
| 小雪 xiǎoxuě
| Nov 23 – '''Dec 6'''
|rowspan=2| [[Sagittarius (astrology)|Sagittarius]]
|-
|rowspan=2| 11th – 子 (zi) '''[[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]]'''
|rowspan=2| Water
| 251°
| 大雪 dàxuě
| '''Dec 7''' – Dec 21
|-
| 271°
| 冬至 dōngzhì
| Dec 22 – '''Jan 5'''
|rowspan=2| [[Capricorn (astrology)|Capricorn]]
|-
|rowspan=2| 12th – 丑 (chou) '''[[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]]'''
|rowspan=2| Water
| 284°
| 小寒 xiǎohán
| '''Jan 6''' – Jan 20
|-
| 299°
| 大寒 dàhán
| Jan 21 – '''Feb 3'''
| [[Aquarius (astrology)|Aquarius]]
|}
|}


===Day===
==Origin stories==
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2018}}
[[Four Pillars of Destiny|Four pillars]] [[calculator]] can determine the [[zodiac]] animal of the day.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.traditionalfengshui.co.za/fourpillarssoftware.htm|title=Online Four Pillars Calculator}}</ref> [[Chinese language|Chinese]] animal signs rule over days of the week, too. The term for them is “True Animals”. If your [[Astrology|astrologer]] wishes to prepare a [[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:
Many [[Narrative|stories]] and [[fable]]s explain the beginning of the [[zodiac]]. Since the [[Han dynasty]], the twelve [[Earthly Branches]] have been used to record the time of day. However, for entertainment and convenience,{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}} they were replaced by the twelve animals, and a [[mnemonic]] refers to the behavior of the animals:
*Monday: [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]]
*Tuesday: [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]], [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]]
*Wednesday: [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]], [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]]
*Thursday: [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]]
*Friday: [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]], [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]], [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]]
*Saturday: [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]], [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]]
*Sunday: [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]]


[[Earthly Branches]] may refer to a double-hour period.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches |url=https://www.hko.gov.hk/en/gts/time/stemsandbranches.htm |access-date=2024-05-14 |website=www.hko.gov.hk |language=en}}</ref> In the latter case it is the center of the period; for instance, 馬 mǎ ([[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]]) means noon as well as a period from 11:00 to 13:00.
==Compatibility==
As the Chinese zodiac is derived according to the [[History of China|ancient]] [[Wu Xing|Five Elements]] Theory, every [[Chinese language|Chinese]] sign is composed of five [[Wu Xing|elements]]{{citation needed|date=September 2013}} with relations, among those [[Wu Xing|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,{{citation needed|date=May 2014}} and practitioners of [[Chinese astrology]] consult such [[Chinese culture|traditional]] details and compatibilities to offer putative guidance in life or for love and marriage.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chinese Compatibility Matching|url=http://www.georgetangchineseastrology.com/compatibility-matching-using-the-chinese-zodiac/|date=Jan 2016}}</ref>


{| class="wikitable sortable"
'''Chinese Zodiac Compatibility Grid'''<ref>{{cite web|title=Chinese Zodiac Animal Signs Compatibility|url=http://www.yourchineseastrology.com/zodiac/compatibility/|publisher=yourchineseastrology.com/}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
! scope="col" | Animal
! Sign !! Best Match !! Average Match !! No Match
! scope="col" | Name of the period
! scope="col" | Period
! scope="col" | This is the time when...
|-
|-
| [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]] || 子時 Zǐshí || 23:00 to 00:59 || Rats are most active in seeking food. Rats also have a different number of digits on front and hind legs, thus earning Rat the [[symbol]] of "turn over" or "new start"
| [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]] || [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]], [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]], [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]] || [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]], [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]], [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]], [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]], [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]], [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]], [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]], [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]] || [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]]
|-
|-
| [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]] || 丑時 Chǒushí || 01:00 to 02:59 || Oxen begin to chew the cud slowly and comfortably
| [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]] || [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]], [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]], [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]] || [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]], [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]], [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]], [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]], [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]], [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]], [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]], [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]] || [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]]
|-
|-
| [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]] || 寅時 Yínshí || 03:00 to 04:59 || Tigers hunt their prey more and show their ferocity
| [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]] || [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]], [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]], [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]] || [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]], [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]], [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]], [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]], [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]], [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]], [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]], [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]] || [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]]
|-
|-
| [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]] || 卯時 Mǎoshí || 05:00 to 06:59 || The [[Moon rabbit|Jade Rabbit]] is busy pounding herbal medicine on the Moon according to the tale
| [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]] || [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]], [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]], [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]] || [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]], [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]], [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]], [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]], [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]], [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]], [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]], [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]] || [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]]
|-
|-
| [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]] || 辰時 Chénshí || 07:00 to 08:59 || Dragons are hovering in the sky to give rain
| [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]] || [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]], [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]], [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]] || [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]], [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]], [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]], [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]], [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]], [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]], [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]], [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]] || [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]]
|-
|-
| [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]] || 巳時 Sìshí || 09:00 to 10:59 || Snakes are leaving their caves
| [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]] || [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]], [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]], [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]] || [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]], [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]], [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]], [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]], [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]], [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]], [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]], [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]] || [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]]
|-
|-
| [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]] || 午時 Wǔshí || 11:00 to 12:59 || The sun is high overhead and while other animals are lying down for a rest, horses are still standing
| [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]] || [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]], [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]], [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]] || [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]], [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]], [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]], [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]], [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]], [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]], [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]], [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]] || [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]]
|-
|-
| [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]] || 未時 Wéishí || 13:00 to 14:59 || Goats eat grass and urinate frequently
| [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]] || [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]], [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]], [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]] || [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]], [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]], [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]], [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]], [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]], [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]], [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]], [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]] || [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]]
|-
|-
| [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]] || 申時 Shēnshí || 15:00 to 16:59 || Monkeys are lively
| [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]] || [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]], [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]], [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]] || [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]], [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]], [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]], [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]], [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]], [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]], [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]], [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]] || [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]]
|-
|-
| [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]] || 酉時 Yǒushí || 17:00 to 18:59 || Roosters begin to get back to their coops
| [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]] || [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]], [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]], [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]] || [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]], [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]], [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]], [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]], [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]], [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]], [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]], [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]] || [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]]
|-
|-
| [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]] || 戌時 Xūshí || 19:00 to 20:59 || Dogs carry out their duty of guarding the houses
| [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]] || [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]], [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]], [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]] || [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]], [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]], [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]], [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]], [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]], [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]], [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]], [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]] || [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]]
|-
|-
| [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]] || 亥時 Hàishí || 21:00 to 22:59 || Pigs are sleeping sweetly
| [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]] || [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]], [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]], [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]] || [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]], [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]], [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]], [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]], [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]], [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]], [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]], [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]] || [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]]
|}
|}


==Four Pillars==
===Great Race===
{{missing information|the origin and history of the folktale|date=June 2019}}
{{main|Four Pillars of Destiny}}
[[File:Rat and Ox.jpg|thumb|This image depicts a scene from "The Great Race" folk story, in which the [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]] carries the [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]] across the river.]]
The [[Four Pillars of Destiny|Four Pillars]] method can be traced back to the [[Han dynasty]] ({{nobr|201 BC –}} 220 AD), and is still much used in [[Feng shui]] [[astrology]] and general analysis today. The [[Four Pillars of Destiny|Four Pillars]] or columns chart is called such as the [[Written Chinese|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 [[Wu Xing|element]], the second to the month animal and [[Wu Xing|element]], the third to the day animal and [[Wu Xing|element]], and the last to the hour animal and [[Wu Xing|element]].
An ancient [[Folklore|folktale]]<ref>{{Cite web|title = Legend of the Chinese Zodiac|url = http://thingsasian.com/story/legend-chinese-zodiac|website = www.thingsasian.com|date = 3 March 2003|access-date = 2022-02-01|language = en-US|archive-date = 2022-03-20|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220320010645/http://thingsasian.com/story/legend-chinese-zodiac|url-status = live}}</ref> called "The Great Race" tells of the [[Jade Emperor]]'s decree 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.


{{blockquote|
Within the [[Four Pillars of Destiny|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 (upper [[Chinese characters|character]]) and one's spouse (lower [[Chinese characters|character]]) or adult age, and the hour column about children or late age.<ref name="chinesefortunecalendar.com">[http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/5EBasic.htm chinesefortunecalendar.com]</ref>
The [[Cat (zodiac)|Cat]] and the [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]] were not good at swimming, but they were both quite intelligent. They decided that the best and fastest way to cross the river was to hop on the back of the [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]]. The Ox, being kindhearted and naive, agreed to carry them both across. As the Ox was about to reach the other side of the river, the Rat pushed the Cat into the water, and then jumped off the Ox and rushed to the Jade Emperor. It was named as the first animal of the zodiac calendar. The Ox had to settle for second place.


The third animal to come was the [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]]. Even though it was strong and powerful, it admitted to the Jade Emperor that the currents were pushing it downstream.
==Four Animal Trines==2005
{{See|Astrological aspect#Trine}}


Suddenly, a ''thump'' sound came from the distance, signaling the arrival of the [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]]. It explained how it crossed the river: by jumping from one stone to another in a nimble fashion. Halfway through, it thought it might lose the race, but it was lucky enough to grab hold of a floating log that later washed it to shore. For that, it became the fourth animal in the zodiac cycle.
===First Trine===2005
The first [[Astrological aspect#Trine|Trine]] consists of the '''[[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]], [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]], and [[Monkey (zodiac)|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.


In fifth place was the flying [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]]. The Jade Emperor wondered why a swift, airborne creature such as the Dragon did not come in first place. The Dragon explained that it had to stop by a village and bring rain for all the people, and therefore it was held back. Then, on its way to the finish, it saw the helpless Rabbit clinging onto a log, so it did a good deed and gave a puff of breath in the poor creature's direction so that it could land on the shore. The Jade Emperor was astonished by the Dragon's good nature, and it was named as the fifth animal of the zodiac.
===Second Trine===2005
The second [[Astrological aspect#Trine|Trine]] consists of the '''[[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]], [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]], and [[Rooster (zodiac)|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.


As soon as the Dragon arrived, there came a galloping sound, and the [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]] appeared. Hidden on the Horse's hoof was the [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]], whose sudden appearance gave the Horse a fright, thus making it fall back and giving the Snake the sixth spot while the Horse placed seventh.
===Third Trine===2005
The third [[Astrological aspect#Trine|Trine]] consists of the '''[[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]], [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]], and [[Dog (zodiac)|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.


After a while, the [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]], [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]], and [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]] came to the river blocking the heavenly gate. The Rooster found a raft, and the Monkey and the Goat tugged and pulled, trying to get all the weeds out of the way. With combined efforts, they managed to arrive to the other side. The Jade Emperor was pleased with their teamwork and decided to name the Goat as the eighth animal, followed by the Monkey and then the Rooster.
===Fourth Trine===2005
The fourth [[Astrological aspect#Trine|Trine]] consists of the '''[[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]], [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]], and [[Pig (zodiac)|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 naive, pedantic, insecure, selfish, indecisive, and pessimistic.


The eleventh animal placed in the zodiac cycle was the [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]]. Although it should have been the best swimmer and runner, it spent its time playing in the river water. Its explanation for being late was that it needed a good bath after a long journey, but it almost did not make it to the finish line.
==Zodiac origin stories==
{{unsourced section|date=May 2018}}
There are many [[Narrative|stories]] and [[fable]]s 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:


Right when the Jade Emperor was going to end the race, an ''oink'' sound was heard: it was the [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]]. The Pig felt hungry in the middle of the race, so it stopped, ate something, and then fell asleep. After it awoke, it finished the race in twelfth place, making it the last animal to arrive.
[[Earthly Branches]] may refer to a double-hour period. In the latter case it is the center of the period; for instance, [[wiktionary:马|马]] ([[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]]) means noon or a period from 11:00&nbsp;am to 1:00&nbsp;pm.
*[[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]] (Zishi): 23:00 to 00:59. This is the time when [[Rat (zodiac)|Rats]] are most active in seeking food. [[Rat (zodiac)|Rats]] also have a different number of digits on front and hind legs, thus earning the [[symbol]] of "turn over" or "new start".
*[[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]] (Choushi): 01:00 to 02:59. This is the time when [[Ox (zodiac)|Oxen]] begin to chew the cud slowly and comfortably.
*[[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]] (Yinshi): 03:00 to 04:59. This is the time when [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tigers]] hunt their prey more and show their ferocity.
*[[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]] (Maoshi): 05:00 to 06:59. This is the time when the [[Moon rabbit|Jade Rabbit]] is busy pounding herbal medicine on the [[Moon]] according to the [[Narrative|tale]].
*[[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]] (Chenshi): 07:00 to 08:59. This is the time when [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragons]] are hovering in the sky to give rain.
*[[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]] (Sishi): 09:00 to 10:59. This is the time when [[Snake (zodiac)|Snakes]] are leaving their caves.
*[[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]] (Wushi): 11:00 to 12:59. This is the time when the [[Sun]] is high overhead and while other animals are lying down for a rest, [[Horse (zodiac)|Horses]] are still standing.
*[[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]] (Weishi): 13:00 to 14:59. This is the time when [[Goat (zodiac)|Goats]] eat grass and urinate frequently.
*[[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]] (Shenshi): 15:00 to 16:59. This is the time when [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkeys]] are lively.
*[[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]] (Youshi): 17:00 to 18:59. This is the time when [[Rooster (zodiac)|Roosters]] begin to get back to their coops.
*[[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]] (Xushi): 19:00 to 20:59. This is the time when [[Dog (zodiac)|Dogs]] carry out their duty of guarding the houses.
*[[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]] (Haishi): 21:00 to 22:59. This is the time when [[Pig (zodiac)|Pigs]] are sleeping sweetly.


The Cat eventually drowned and failed to become part of the zodiac. It is said that this is the reason why cats hate water. It is also the reason for the rivalry between the Cat and Rat, as it was the Rat's callous act to push the Cat into the river.}}
===The Great Race===
An [[History of China|ancient]] [[Folklore|folk]] [[Narrative|story]] tells that [[Cat (zodiac)|Cat]] and [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]] were both very bad at swimming. Although they were poor swimmers, they were both quite intelligent. To get to the meeting called by the [[Jade Emperor]], they had to cross a river to reach the meeting place. The Jade Emperor had also decreed that the years on the [[calendar]] would be named for each animal in the order they arrived to the meeting. [[Cat (zodiac)|Cat]] and [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]] decided that the best and fastest way to cross the river was to hop on the back of [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]]. [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]], being kindhearted and naive, agreed to carry them both across.


====Variations====
As the [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]] was about to reach the other side of the river, the [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]] pushed the [[Cat (zodiac)|Cat]] into the water, and then jumped off the [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]], and rushed to the Jade Emperor. It was named as the first animal of the [[zodiac]] [[calendar]]. The [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]] had to settle in second place. The third one to come, was the [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]]. Even though it was strong and powerful, it explained to the Jade Emperor that the currents were pushing him downstream.
Another version of the folktale tells that the Rat deceived the Ox into letting it jump on its back by promising the Ox that it could hear the Rat sing,<ref name="CyndiChen">{{cite web |author=Cyndi Chen |url=http://wlconline.drake.edu/chinese/2013/02/26/the-12-animals-of-the-chinese-zodiac-%E5%8D%81%E4%BA%8C%E7%94%9F%E8%82%96/ |title=The 12 Animals of the Chinese Zodiac 十二生肖 |date=2013-02-26 |access-date=October 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130306021956/http://wlconline.drake.edu/chinese/2013/02/26/the-12-animals-of-the-chinese-zodiac-%E5%8D%81%E4%BA%8C%E7%94%9F%E8%82%96/ |archive-date=March 6, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> before jumping off at the finish line and finishing first. Another variant says that the Rat cheated the Cat out its place at the finish line, by hiding on the back of the Dog, who was too focused to notice that he had a stow-away. The Cat tried to attack the rat in retaliation, but hurt the Dog by accident. This is said to account for the antagonistic dynamic between cats and rats, beyond normal predator and prey behavior, and also why dogs and cats fight.


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.{{citation needed|date=June 2019}}
Suddenly, from a distance came a thumping sound, and the [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]] arrived. It explained how it crossed the river: by jumping from one stone to another, in a nimble fashion. Halfway through, it almost lost the race, but it was lucky enough to grab hold of a floating log that later washed him to shore. For that, it became the fourth animal in the [[zodiac]] cycle. In fifth place, was the flying [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]]. The Jade Emperor was wondering why such a swift airborne creature such as the [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]] failed to come in first.


In [[Chinese Buddhism|Buddhist]] legend [[Gautama Buddha]] summoned all animals of the [[Earth (Wu Xing)|Earth]] to come before him before his departure from this [[Earth (Wu Xing)|Earth]], but only twelve animals came to bid him farewell. To reward the these animals, he named a year after each of them in the order they had arrived.
The [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]] explained that it had to stop by a village and brought rain for all the people, and therefore it was held back. Then, on its way to the finish, it saw the helpless [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]] clinging onto a log, so it did a good deed and gave a puff of breath to the poor creature so that it could land on the shore. The Jade Emperor was astonished by the [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon's]] good [[nature]], and it was named as the fifth animal. As soon as it had done so, a galloping sound was heard, and the [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]] appeared.


The twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac were developed in the early stages of [[History of China|Chinese civilization]], so therefore it is difficult to investigate its real origins. Most historians agree that the Cat is not included, as cats had not yet been introduced to China from India with the arrival of [[Buddhism]]. However until recently, the Vietnamese moved away from their [[Traditional Vietnamese medicine|traditional texts]]<ref>Jan Van Alphen, Anthony Aris ''Oriental Medicine: An Illustrated Guide to the Asian Arts of Healing'' 1995 - Page 211 "Its influence on the cultural and medical traditions of Vietnam can be clearly seen in, for example, the classical distinction between Thuoc nam, 'Southern medicine', and Thuoc bac, 'Northern or Chinese Medicine'. Both were practised and ..."</ref> and literature and, unlike all other countries who follow the Sino lunar calendar, include the Cat instead of the Rabbit as a zodiac animal. The most common explanation is that cats are worshipped by farmers in East Asia, believing that cats' luck and prosperity protects their crops.<ref>{{Cite book |title=The book of symbols: archetypal reflections in word and image |date=2010 |publisher=Taschen |isbn=978-3-8365-1448-4 |editor-last=Ronnberg |editor-first=Ami |location=Köln |pages=300 |editor-last2=Martín |editor-first2=Kathleen Rock}}</ref> Another popular cultural reason is that the ancient word for [[Rabbit (zodiac)|rabbit]] (Mao) sounds like cat (Meo).<ref>{{Cite web|title = Year of the Cat OR Year of the Rabbit?|url = http://www.nwasianweekly.com/2011/02/year-of-the-cat-or-year-of-the-rabbit/|website = www.nwasianweekly.com|date = 3 February 2011|access-date = 2016-02-23|language = en-US|archive-date = 2016-03-04|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304050436/http://www.nwasianweekly.com/2011/02/year-of-the-cat-or-year-of-the-rabbit/|url-status = live}}</ref>
Hidden on the [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse's]] hoof was the [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]], whose sudden appearance gave it a fright, thus making it fall back and giving the [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]] the sixth spot, while the [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]] placed seventh. After a while, the [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]], [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]], and [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]] came to the [[heaven]]ly gate. With combined efforts, they managed to arrive to the other side. The [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]] found a raft, and the [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]] and the [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]] tugged and pulled, trying to get all the weeds out of the way.


==Adaptations==
The Jade Emperor was pleased with their teamwork and decided to name the [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]] as the eighth animal followed by the [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]], and then the [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]]. The eleventh animal placed in the [[zodiac]] cycle was the [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]]. Although it should have been the best swimmer, it spent its time to play in the water. Though his explanation for being late was because it needed a good bath after a long [[Spell (paranormal)|spell]]. For that, it almost did not make it to the finish line.
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2022}}
The Chinese zodiac signs are also used by [[Chinese culture|cultures]] other than [[Chinese language|Chinese]]. For 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 services issue a "Year of the ____" postage stamp each year to honor this [[Chinese language|Chinese]] [[History of China|heritage]].


The zodiac is widely used in commercial culture, for example, in the Chinese New Year market, and popular zodiac-related products, such as crafts, toys, books, accessories, and paintings and [[Chinese lunar coins]]. The coins depict [[zodiac]] animals, inspired the [[Canadian Silver Maple Leaf#Privy Mark Silver Maple Leaf|Canadian Silver Maple Leaf]] [[coin]]s, as well as varieties from [[Australia]], [[South Korea]], and [[Mongolia]].
Right when the Emperor was going to close the race, an "oink" sound was heard: it was the [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]]. "Lazy little [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]]" originated from this [[Narrative|story]]. The [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]] felt hungry in the middle of the race, so it stopped, ate something and then fell asleep. After it awoke, it finished the race in twelfth place, and became the last animal to arrive. The cat eventually drowned, and did not make it in the [[zodiac]]. It is said that this is the reason cats always hunt [[Rat (zodiac)|Rats]].
[[File:Rat and Ox.jpg|thumb|This image depicts a scene from the "Great Race" [[Folklore|folk]] [[Narrative|story]], in which the [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]] carries the [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]] across the river.]]
Another [[Folklore|folk]] [[Narrative|story]] tells that the [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]] deceived the [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]] into letting it jump on its back, in order for the [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]] to hear the [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]] sing,<ref name="CyndiChen">{{cite web |author=Cyndi Chen |url=http://wlconline.drake.edu/chinese/2013/02/26/the-12-animals-of-the-chinese-zodiac-%E5%8D%81%E4%BA%8C%E7%94%9F%E8%82%96/ |title=The 12 Animals of the Chinese Zodiac 十二生肖 |date=2013-02-26 |accessdate=October 11, 2013 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130306021956/http://wlconline.drake.edu/chinese/2013/02/26/the-12-animals-of-the-chinese-zodiac-十二生肖/ |archivedate=2013-03-06}}</ref> before jumping off at the finish line and finishing first.


The Chinese zodiac is also used in some Asian countries that were under the [[Chinese culture|cultural]] influence of [[China]]. However, some of the animals in the [[zodiac]] may differ by [[country]].
In [[Chinese mythology]], a [[Narrative|story]] tells that the cat was tricked by the [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]] so it could not go to the [[banquet]]. This is why the cat is ultimately not part of the Chinese zodiac.


===Asian {{anchor|korean|vietnamese}}===
In [[Buddhism]], [[Chinese mythology|legend]] has it{{citation needed|date=May 2018}} that [[Gautama Buddha]] summoned all of the animals of the [[Earth (Wu Xing)|Earth]] to come before him before his departure from this [[Earth (Wu Xing)|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.
{{Further|Bulgar calendar|Vietnamese zodiac}}


The '''Korean zodiac''' includes the ''Sheep'' (''yang'') instead of the ''Goat'' (which would be ''yeomso''), although the [[Chinese language|Chinese]] source of the loanword ''yang'' may refer to any [[Caprinae|goat-antelope]].{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}
The twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac were developed in the early stages of [[History of China|Chinese civilization]]; 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]].


The '''Japanese zodiac''' includes the ''[[Sheep]]'' (''hitsuji'') instead of the ''[[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]]'' (which would be ''yagi''), and the ''[[Wild boar]]'' (''inoshishi'', ''i'') instead of the ''[[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]]'' (''buta'').<ref>{{cite web|url=http://japanesezodiac.org/|title=Japanese Zodiac Signs and Symbols|date=5 January 2012|access-date=1 January 2015|publisher=japanesezodiac.org/|archive-date=17 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217161809/http://japanesezodiac.org/|url-status=live}}</ref> Since 1873, the [[Japanese people|Japanese]] have celebrated the beginning of the new year on 1 January as per the [[Gregorian calendar]].{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}
==Problems with English translation==
Due to confusion with synonyms during translation, some of the animals depicted by the [[English language|English]] words did not exist in [[History of China|ancient China]]. For example, [[wiktionary:羊|羊]] can mean [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]], ram, and sheep. Similarly, [[wiktionary:鼠|鼠]] [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]] can be translated as mouse, as there are no distinctive words for the two [[genus|genera]] in [[Chinese language|Chinese]]. Further, [[wiktionary:豬|豬]] [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]] is sometimes translated to boar after its Japanese name, and [[wiktionary:牛|牛]] plainly means [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]] and [[Ox (zodiac)|Cow]], and not water buffalo, [[wiktionary:水牛|水牛]]. [[wiktionary:雞|雞]] [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]] may mean [[Rooster (zodiac)|Chicken]]. However, [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]] is the most commonly used one among all the synonyms, same for [[wiktionary:羊|羊]], [[wiktionary:鼠|鼠]].


The '''Vietnamese zodiac''' varies from the Chinese zodiac with the second animal being the [[Water buffalo (zodiac)|Water Buffalo]] instead of the [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]], and the fourth animal being the [[Cat (zodiac)|Cat]] instead of the [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]].{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}
==Chinese zodiac in other countries==
The Chinese zodiac signs are also used by [[Chinese culture|cultures]] other than [[Chinese language|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 those of several other [[Country|countries]] issue a "Year of the ____" postage stamp each year to honor this [[Chinese language|Chinese]] [[History of China|heritage]].
The '''Cambodian zodiac''' is exactly identical to that of the Chinese although the dragon is interchangeable with the Neak ([[nāga]]) [[Cambodia]]n sea snake.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chinese Zodiac:Legend and Characteristics |url=https://windowintochina.wordpress.com/tag/cambodia-zodiac/ |website=windowintochina.wordpress.com |access-date=19 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719062638/https://windowintochina.wordpress.com/tag/cambodia-zodiac/ |archive-date=19 July 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Sheep and Goat are interchangeable as well. The [[Cambodian New Year]] is celebrated in April, rather than in January or February as it is in China and most countries.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Khmer Calendar {{!}} Cambodian Religion, Festivals and Zodiac Astrology |url=https://humanoriginproject.com/the-khmer-calendar-cambodian-religion-festivals-and-zodiac-astrology/ |website=humanoriginproject.com |access-date=19 July 2019 |date=2019-04-25 |archive-date=2019-07-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719062639/https://humanoriginproject.com/the-khmer-calendar-cambodian-religion-festivals-and-zodiac-astrology/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Khmer Chhankitek Calendar |url=http://www.cam-cc.org/calendar/chhankitek.php |website=cam-cc.org |access-date=19 July 2019 |archive-date=30 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091030171157/http://www.cam-cc.org/calendar/chhankitek.php |url-status=live }}</ref>


The '''[[Cham calendar|Cham zodiac]]''' uses the same order as the Chinese zodiac, but replaces the [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]] with the turtle (known locally as ''kra'').
The [[Chinese lunar coins]], depicting the [[zodiac]] animals, inspired the [[Canadian Silver Maple Leaf#Privy Mark Silver Maple Leaf|Canadian Silver Maple Leaf]] [[coin]]s, as well as varieties from [[Australia]], [[Korea]], and [[Mongolia]]. The Chinese zodiac is an internationally popular theme, available from many of the world's [[government]] and private mints.


Similarly the '''Malay zodiac''' replaces the [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]] with the [[Chevrotain|mousedeer]] (''pelanduk'') and the [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]] with the tortoise (''kura'' or ''kura-kura'').<ref>{{cite book |author=Farouk Yahya |title=Malay Magic and Divination in Illuminated Manuscripts |publisher=Brill |year=2015 |ISBN=978-90-04-30172-6 |pages=296–306 |chapter=Glossary |chapter-url=https://brill.com/view/book/9789004301726/B9789004301726-s011.xml}}</ref> The [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]] (''Loong'') is normally equated with the [[nāga]] but it is sometimes called Big Snake (''ular besar'') while the [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake sign]] is called Second Snake (''ular sani''). This is also recorded in a 19th-century manuscript compiled by [[John Leyden]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Leyden |first=John |author-link=John Leyden |url=http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/Viewer.aspx?ref=or_15936_fs001r |title=Notes and vocabularies in Malay, Thai, Burmese and other minor languages |publisher=[[The British Library]] |page=104 |chapter=Cycle of years used by the Malays |access-date=16 June 2022 |chapter-url=http://www.bl.uk/manuscripts/Viewer.aspx?ref=or_15936_f103v |via=Digitised Manuscripts }}{{Dead link|date=April 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
The Chinese zodiac is also used in some other [[Asia]]n [[Country|countries]] that have been under the [[Chinese culture|cultural]] influence of [[China]]. However, some of the animals in the [[zodiac]] may differ by [[country]].


The '''Thai zodiac''' includes a ''[[nāga]]'' in place of the [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]]<ref>{{cite web |date=5 January 2012 |title="งูใหญ่-พญานาค-มังกร" รู้จัก 3 สัญลักษณ์ปี "มะโรง" |url=http://www.prachachat.net/news_detail.php?newsid=1325702834 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101021634/http://www.prachachat.net/news_detail.php?newsid=1325702834 |archive-date=1 January 2015 |access-date=1 January 2015 |publisher=ประชาชาติธุรกิจ}}</ref> 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 (Thailand)|Songkran]] [[Songkran|New Year festival]] (now celebrated every 13–15 April), depending on the purpose of the use.<ref>{{cite web |title=การเปลี่ยนวันใหม่ การนับวัน ทางโหราศาสตร์ไทย การเปลี่ยนปีนักษัตร โหราศาสตร์ ดูดวง ทำนายทายทัก |url=http://www.myhora.com/บทความ/การนับวันทางโหราศาสตร์-004.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110103152835/http://www.myhora.com/บทความ/การนับวันทางโหราศาสตร์-004.aspx |archive-date=2011-01-03}}</ref>
===Asia {{anchor|korean|vietnamese}}===
Historically, [[Lan Na]] (Kingdom around Northern Thailand) also replaces pig with elephant. While modern Thai have returned to pig, its name is still [[:th:กุน|กุน (gu̜n)]], retaining the actual word for elephant in the zodiac.<ref>{{cite web |title=ตุงตั๋วเปิ้ง |url=https://art-culture.cmu.ac.th/Lanna/articleDetail/2165}}</ref>
{{Further|Burmese zodiac}}
The '''Korean zodiac''' is essentially identical to the Chinese zodiac, but the [[Sino-Korean vocabulary|Sino-Korean]] word 양 (''[[Yin and yang|yang]]'') normally refers specifically to a sheep in the [[Korean language]] (where a native [[Korean language|Korean]] word 염소 ''yeomso'' is used to mean "[[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]]"), although the [[Chinese language|Chinese]] source of the loanword ''[[Yin and yang|yang]]'' may refer to any [[Caprinae|goat-antelope]].


The '''[[Gurung people|Gurung]] zodiac''' in [[Nepal]] includes a Cow instead of an Ox, a Cat instead of Rabbit, an Eagle instead of a Dragon (''Loong''), a Bird instead of a Rooster, and a Deer instead of a Pig.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}
The '''Japanese zodiac''' includes the ''[[Sheep]]'' (''hitsuji'') instead of the ''[[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]]'' (which would be ''yagi''), and the ''[[Wild boar]]'' (''inoshishi'', ''i'') instead of the ''[[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]]'' (''buta'').<ref>{{cite web|url=http://japanesezodiac.org/|title=Japanese Zodiac Signs and Symbols|date=5 January 2012|accessdate=1 January 2015|publisher=japanesezodiac.org/}}</ref> Since 1873, the [[Japanese people|Japanese]] have celebrated the beginning of the new year on 1 January as per the [[Gregorian calendar]].


The '''[[Bulgar calendar]]''' used from the 2nd century<ref>{{cite web |title=dtrif/abv: Name list of Bulgarian hans |url=http://theo.inrne.bas.bg/~dtrif/abv/imenik_e.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204205748/http://theo.inrne.bas.bg/~dtrif/abv/imenik_e.htm |archive-date=2012-02-04 |access-date=2009-04-15 |publisher=theo.inrne.bas.bg}}</ref> and that has been only partially reconstructed uses a similar sixty-year cycle of twelve animal-named years groups.<ref>Именник на българските ханове&nbsp;– ново тълкуване. М.Москов. С. 1988 г. § 80,70</ref>
The '''Vietnamese zodiac''' is almost identical to the Chinese zodiac except the second animal is the ''[[Water buffalo (zodiac)|Water Buffalo]]'' instead of the ''[[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]]'', and the fourth animal is the ''[[Cat (zodiac)|Cat]]'' instead of the ''[[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]]''.


The '''[[Mongol calendar|Old Mongol calendar]]''' uses the Mouse, the Ox, the [[Leopard]], the [[Hare]], the [[Crocodile]], the Serpent, the Horse, the Sheep, the Monkey, the [[Hen (bird)|Hen]], the Dog and the Hog.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Grahame |first1=F. R. |url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924023035177 |title=The archer and the steppe; or, The empires of Scythia, a history of Russia |year=1860 |page=[https://archive.org/details/cu31924023035177/page/n269 258] |access-date=13 March 2020}}</ref>
The '''[[Cham calendar|Cham zodiac]]''' uses the same animals and order as the Chinese zodiac, but replaces the [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]] with the turtle (known locally as ''kra''). Similarly the '''Malay zodiac''' is identical to the [[Chinese language|Chinese]] but replaces two of the animals with the turtle (''kura-kura'') and [[Chevrotain|mousedeer]] (''kancil''). One of the replaced animals is always the [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]], the other being either the [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]] or [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]].


The '''[[Tibetan calendar]]''' replaces the [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]] with the [[bird]].
The '''Thai zodiac''' includes a ''[[nāga]]'' in place of the ''[[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prachachat.net/news_detail.php?newsid=1325702834|title="งูใหญ่-พญานาค-มังกร" รู้จัก 3 สัญลักษณ์ปี "มะโรง"|date=5 January 2012|accessdate=1 January 2015|publisher=ประชาชาติธุรกิจ}}</ref> and begins, not at [[Chinese New Year]], but either on the first day of fifth month in [[Thai lunar calendar]], or during the [[Songkran (Thailand)|Songkran]] [[Songkran|festival]] (now celebrated every 13–15 April), depending on the purpose of the use.<ref>{{cite web|title=การเปลี่ยนวันใหม่ การนับวัน ทางโหราศาสตร์ไทย การเปลี่ยนปีนักษัตร โหราศาสตร์ ดูดวง ทำนายทายทัก|url=http://www.myhora.com/%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%82%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A8%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%8C/%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%87%E0%B9%82%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A8%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%8C-004.aspx|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110103152835/http://www.myhora.com/%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%9E%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%99%E0%B9%82%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A8%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%8C/%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%9A%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%87%E0%B9%82%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%A8%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%8C-004.aspx|archivedate=2011-01-03|df=}}</ref>


The '''[[Volga Bulgars]]''', '''[[Kazars]]''' and other Turkic peoples replaced some animals by local fauna: Leopard (instead of Tiger), [[Fish]] or Crocodile (instead of Dragon/Loong), [[Hedgehog]] (instead of Monkey), [[Asian elephant|Elephant]] (instead of Pig), and [[Camel]] (instead of Rat/Mouse).<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Davletshin1 |first1=Gamirzan M. |date=2015 |title=The Calendar and the Time Account of the Turko-Tatars |journal=Journal of Sustainable Development |volume=8 |issue=5}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Dani |first1=A. H. |url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000103305 |title=History of Humanity |last2=Mohen |first2=J.-P. |publisher=UNESCO |volume=II: From the Third Millennium to the Seventh Century B.C. |access-date=13 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614042910/https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000103305 |archive-date=14 June 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>
===Bulgars, Huns and Turkic people {{anchor|huns}}===
{{unsourced|section|date=January 2019}}
This common [[Chinese language|Chinese]]-[[Turkic languages|Turkic]] [[Zodiac]] was in use in [[Balkans|Balkan]] [[Bulgaria]] well into the [[Bulgars|Bulgar]]s' adoption of [[Slavic languages]] and [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox Christianity]] {{citation needed|date=June 2015}}. Following is the [[Huns|Hunnish]] or [[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]] [[Paganism|Pagan]] [[zodiac]] [[calendar]], distinctive from the [[Ancient Greek|Greek]] [[zodiac]] but much in conformity with the [[Chinese language|Chinese]] one:


In the '''[[Persian astrology|Persian]]''' version of the Eastern zodiac brought by Mongols during the Middle Ages, the Chinese word ''lóng'' and Mongol word ''lū'' (Dragon) was translated as ''nahang'' meaning "water beast", and may refer to any dangerous aquatic animal both mythical and real (crocodiles, hippos, sharks, sea serpents, etc.). In the 20th century the term ''nahang'' is used almost exclusively as meaning [[Whale]], thus switching the Loong for the Whale in the Persian variant.<ref>Rasulid Hexaglot. P. B. Golden, ed., ''The King’s Dictionary: The Rasūlid Hexaglot – Fourteenth Century Vocabularies in Arabic, Persian, Turkic, Greek, Armenian and Mongol'', tr. T. Halasi-Kun, P. B. Golden, L. Ligeti, and E. Schütz, HO VIII/4, Leiden, 2000.</ref><ref>Jan Gyllenbok, ''Encyclopaedia of Historical Metrology, Weights, and Measures'', Volume 1, 2018, p. 244.</ref>
====Torè calendar====
Names of years
# Kuzgé – [Year of] Saravana - [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]]
# Shiger (Syger) – [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]]
# Kuman (Imén)
# Ügur – [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]], Myachè Ügur – [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]]
# Taushan – [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]]
# Samar – [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]] Birgün (Bergen, Birig, Baradj) – [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]]
# Dilan – [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]]
# Tykha – [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]]
# Téké – [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]]
# Bichin, Michin – [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]]
# Tavuk – [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]] (also written tağuk&mdash;''ğ'' is pronounced as ''v'' in Turk. verbs ''döğmek'' and ''öğmek'')
# It – [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]]
# Shushma – [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]] (many{{who|date=February 2013}} mistake it as boar though) (Turk., Russ. "Kaban"—Translator's{{who|date=February 2013}} Note, also cognate of Turkish ''şişman'', "fat")


In [[Kazakhstan]], an animal cycle similar to the [[Chinese language|Chinese]] is used, but the [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]] is substituted by a snail ({{lang-kz|улу}}), and [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]] appears as a leopard ({{lang-kz|барыс}}).
In the traditional '''[[Kazakhs|Kazakh]]''' version of the twelve-year animal cycle ({{langx|kk|мүшел}}, ''müşel''), the [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]] is replaced by a snail ({{langx|kk|ұлу}}, ''ulw''), and the [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]] appears as a leopard ({{langx|kk|барыс}}, ''barıs'').<ref>А. Мухамбетова (A. Mukhambetova), [http://kazahd.do.am/publ/1-1-0-108 Казахский традиционный календарь "The traditional Kazakh calendar"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115065418/https://kazahd.do.am/publ/1-1-0-108|date=2022-01-15}} {{in lang|ru}}</ref>


In the '''[[Kyrgyz people|Kyrgyz]]''' version of the Chinese zodiac ({{langx|ky|мүчөл}}, ''müçöl'') the words for the Dragon ({{langx|ky|улуу}}, ''uluu''), Monkey ({{langx|ky|мечин}}, ''meçin'') and Tiger ({{langx|ky|барс}}, ''bars'') are only found in Chinese zodiac names, other animal names include Mouse, Cow, Rabbit, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Chicken, Dog and Wild boar.<ref>{{cite web |date=2003 |title=Chinese Lunar Calendar Stamps from Kyrgyzstan |url=https://colnect.com/en/stamps/stamp/375767-Oriental_Lunar_Calendar-Chinese_Lunar_Calendar-Kyrgyzstan |language=en}}</ref>
In [[Mongolia]], 12 year beasts are called "Арван хоёр жил" meaning "12 years"
{| class="wikitable"
# Hulgana - Хулгана - [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]]
|+
# Ukher - Үхэр - [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]]
! colspan="13" |Chinese Zodiac by Ethnic Group
# Bar - Бар - [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]]
|-
# Tuulai - Туулай - [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]]
!Ethnic Group
# Luu - Луу - [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]]
!1
# Mogoi - Могой - [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]]
!2
# Mori - Морь - [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]]
!3
# Honi - Хонь - [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]]
!4
# Bichin, Michin, Mechin - Бич/Мич, Бичин, Мичин, Мэчин - [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]]
!5
# Tahiya - Тахиа - [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]]
!6
# Nohoi - Нохой - [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]]
!7
# Gahai - Гахай - [[Pig (zodiac)|Pig]]
!8
!9
!10
!11
!12
|-
|Chinese
|Rat
|Ox
|Tiger
|Rabbit
|Dragon
|Snake
|Horse
|Goat
|Monkey
|Rooster
|Dog
|Pig
|-
|Korean
|Rat
|Ox
|Tiger
|Rabbit
|Dragon
|Snake
|Horse
|'''Sheep'''
|Monkey
|Rooster
|Dog
|Pig
|-
|Japanese
|Rat
|Ox
|Tiger
|Rabbit
|Dragon
|Snake
|Horse
|'''Sheep'''
|Monkey
|Rooster
|Dog
|'''Wild Boar'''
|-
|Vietnamese
|Rat
|'''Water Buffalo'''
|Tiger
|'''Cat'''
|Dragon
|Snake
|Horse
|Goat
|Monkey
|Rooster
|Dog
|Pig
|-
|Cambodian
|Rat
|Ox
|Tiger
|Rabbit
|'''Nāga'''
|Snake
|Horse
|'''Sheep'''
|Monkey
|Rooster
|Dog
|Pig
|-
|Cham
|Rat
|Ox
|Tiger
|Rabbit
|Dragon
|Snake
|Horse
|Goat
|'''Turtle'''
|Rooster
|Dog
|Pig
|-
|Malay
|Rat
|Ox
|Tiger
|'''Mousedeer'''
|'''Nāga'''
|Snake
|Horse
|Goat
|Monkey
|Rooster
|Dog
|'''Tortoise'''
|-
|Thai
|Rat
|Ox
|Tiger
|Rabbit
|'''Nāga'''
|Snake
|Horse
|Goat
|Monkey
|Rooster
|Dog
|Pig
|-
|Lanna (Thai)
|Rat
|Ox
|Tiger
|Rabbit
|'''Nāga'''
|Snake
|Horse
|Goat
|Monkey
|Rooster
|Dog
|'''Elephant'''
|-
|Gurung
|Rat
|'''Cow'''
|Tiger
|'''Cat'''
|'''Eagle'''
|Snake
|Horse
|Goat
|Monkey
|'''Bird'''
|Dog
|'''Deer'''
|-
|Bulgar
|Rat
|Ox
|'''Tiger/Wolf'''
|Rabbit
|Dragon
|Snake
|Horse
|'''Ram'''
|Monkey
|Rooster
|Dog
|'''Boar'''
|-
|Old Mongolian
|Rat
|Ox
|'''Leopard'''
|'''Hare'''
|'''Crocodile'''
|'''Serpent'''
|Horse
|'''Sheep'''
|Monkey
|'''Hen'''
|Dog
|'''Hog'''
|-
|Tibetan
|Rat
|Ox
|Tiger
|Rabbit
|Dragon
|Snake
|Horse
|Goat
|Monkey
|'''Bird'''
|Dog
|Pig
|-
|Kazars
|'''Camel'''
|Ox
|'''Leopard'''
|Rabbit
|'''Fish/Crocodile'''
|Snake
|Horse
|Goat
|'''Hedgehog'''
|Rooster
|Dog
|'''Elephant'''
|-
|Persian
|Rat
|Ox
|Tiger
|Rabbit
|'''Whale'''
|Snake
|Horse
|Goat
|Monkey
|Rooster
|Dog
|Pig
|-
|Kazakhs
|Rat
|Ox
|'''Leopard'''
|Rabbit
|'''Snail'''
|Snake
|Horse
|Goat
|Monkey
|Rooster
|Dog
|Pig
|-
|Kyrgyz
|'''Mouse'''
|'''Cow'''
|Tiger
|Rabbit
|Dragon
|Snake
|Horse
|'''Sheep'''
|Monkey
|'''Chicken'''
|Dog
|'''Wild Boar'''
|-
|Turkmen
|'''Mouse'''
|'''Cow'''
|Tiger
|Rabbit
|Dragon/Fish
|Snake
|Horse
|'''Sheep'''
|Monkey
|'''Chicken'''
|Dog
|Pig
|}
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="13" |Chinese Zodiac by Ethnic Group (Native Names)
|-
!Ethnic Group
!1
!2
!3
!4
!5
!6
!7
!8
!9
!10
!11
!12
|-
| rowspan="2" |Cham
|''Tikuh''
|''Kubao''
|''Rimaong''
|''Tapay''
|''Inagirai''
|''Ulanaih''
|''Athaih''
|''Pabaiy''
|'''''Kra'''''
|''Manuk''
|''Athau''
|''Papwiy''
|-
|ꨓꨪꨆꨭꩍ
|ꨆꨭꨯꨝꨱ
|ꨣꨪꨠꨯꨱꨮ
|ꨓꨚꩈ
|꩓ꨘꨈꨪꨣꨰ
|ꨂꨤꨘꨰꩍ
|ꨀꨔꨰꩍ
|ꨚꨝꨰꩈ
|'''ꨆꨴ'''
|ꨠꨘꨭꩀ
|ꨀꨔꨭꨮ
|ꨚꩇꨥꨪꩈ
|-
| rowspan="2" |Malay
|''Tikus''
|''Kerbau''
|''Harimau''
|'''''Pelanduk'''''
|'''''Naga'''''
|'''''Ular'''''
|''Kuda''
|''Kambing''
|''Monyet''
|''Ayam Jantan''
|''Anjing''
|'''''Kura-kura'''''
|-
|تيکوس
|کرباو
|ريماو
|'''ڤلندوق'''
|'''اولر بسر'''
|'''اولر ثاني'''
|کودا
|کمبيڠ
|موڽيت
|أيم
|أنجيڠ
|'''کورا'''
|-
|Bulgar
|''Somor''
|''Shegor''
|''Ver''?
|''Dvan[sh]''
|''Ver[eni]''?
|''Dilom''
|''Imen[shegor]''?
|''Teku[chitem]''?
|
|''Toh''
|''Eth''
|''Dohs''
|-
| rowspan="2" |Turkmen
|Syçan
|Sygyr
|Bars
|Towşan
|Luw~balyk
|Ýylan
|Ýylky
|Goýun
|Bijin
|Towuk
|It
|Doňuz
|-
|سیچان
|سیغر
|بارس
|طاوشان
|لو~بالیق
|ییلان
|یلقی
|قویون
|بیجین
|طاویق
|ایت
|دونگغز
|}


==English translation==
In [[Kyrgyz language|Kyrgyz]] 12-year cycle is called "Мүчөл", words for [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]], [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]] and [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]] are only used in 12-year cycle.
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2022}}
# Çıçqan - Чычкан - [[Rat (zodiac)|Mouse]]
Due to confusion with synonyms during translation, some of the animals depicted by the [[English language|English]] words did not exist in [[History of China|ancient China]].{{citation needed|date=April 2021}} For example:
# Uy - Уй - [[Ox (zodiac)|Cow]]
*The term {{linktext|鼠}} [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]] can be translated as [[Mouse]], as there are no distinctive words for the two [[genus|genera]] in [[Chinese language|Chinese]]. However, [[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]] is the most commonly used one among all the synonyms.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}
# Bars - Барс - [[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]]
*The term {{linktext|牛}} [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]], a castrated [[Bull]], can be translated interchangeably with other terms related to [[Cattle]] (male [[Bull]], female [[Cow]]) and [[Bubalus|Buffalo]]. However, [[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]] is the most commonly used one among all the synonyms.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}
# Qoyon - Коён - [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]]
*The term {{linktext|卯}} [[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]] can be translated as [[Hare]], as 卯 (and 兔) do not distinguish between the two genera of [[leporids]]. As hares are native to China and most of Asia and rabbits are not, this would be more accurate. However, in colloquial English [[Rabbit#Differences from hares|''Rabbit'']] can encompass hares as well.
# Uluu - Улуу - [[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]]
*The term {{linktext|蛇}} [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]] can be translated as [[Snake|Serpent]], which refers to a large species of snake and has the same behavior, although this term is rarely used.
# Jılan - Жылан - [[Snake (zodiac)|Snake]]
*The term {{linktext|羊}} [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]] can be translated as [[Sheep]] and [[Ram (sheep)|Ram]], a male Sheep. However, [[Goat (zodiac)|Goat]] is the most commonly used one among all the synonyms.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}
# Jılqı - Жылкы - [[Horse (zodiac)|Horse]]
*The term {{linktext|雞}} [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]] can be translated interchangeably with [[Chicken]], as well as the female [[Hen (chicken)|Hen]]. However, [[Rooster (zodiac)|Rooster]] is the most commonly used one among all the synonyms in English-speaking countries.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}
# Qoy - Кой - [[Goat (zodiac)|Sheep]]
# Meçin - Мечин - [[Monkey (zodiac)|Monkey]]
# Tooq - Тоок - [[Rooster (zodiac)|Chicken]]
# It - Ит - [[Dog (zodiac)|Dog]]
# Doñuz - Доңуз - [[Pig (zodiac)|Wild boar]]


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery>
<gallery>
Image:Bloodletting chart, Tibet Wellcome L0035125.jpg|A [[chart]] indicating good and bad bloodletting days and when to guard against [[demon]]s. Detail: The [[chart]] contains a sme ba (9 figures [[symbol]]izing the [[Wu Xing|elements]] in [[geomancy]]) in the center with the [[Chinese language|Chinese]] pa-kua (8 [[trigram]]s) surrounded by 12 animals of months and years.
Image:Bloodletting chart, Tibet Wellcome L0035125.jpg|A [[chart]] indicating good and bad bloodletting days and when to guard against [[demon]]s. Detail: The [[chart]] contains a ''sme ba'' (9 figures [[symbol]]izing the [[Wuxing (Chinese philosophy)|elements]] in [[geomancy]]) in the center with the [[Chinese language|Chinese]] ''[[bagua]]'' (eight [[trigram]]s) surrounded by twelve animals of months and years.
Image:Soyombo.jpg|[[Soyombo symbol|Soyombo]] and several [[Buddhism|Buddhist]], [[Tengrism|tengrist]] and Chinese zodiac [[symbol]]s in a wall [[mosaic]].
Image:Soyombo.jpg|[[Soyombo symbol|Soyombo]] and several [[Buddhism|Buddhist]], [[Tengrism|Tengrist]], and Chinese zodiac [[symbol]]s in a wall [[mosaic]].
Image:12 zodiac.jpg|Twelve Chinese zodiac [[Hardstone carving|jade figurines]]. [[Capital Museum]], [[Beijing]], [[China]].
Image:12 zodiac.jpg|Twelve Chinese zodiac [[Hardstone carving|jade figurines]]. [[Capital Museum]], [[Beijing]], [[China]].
</gallery>
</gallery>


==See also==
==See also==
{{Portal|China}}
{{Portal|China|Asia|History}}
* [[Chinese astrology]]
* [[Four Pillars of Destiny]]
* [[Chinese spiritual world concepts]]
* [[Earthly Branches]]
* [[Earthly Branches]]
* [[Astrology and science]]
* [[Astrology and science]]
* [[Chinese New Year]]
* [[Chinese New Year]]


==References==
== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}


===Citations===
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


===Sources===
=== Sources ===
{{refbegin}}
{{refbegin}}
* Shelly H. Wu. (2005). ''Chinese Astrology''. Publisher: The Career Press, Inc. {{ISBN|1-56414-796-7}}
* Shelly H. Wu. (2005). ''Chinese Astrology''. Publisher: The Career Press, Inc. {{ISBN|1-56414-796-7}}.
{{refend}}
{{refend}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category|Chinese Zodiac}}
* "[http://chinaheritage.net/journal/the-year-of-the-rooster-on-seeing/ The Year of the Rooster: On Seeing]"
* "[http://chinaheritage.net/journal/the-year-of-the-rooster-on-seeing/ The Year of the Rooster: On Seeing]"
* "[http://chinaheritage.net/journal/the-year-of-the-rooster-on-eating-injecting-imbibing-and-speaking/ The Year of the Rooster, On Eating, Injecting, Imbibing & Speaking]"
* "[http://chinaheritage.net/journal/the-year-of-the-rooster-on-eating-injecting-imbibing-and-speaking/ The Year of the Rooster, On Eating, Injecting, Imbibing & Speaking]"
* "[http://chinaheritage.net/archive/2016-the-golden-monkey-%e9%87%91%e7%8c%b4-a-year-to-remember/ 2016: The Golden Monkey, A Year to Remember]"
* "[http://chinaheritage.net/archive/2016-the-golden-monkey-%e9%87%91%e7%8c%b4-a-year-to-remember/ 2016: The Golden Monkey, A Year to Remember]"
* "[http://chinaheritage.net/journal/the-dragon-raises-its-head-%e9%be%8d%e6%8a%ac%e9%a0%ad/ The Dragon Raises its Head 龍抬頭]"
* "[http://chinaheritage.net/journal/the-dragon-raises-its-head-%e9%be%8d%e6%8a%ac%e9%a0%ad/ The Dragon Raises its Head 龍抬頭]"
* "[https://www.chinesecalendaronline.com/zodiac/pig/ 2019 year of the Pig]"
* "[https://www.thechinastory.org/2016/03/from-the-year-of-the-ape-to-the-year-of-the-monkey/ From the Year of the Ape to the Year of the Monkey]" (on use of Zodiac figures for political criticism)
* "[https://www.thechinastory.org/2016/03/from-the-year-of-the-ape-to-the-year-of-the-monkey/ From the Year of the Ape to the Year of the Monkey] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411022019/https://www.thechinastory.org/2016/03/from-the-year-of-the-ape-to-the-year-of-the-monkey/ |date=2020-04-11 }}" (on use of Zodiac figures for political criticism)
* {{Commons category-inline|Chinese zodiac}}


{{-}}
{{Chinese Zodiac}}
{{Chinese Zodiac}}
{{East Asian topics}}
{{East Asian topics}}

<references group="*" />


[[Category:Astrology by tradition]]
[[Category:Astrology by tradition]]
[[Category:Astrology-related lists]]
[[Category:Chinese astrology]]
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[[Category:Chinese calendars]]
[[Category:Chinese calendars]]
[[Category:Chinese culture]]
[[Category:Chinese culture]]
[[Category:East Asian culture]]
[[Category:Culture of East Asia]]
[[Category:Cultural lists]]
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Latest revision as of 15:09, 6 December 2024

For the 2012 film starring Jackie Chan, see CZ12.
Unless otherwise specified, Chinese text in this article is written in the format Simplified Chinese / Traditional Chinese, Pinyin. If the Simplified and Traditional Chinese characters are identical, they are written only once.
Chinese zodiac
Chinese生肖
Hanyu Pinyinshēngxiào
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinshēngxiào
Bopomofoㄕㄥ ㄒㄧㄠˋ
Gwoyeu Romatzyhshengshiaw
Wade–Gilessheng1-hsiao4
IPA[ʂə́ŋ.ɕjâʊ]
Wu
Romanization[sen平-siau去] Error: {{Transliteration}}: transliteration text not Latin script (pos 4) (help)
Hakka
Romanizationsensiau
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanizationsāangchiu
Jyutpingsaang1 ciu3
IPA[saŋ˥.tsʰiw˧]
Southern Min
Hokkien POJsingsiàu
Eastern Min
Fuzhou BUCsăng-ngá
Alternative Chinese name
Simplified Chinese属相
Traditional Chinese屬相
Hanyu Pinyinshǔxiàng
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinshǔxiàng
Bopomofoㄕㄨˇ ㄒㄧㄤˋ
Gwoyeu Romatzyhshuushianq
Wade–Gilesshu3-hsiang4
IPA[ʂù.ɕjâŋ]
Wu
Romanization[zoh入-sian平] Error: {{Transliteration}}: transliteration text not Latin script (pos 4) (help)
Yue: Cantonese
Yale Romanizationsuhkseung
Jyutpingsuk6 soeng3
IPA[sʊk̚˨.sœŋ˧]
Southern Min
Hokkien POJsio̍ksiùnn

The Chinese zodiac is a traditional classification scheme based on the Chinese calendar that assigns an animal and its reputed attributes to each year in a repeating twelve-year cycle.[1] The zodiac is very important in traditional Chinese culture and exists as a reflection of Chinese philosophy and culture.[2] Chinese folkways held that one's personality is related to the attributes of their zodiac animal.[3] Originating from China, the zodiac and its variations remain popular in many East Asian and Southeast Asian countries, such as Japan,[4] South Korea,[5] Vietnam,[5] Singapore, Nepal, Bhutan, Cambodia, and Thailand.[6]

Identifying this scheme as a "zodiac" reflects superficial similarities to the Western zodiac: both divide time cycles into twelve parts, label the majority of those parts with animals, and are used to ascribe a person's personality or events in their life to the person's particular relationship to the cycle. The 12 Chinese zodiac animals in a cycle are not only used to represent years in China but are also believed to influence people's personalities, careers, compatibility, marriages, and fortunes.[7]

For the starting date of a zodiac year, there are two schools of thought in Chinese astrology: Chinese New Year or the start of spring.

History

[edit]

There are theories that suggest the twelve animals were chosen for their symbolic traits, based on their revered status in traditional Chinese culture. The selection process varied regionally before being standardized in the Han Dynasty (Cao, 2008). This standardization connected these animals into a cyclical timekeeping system, which is seen as a way to reflect personality traits and the broader society (Zhou, 2017).

The Chinese zodiac, as an essential part of Chinese culture, started to take shape during the Han Dynasty. This era formalizes a twelve-year cycle, where each year is associated with a specific animal, as part of a timekeeping system. This system, known as the zodiac cycle, combined the twelve Earthly Branches (地支) with the ten Heavenly Stems (天干) to create a total of a 60-year cycle. Each Earthly Branch was linked to an animal, and to the twelve zodiac signs: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.

According to legend, the Jade Emperor held a contest to decide which animals would be lucky enough to be included in the calendar. The winner of the race – the rat – received the first year of the 12-year cycle, and so on.[8]

However, according to historical records and research,[by whom?] the Chinese zodiac appeared after the establishment of the "Ganji Chronicle Law",[when?] and each of the twelve animals corresponded one of the twelve branches. People born in any given year have animals belonging to that branch of the earth, and accordingly, twelve animals are used for chronology and the genus of each person.

In the Eastern Han dynasty, Xu Shen said that the character si (巳) was the image of a snake, and the same was true for hai (亥) and shi (豕; 'pig'). Since the twelve Earthly Branches of the zodiac were easily confused, folks replaced them with animals and borrowed the ordinal symbols to match them with the Earthly Branches to form a chronological symbol system.[9]

"Totem and celestial combination theory", suggests the zodiac is ancient animal totem worship combined with astronomical images in astronomy. Among them, the explanation of the totem and celestial combinations is more scientific.[citation needed]

Signs

[edit]
A stone carving of the Chinese zodiac.
Ceramic figurines of calendar animals, from left to right: Tiger-headed, Dragon-headed, Snake-headed, Monkey-headed and Rooster-headed. Tang dynasty era. Musée Cernuschi

The zodiac traditionally begins with the sign of the Rat.[citation needed] The following are the twelve zodiac signs in order, each with its associated characteristics (Heavenly Stems, Earthly Branch, yin/yang force, Trine, and nature element).[10] The belief that everyone and every animal has a role to play in society conforms to Confucian beliefs in a hierarchical society. Just as Confucian beliefs persist in Asia today alongside more modern social views, so does zodiac use.[11]

Number English Animal Earthly branch Yin/yang Trine Fixed element
1 Rat 鼠 shǔ 子 zǐ Yang 1st Water
2 Ox 牛 niú 丑 chǒu Yin 2nd Earth
3 Tiger 虎 hǔ 寅 yín Yang 3rd Wood
4 Rabbit 兔 tù 卯 mǎo Yin 4th Wood
5 Dragon 龍/龙 lóng 辰 chén Yang 1st Earth
6 Snake 蛇 shé 巳 sì Yin 2nd Fire
7 Horse 馬/马 mǎ 午 wǔ Yang 3rd Fire
8 Goat 羊 yáng 未 wèi Yin 4th Earth
9 Monkey 猴 hóu 申 shēn Yang 1st Metal
10 Rooster 雞/鸡 jī 酉 yǒu Yin 2nd Metal
11 Dog 狗 gǒu 戌 xū Yang 3rd Earth
12 Pig 豬/猪 zhū 亥 hài Yin 4th Water

In Chinese astrology the animal signs assigned by year represent self-presentation or perception by others.[citation needed] It is a common misconception that the animals assigned by year are the only signs, and many Western descriptions of Chinese astrology only reference this system. There are also animal signs assigned by month (called "inner animals"), by day (called "true animals"), and hours (called "secret animals"). The Earth is all twelve signs, with five seasons.[citation needed]

Michel Ferlus (2013) notes that the Old Chinese names of the earthly branches are of Austroasiatic origin.[12][unreliable source?] Some of Ferlus's comparisons are given below, with Old Chinese reconstructions cited from Baxter & Sagart (2014).[13]

There is also a lexical correspondence with Austronesian:[12]

The terms for the earthly branches are attested from Shang dynasty inscriptions and were likely also used before Shang times. Ferlus (2013) suggests that the terms were ancient pre-Shang borrowings from Austroasiatic languages spoken in the Yangtze River region.[12]

Chinese calendar

[edit]
Main article: Chinese calendar

Years

[edit]
Main article: Sexagenary cycle

Within the Four Pillars, the year is the pillar representing information about the person's family background and society or relationship with their grandparents.[citation needed] The person's age can also be easily deduced from their sign, the current sign of the year, and the person's generational disposition (teens, mid-20s, and so on). For example, a person born a Tiger is 12, 24, 36, (etc.) years old in the year of the Tiger (2022); in the year of the Rabbit (2023), that person is one year older.

The following table shows the 60-year cycle matched up to the Gregorian calendar for 1924–2043. The sexagenary cycle begins at lichun about February 4 according to some astrological sources.[14][15]

  Year Year Associated
animal 		Yin/yang Associated
element		 Heavenly
stem		 Earthly
branch
1924–1983 1984–2043
1 Feb 05 1924–Jan 23 1925 Feb 02 1984–Feb 19 1985 Rat Yang Wood 甲 子
2 Jan 24 1925–Feb 12 1926 Feb 20 1985–Feb 08 1986 Ox Yin Wood 乙 丑
3 Feb 13 1926–Feb 01 1927 Feb 09 1986–Jan 28 1987 Tiger Yang Fire 丙 寅
4 Feb 02 1927–Jan 22 1928 Jan 29 1987–Feb 16 1988 Rabbit Yin Fire 丁 卯
5 Jan 23 1928–Feb 09 1929 Feb 17 1988–Feb 05 1989 Dragon Yang Earth 戊 辰
6 Feb 10 1929–Jan 29 1930 Feb 06 1989–Jan 26 1990 Snake Yin Earth 己 巳
7 Jan 30 1930–Feb 16 1931 Jan 27 1990–Feb 14 1991 Horse Yang Metal 庚 午
8 Feb 17 1931–Feb 05 1932 Feb 15 1991–Feb 03 1992 Goat Yin Metal 辛 未
9 Feb 06 1932–Jan 25 1933 Feb 04 1992–Jan 22 1993 Monkey Yang Water 壬 申
10 Jan 26 1933–Feb 13 1934 Jan 23 1993–Feb 09 1994 Rooster Yin Water 癸 酉
11 Feb 14 1934–Feb 03 1935 Feb 10 1994–Jan 30 1995 Dog Yang Wood 甲 戌
12 Feb 04 1935–Jan 23 1936 Jan 31 1995–Feb 18 1996 Pig Yin Wood 乙 亥
13 Jan 24 1936–Feb 10 1937 Feb 19 1996–Feb 06 1997 Rat Yang Fire 丙 子
14 Feb 11 1937–Jan 30 1938 Feb 07 1997–Jan 27 1998 Ox Yin Fire 丁 丑
15 Jan 31 1938–Feb 18 1939 Jan 28 1998–Feb 15 1999 Tiger Yang Earth 戊 寅
16 Feb 19 1939–Feb 07 1940 Feb 16 1999–Feb 04 2000 Rabbit Yin Earth 己 卯
17 Feb 08 1940–Jan 26 1941 Feb 05 2000–Jan 23 2001 Dragon Yang Metal 庚 辰
18 Jan 27 1941–Feb 14 1942 Jan 24 2001–Feb 11 2002 Snake Yin Metal 辛 巳
19 Feb 15 1942–Feb 04 1943 Feb 12 2002–Jan 31 2003 Horse Yang Water 壬 午
20 Feb 05 1943–Jan 24 1944 Feb 01 2003–Jan 21 2004 Goat Yin Water 癸 未
21 Jan 25 1944–Feb 12 1945 Jan 22 2004–Feb 08 2005 Monkey Yang Wood 甲 申
22 Feb 13 1945–Feb 01 1946 Feb 09 2005–Jan 28 2006 Rooster Yin Wood 乙 酉
23 Feb 02 1946–Jan 21 1947 Jan 29 2006–Feb 17 2007 Dog Yang Fire 丙 戌
24 Jan 22 1947–Feb 09 1948 Feb 18 2007–Feb 06 2008 Pig Yin Fire 丁 亥
25 Feb 10 1948–Jan 28 1949 Feb 07 2008–Jan 25 2009 Rat Yang Earth 戊 子
26 Jan 29 1949–Feb 16 1950 Jan 26 2009–Feb 13 2010 Ox Yin Earth 己 丑
27 Feb 17 1950–Feb 05 1951 Feb 14 2010–Feb 02 2011 Tiger Yang Metal 庚 寅
28 Feb 06 1951–Jan 26 1952 Feb 03 2011–Jan 22 2012 Rabbit Yin Metal 辛 卯
29 Jan 27 1952–Feb 13 1953 Jan 23 2012–Feb 09 2013 Dragon Yang Water 壬 辰
30 Feb 14 1953–Feb 02 1954 Feb 10 2013–Jan 30 2014 Snake Yin Water 癸 巳
31 Feb 03 1954–Jan 23 1955 Jan 31 2014–Feb 18 2015 Horse Yang Wood 甲 午
32 Jan 24 1955–Feb 11 1956 Feb 19 2015–Feb 07 2016 Goat Yin Wood 乙 未
33 Feb 12 1956–Jan 30 1957 Feb 08 2016–Jan 27 2017 Monkey Yang Fire 丙 申
34 Jan 31 1957–Feb 17 1958 Jan 28 2017–Feb 15 2018 Rooster Yin Fire 丁 酉
35 Feb 18 1958–Feb 07 1959 Feb 16 2018–Feb 04 2019 Dog Yang Earth 戊 戌
36 Feb 08 1959–Jan 27 1960 Feb 05 2019–Jan 24 2020 Pig Yin Earth 己 亥
37 Jan 28 1960–Feb 14 1961 Jan 25 2020–Feb 11 2021 Rat Yang Metal 庚 子
38 Feb 15 1961–Feb 04 1962 Feb 12 2021–Jan 31 2022 Ox Yin Metal 辛 丑
39 Feb 05 1962–Jan 24 1963 Feb 01 2022–Jan 21 2023 Tiger Yang Water 壬 寅
40 Jan 25 1963–Feb 12 1964 Jan 22 2023–Feb 09 2024 Rabbit Yin Water 癸 卯
41 Feb 13 1964–Feb 01 1965 Feb 10 2024–Jan 28 2025 Dragon Yang Wood 甲 辰
42 Feb 02 1965–Jan 20 1966 Jan 29 2025–Feb 16 2026 Snake Yin Wood 乙 巳
43 Jan 21 1966–Feb 08 1967 Feb 17 2026–Feb 05 2027 Horse Yang Fire 丙 午
44 Feb 09 1967–Jan 29 1968 Feb 06 2027–Jan 25 2028 Goat Yin Fire 丁 未
45 Jan 30 1968–Feb 16 1969 Jan 26 2028–Feb 12 2029 Monkey Yang Earth 戊 申
46 Feb 17 1969–Feb 05 1970 Feb 13 2029–Feb 02 2030 Rooster Yin Earth 己 酉
47 Feb 06 1970–Jan 26 1971 Feb 03 2030–Jan 22 2031 Dog Yang Metal 庚 戌
48 Jan 27 1971–Feb 14 1972 Jan 23 2031–Feb 10 2032 Pig Yin Metal 辛 亥
49 Feb 15 1972–Feb 02 1973 Feb 11 2032–Jan 30 2033 Rat Yang Water 壬 子
50 Feb 03 1973–Jan 22 1974 Jan 31 2033–Feb 18 2034 Ox Yin Water 癸 丑
51 Jan 23 1974–Feb 10 1975 Feb 19 2034–Feb 07 2035 Tiger Yang Wood 甲 寅
52 Feb 11 1975–Jan 30 1976 Feb 08 2035–Jan 27 2036 Rabbit Yin Wood 乙 卯
53 Jan 31 1976–Feb 17 1977 Jan 28 2036–Feb 14 2037 Dragon Yang Fire 丙 辰
54 Feb 18 1977–Feb 06 1978 Feb 15 2037–Feb 03 2038 Snake Yin Fire 丁 巳
55 Feb 07 1978–Jan 27 1979 Feb 04 2038–Jan 23 2039 Horse Yang Earth 戊 午
56 Jan 28 1979–Feb 15 1980 Jan 24 2039–Feb 11 2040 Goat Yin Earth 己 未
57 Feb 16 1980–Feb 04 1981 Feb 12 2040–Jan 31 2041 Monkey Yang Metal 庚 申
58 Feb 05 1981–Jan 24 1982 Feb 01 2041–Jan 21 2042 Rooster Yin Metal 辛 酉
59 Jan 25 1982–Feb 12 1983 Jan 22 2042–Feb 09 2043 Dog Yang Water 壬 戌
60 Feb 13 1983–Feb 01 1984 Feb 10 2043–Jan 29 2044 Pig Yin Water 癸 亥

Animal Trines

[edit]

The Chinese zodiac's animal trines are deeply connected with ancient Chinese cosmology, reflecting the Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) and the natural order. Each animal trine has a specific elemental attribute and a celestial pattern, showing the combination of astronomy and philosophy in the system (Hui, n.d.).

Further information: Astrological aspect § Trine

First

[edit]

The first Trine consists of the Rat, Dragon, and Monkey. These three signs are considered intense and powerful individuals capable of great good. They are associated with the element of water, seen as great leaders but are also known to be unpredictable. The three are intelligent, adaptive, generous, charismatic, charming, authoritative, confident, eloquent, and artistic. However, they can also exhibit traits such as being manipulative, jealous, selfish, aggressive, vindictive, and deceitful.

Second

[edit]

The second Trine consists of the Ox, Snake, and Rooster. These three signs are said to possess endurance and application, with a slow accumulation of energy. They are associated with the element of metal, meticulous at planning but tend to hold fixed opinions. The three are described as intelligent, hard-working, modest, industrious, loyal, philosophical, patient, good-hearted, and morally upright. However, they can also exhibit traits such as being self-righteous, egotistical, vain, judgmental, narrow-minded, and petty.

Third

[edit]

The third Trine consists of the Tiger, Horse, and Dog. These three signs are associated with the element of fire, said to seek true love, pursue humanitarian causes, and be idealistic and independent, but they tend to be impulsive. They are described as productive, enthusiastic, independent, engaging, dynamic, honorable, loyal, and protective. However, they can also display traits such as being rash, rebellious, quarrelsome, anxious, disagreeable, and stubborn.

Fourth

[edit]

The fourth Trine consists of the Rabbit, Goat, and Pig. These three signs are associated with the element of wood, said to have a calm nature and a somewhat reasonable approach. They seek aesthetic beauty, are artistic, well-mannered, and compassionate, yet they can also be detached and resigned to their condition. The three are described as caring, self-sacrificing, obliging, sensible, creative, empathetic, tactful, and prudent. However, they can also exhibit traits such as being naive, pedantic, insecure, selfish, indecisive, and pessimistic.

These associations extend beyond just symbolism, they reflect ancient people’s deep understanding of the universe's cyclical nature. The trines are also linked to specific seasons and directions, as well as human activities with the Earth's patterns. For example, the Wood element's trine is more connected with spring and the east, meaning renewal and growth. This connection set a direction for agricultural practices and societal rituals, maintaining harmony between humanity and nature (Hui, n.d.).

In addition, the connection of the lunar calendar with the zodiac signs also reflects the importance of celestial movements in day-to-day life. The lunar times dictated the timing of holidays and agricultural events, further linking astronomical observations to cultural traditions. This implication of astronomy, philosophy, and daily life reflected the open worldview of ancient China, where timekeeping was not just a practical tool but a way to achieve a balance between cosmic and societal harmony.

Compatibility

[edit]
Chinese Zodiac Compatibility-Conflict-Harm Grid in accordance to one's nature, characteristics, and elements

As the Chinese zodiac is derived according to the ancient Five Elements Theory, every Chinese sign is associated with 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.[16] A common way to explore zodiac compatibility is with a chart showing how each zodiac sign interacts other signs. For example, constellations that are considered compatible with each other may have similar values and interests, while incompatible constellations may have conflicting personalities and ways of communicating.[17]

Chinese zodiac compatibility grid[18]
Sign Best match (compatible) Average match (friendly) Super bad (conflict) Harmful (best avoid)
Rat Dragon, Monkey, Ox Pig, Tiger, Dog, Snake, Rabbit, Rooster, Rat Horse Goat
Ox Snake, Rooster, Rat Monkey, Dog, Rabbit, Tiger, Dragon, Pig, Ox Goat Horse
Tiger Horse, Dog, Pig Rabbit, Dragon, Rooster, Rat, Goat, Ox, Tiger Monkey Snake
Rabbit Pig, Goat, Dog Tiger, Monkey, Rabbit, Ox, Horse, Rat, Snake Rooster Dragon
Dragon Rat, Monkey, Rooster Tiger, Snake, Horse, Goat, Pig, Ox, Dragon Dog Rabbit
Snake Ox, Rooster, Monkey Horse, Dragon, Goat, Dog, Rabbit, Rat, Snake Pig Tiger
Horse Dog, Tiger, Goat Snake, Rabbit, Dragon, Rooster, Pig, Monkey, Horse Rat Ox
Goat Rabbit, Pig, Horse Snake, Goat, Dragon, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Tiger Ox Rat
Monkey Dragon, Rat, Snake Monkey, Dog, Ox, Goat, Rabbit, Rooster, Horse Tiger Pig
Rooster Ox, Snake, Dragon Horse, Rooster, Goat, Pig, Tiger, Monkey, Rat Rabbit Dog
Dog Tiger, Horse, Rabbit Monkey, Pig, Rat, Ox, Snake, Goat, Dog Dragon Rooster
Pig Rabbit, Goat, Tiger Rat, Rooster, Dog, Dragon, Horse, Ox, Pig Snake Monkey

Origin stories

[edit]

Many stories and fables explain the beginning of the zodiac. Since the Han dynasty, the twelve Earthly Branches have been used to record the time of day. However, for entertainment and convenience,[citation needed] they were replaced by the twelve animals, and a mnemonic refers to the behavior of the animals:

Earthly Branches may refer to a double-hour period.[19] In the latter case it is the center of the period; for instance, 馬 mǎ (Horse) means noon as well as a period from 11:00 to 13:00.

Animal Name of the period Period This is the time when...
Rat 子時 Zǐshí 23:00 to 00:59 Rats are most active in seeking food. Rats also have a different number of digits on front and hind legs, thus earning Rat the symbol of "turn over" or "new start"
Ox 丑時 Chǒushí 01:00 to 02:59 Oxen begin to chew the cud slowly and comfortably
Tiger 寅時 Yínshí 03:00 to 04:59 Tigers hunt their prey more and show their ferocity
Rabbit 卯時 Mǎoshí 05:00 to 06:59 The Jade Rabbit is busy pounding herbal medicine on the Moon according to the tale
Dragon 辰時 Chénshí 07:00 to 08:59 Dragons are hovering in the sky to give rain
Snake 巳時 Sìshí 09:00 to 10:59 Snakes are leaving their caves
Horse 午時 Wǔshí 11:00 to 12:59 The sun is high overhead and while other animals are lying down for a rest, horses are still standing
Goat 未時 Wéishí 13:00 to 14:59 Goats eat grass and urinate frequently
Monkey 申時 Shēnshí 15:00 to 16:59 Monkeys are lively
Rooster 酉時 Yǒushí 17:00 to 18:59 Roosters begin to get back to their coops
Dog 戌時 Xūshí 19:00 to 20:59 Dogs carry out their duty of guarding the houses
Pig 亥時 Hàishí 21:00 to 22:59 Pigs are sleeping sweetly

Great Race

[edit]
This image depicts a scene from "The Great Race" folk story, in which the Ox carries the Rat across the river.

An ancient folktale[20] called "The Great Race" tells of the Jade Emperor's decree 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.

The Cat and the Rat were not good at swimming, but they were both quite intelligent. They decided that the best and fastest way to cross the river was to hop on the back of the Ox. The Ox, being kindhearted and naive, agreed to carry them both across. As the Ox was about to reach the other side of the river, the Rat pushed the Cat into the water, and then jumped off the Ox and rushed to the Jade Emperor. It was named as the first animal of the zodiac calendar. The Ox had to settle for second place.

The third animal to come was the Tiger. Even though it was strong and powerful, it admitted to the Jade Emperor that the currents were pushing it downstream.

Suddenly, a thump sound came from the distance, signaling the arrival of the Rabbit. It explained how it crossed the river: by jumping from one stone to another in a nimble fashion. Halfway through, it thought it might lose the race, but it was lucky enough to grab hold of a floating log that later washed it to shore. For that, it became the fourth animal in the zodiac cycle.

In fifth place was the flying Dragon. The Jade Emperor wondered why a swift, airborne creature such as the Dragon did not come in first place. The Dragon explained that it had to stop by a village and bring rain for all the people, and therefore it was held back. Then, on its way to the finish, it saw the helpless Rabbit clinging onto a log, so it did a good deed and gave a puff of breath in the poor creature's direction so that it could land on the shore. The Jade Emperor was astonished by the Dragon's good nature, and it was named as the fifth animal of the zodiac.

As soon as the Dragon arrived, there came a galloping sound, and the Horse appeared. Hidden on the Horse's hoof was the Snake, whose sudden appearance gave the Horse a fright, thus making it fall back and giving the Snake the sixth spot while the Horse placed seventh.

After a while, the Goat, Monkey, and Rooster came to the river blocking the heavenly gate. The Rooster found a raft, and the Monkey and the Goat tugged and pulled, trying to get all the weeds out of the way. With combined efforts, they managed to arrive to the other side. The Jade Emperor was pleased with their teamwork and decided to name the Goat as the eighth animal, followed by the Monkey and then the Rooster.

The eleventh animal placed in the zodiac cycle was the Dog. Although it should have been the best swimmer and runner, it spent its time playing in the river water. Its explanation for being late was that it needed a good bath after a long journey, but it almost did not make it to the finish line.

Right when the Jade Emperor was going to end the race, an oink sound was heard: it was the Pig. The Pig felt hungry in the middle of the race, so it stopped, ate something, and then fell asleep. After it awoke, it finished the race in twelfth place, making it the last animal to arrive.

The Cat eventually drowned and failed to become part of the zodiac. It is said that this is the reason why cats hate water. It is also the reason for the rivalry between the Cat and Rat, as it was the Rat's callous act to push the Cat into the river.

Variations

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Another version of the folktale tells that the Rat deceived the Ox into letting it jump on its back by promising the Ox that it could hear the Rat sing,[21] before jumping off at the finish line and finishing first. Another variant says that the Rat cheated the Cat out its place at the finish line, by hiding on the back of the Dog, who was too focused to notice that he had a stow-away. The Cat tried to attack the rat in retaliation, but hurt the Dog by accident. This is said to account for the antagonistic dynamic between cats and rats, beyond normal predator and prey behavior, and also why dogs and cats fight.

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.[citation needed]

In Buddhist legend Gautama Buddha summoned all animals of the Earth to come before him before his departure from this Earth, but only twelve animals came to bid him farewell. To reward the these animals, he named a year after each of them in the order they had arrived.

The twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac were developed in the early stages of Chinese civilization, so therefore it is difficult to investigate its real origins. Most historians agree that the Cat is not included, as cats had not yet been introduced to China from India with the arrival of Buddhism. However until recently, the Vietnamese moved away from their traditional texts[22] and literature and, unlike all other countries who follow the Sino lunar calendar, include the Cat instead of the Rabbit as a zodiac animal. The most common explanation is that cats are worshipped by farmers in East Asia, believing that cats' luck and prosperity protects their crops.[23] Another popular cultural reason is that the ancient word for rabbit (Mao) sounds like cat (Meo).[24]

Adaptations

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The Chinese zodiac signs are also used by cultures other than Chinese. For 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 services issue a "Year of the ____" postage stamp each year to honor this Chinese heritage.

The zodiac is widely used in commercial culture, for example, in the Chinese New Year market, and popular zodiac-related products, such as crafts, toys, books, accessories, and paintings and Chinese lunar coins. The coins depict 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 Asian countries that were under the cultural influence of China. However, some of the animals in the zodiac may differ by country.

Asian

[edit]
Further information: Bulgar calendar and Vietnamese zodiac

The Korean zodiac includes the Sheep (yang) instead of the Goat (which would be yeomso), although the Chinese source of the loanword yang may refer to any goat-antelope.[citation needed]

The Japanese zodiac includes the Sheep (hitsuji) instead of the Goat (which would be yagi), and the Wild boar (inoshishi, i) instead of the Pig (buta).[25] Since 1873, the Japanese have celebrated the beginning of the new year on 1 January as per the Gregorian calendar.[citation needed]

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.[citation needed]

The Cambodian zodiac is exactly identical to that of the Chinese although the dragon is interchangeable with the Neak (nāga) Cambodian sea snake.[26] Sheep and Goat are interchangeable as well. The Cambodian New Year is celebrated in April, rather than in January or February as it is in China and most countries.[27][28]

The Cham zodiac uses the same order as the Chinese zodiac, but replaces the Monkey with the turtle (known locally as kra).

Similarly the Malay zodiac replaces the Rabbit with the mousedeer (pelanduk) and the Pig with the tortoise (kura or kura-kura).[29] The Dragon (Loong) is normally equated with the nāga but it is sometimes called Big Snake (ular besar) while the Snake sign is called Second Snake (ular sani). This is also recorded in a 19th-century manuscript compiled by John Leyden.[30]

The Thai zodiac includes a nāga in place of the Dragon[31] 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 (now celebrated every 13–15 April), depending on the purpose of the use.[32] Historically, Lan Na (Kingdom around Northern Thailand) also replaces pig with elephant. While modern Thai have returned to pig, its name is still กุน (gu̜n), retaining the actual word for elephant in the zodiac.[33]

The Gurung zodiac in Nepal includes a Cow instead of an Ox, a Cat instead of Rabbit, an Eagle instead of a Dragon (Loong), a Bird instead of a Rooster, and a Deer instead of a Pig.[citation needed]

The Bulgar calendar used from the 2nd century[34] and that has been only partially reconstructed uses a similar sixty-year cycle of twelve animal-named years groups.[35]

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.[36]

The Tibetan calendar replaces the Rooster with the bird.

The Volga Bulgars, Kazars and other Turkic peoples replaced some animals by local fauna: Leopard (instead of Tiger), Fish or Crocodile (instead of Dragon/Loong), Hedgehog (instead of Monkey), Elephant (instead of Pig), and Camel (instead of Rat/Mouse).[37][38]

In the Persian version of the Eastern zodiac brought by Mongols during the Middle Ages, the Chinese word lóng and Mongol word lū (Dragon) was translated as nahang meaning "water beast", and may refer to any dangerous aquatic animal both mythical and real (crocodiles, hippos, sharks, sea serpents, etc.). In the 20th century the term nahang is used almost exclusively as meaning Whale, thus switching the Loong for the Whale in the Persian variant.[39][40]

In the traditional Kazakh version of the twelve-year animal cycle (Kazakh: мүшел, müşel), the Dragon is replaced by a snail (Kazakh: ұлу, ulw), and the Tiger appears as a leopard (Kazakh: барыс, barıs).[41]

In the Kyrgyz version of the Chinese zodiac (Kyrgyz: мүчөл, müçöl) the words for the Dragon (Kyrgyz: улуу, uluu), Monkey (Kyrgyz: мечин, meçin) and Tiger (Kyrgyz: барс, bars) are only found in Chinese zodiac names, other animal names include Mouse, Cow, Rabbit, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Chicken, Dog and Wild boar.[42]

Chinese Zodiac by Ethnic Group
Ethnic Group 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Chinese Rat Ox Tiger Rabbit Dragon Snake Horse Goat Monkey Rooster Dog Pig
Korean Rat Ox Tiger Rabbit Dragon Snake Horse Sheep Monkey Rooster Dog Pig
Japanese Rat Ox Tiger Rabbit Dragon Snake Horse Sheep Monkey Rooster Dog Wild Boar
Vietnamese Rat Water Buffalo Tiger Cat Dragon Snake Horse Goat Monkey Rooster Dog Pig
Cambodian Rat Ox Tiger Rabbit Nāga Snake Horse Sheep Monkey Rooster Dog Pig
Cham Rat Ox Tiger Rabbit Dragon Snake Horse Goat Turtle Rooster Dog Pig
Malay Rat Ox Tiger Mousedeer Nāga Snake Horse Goat Monkey Rooster Dog Tortoise
Thai Rat Ox Tiger Rabbit Nāga Snake Horse Goat Monkey Rooster Dog Pig
Lanna (Thai) Rat Ox Tiger Rabbit Nāga Snake Horse Goat Monkey Rooster Dog Elephant
Gurung Rat Cow Tiger Cat Eagle Snake Horse Goat Monkey Bird Dog Deer
Bulgar Rat Ox Tiger/Wolf Rabbit Dragon Snake Horse Ram Monkey Rooster Dog Boar
Old Mongolian Rat Ox Leopard Hare Crocodile Serpent Horse Sheep Monkey Hen Dog Hog
Tibetan Rat Ox Tiger Rabbit Dragon Snake Horse Goat Monkey Bird Dog Pig
Kazars Camel Ox Leopard Rabbit Fish/Crocodile Snake Horse Goat Hedgehog Rooster Dog Elephant
Persian Rat Ox Tiger Rabbit Whale Snake Horse Goat Monkey Rooster Dog Pig
Kazakhs Rat Ox Leopard Rabbit Snail Snake Horse Goat Monkey Rooster Dog Pig
Kyrgyz Mouse Cow Tiger Rabbit Dragon Snake Horse Sheep Monkey Chicken Dog Wild Boar
Turkmen Mouse Cow Tiger Rabbit Dragon/Fish Snake Horse Sheep Monkey Chicken Dog Pig
Chinese Zodiac by Ethnic Group (Native Names)
Ethnic Group 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Cham Tikuh Kubao Rimaong Tapay Inagirai Ulanaih Athaih Pabaiy Kra Manuk Athau Papwiy
ꨓꨪꨆꨭꩍ ꨆꨭꨯꨝꨱ ꨣꨪꨠꨯꨱꨮ ꨓꨚꩈ ꩓ꨘꨈꨪꨣꨰ ꨂꨤꨘꨰꩍ ꨀꨔꨰꩍ ꨚꨝꨰꩈ ꨆꨴ ꨠꨘꨭꩀ ꨀꨔꨭꨮ ꨚꩇꨥꨪꩈ
Malay Tikus Kerbau Harimau Pelanduk Naga Ular Kuda Kambing Monyet Ayam Jantan Anjing Kura-kura
تيکوس کرباو ريماو ڤلندوق اولر بسر اولر ثاني کودا کمبيڠ موڽيت أيم أنجيڠ کورا
Bulgar Somor Shegor Ver? Dvan[sh] Ver[eni]? Dilom Imen[shegor]? Teku[chitem]? Toh Eth Dohs
Turkmen Syçan Sygyr Bars Towşan Luw~balyk Ýylan Ýylky Goýun Bijin Towuk It Doňuz
سیچان سیغر بارس طاوشان لو~بالیق ییلان یلقی قویون بیجین طاویق ایت دونگغز

English translation

[edit]

Due to confusion with synonyms during translation, some of the animals depicted by the English words did not exist in ancient China.[citation needed] For example:

  • The term 鼠 Rat can be translated as Mouse, as there are no distinctive words for the two genera in Chinese. However, Rat is the most commonly used one among all the synonyms.[citation needed]
  • The term 牛 Ox, a castrated Bull, can be translated interchangeably with other terms related to Cattle (male Bull, female Cow) and Buffalo. However, Ox is the most commonly used one among all the synonyms.[citation needed]
  • The term 卯 Rabbit can be translated as Hare, as 卯 (and 兔) do not distinguish between the two genera of leporids. As hares are native to China and most of Asia and rabbits are not, this would be more accurate. However, in colloquial English Rabbit can encompass hares as well.
  • The term 蛇 Snake can be translated as Serpent, which refers to a large species of snake and has the same behavior, although this term is rarely used.
  • The term 羊 Goat can be translated as Sheep and Ram, a male Sheep. However, Goat is the most commonly used one among all the synonyms.[citation needed]
  • The term 雞 Rooster can be translated interchangeably with Chicken, as well as the female Hen. However, Rooster is the most commonly used one among all the synonyms in English-speaking countries.[citation needed]
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See also

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Notes

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References

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  1. ^ "The Chinese Zodiac". Timothy S. Y. Lam Museum of Anthropology. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  2. ^ "Chinese Zodiac | Home". UW Departments Web Server. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  3. ^ Gao, Jinlin; Joh, Yoon-kyoung (2019-04-30). "Chinese Zodiac Culture and the Rhetorical Construction of A Shu B, C" (PDF). Lanaguage Research. 55 (1). Seoul National University: 2. doi:10.30961/lr.2019.55.1.55. Archived (PDF) from the original on Jan 6, 2024.
  4. ^ Abe, Namiko. "The Twelve Japanese Zodiac Signs". ThoughtCo. Archived from the original on 2017-10-14. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
  5. ^ a b "Chinese Zodiac and Chinese Year Animals". astroica.com. Archived from the original on 2011-03-24. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
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  7. ^ "Chinese Zodiac: 2024 Year of Dragon, 12 Animal Signs, Calculator". www.travel china guide.com. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  8. ^ Markarian, Taylor (2023-08-12). "The 12 Chinese Astrology Signs and What They Mean for You". Reader's Digest. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  9. ^ "The origin of the twelve zodiac signs is like this". author.baidu.com (in Chinese). 2020-10-22. Retrieved 2023-12-26.[title incomplete]
  10. ^ Theodora Lau, The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes, pp. 2–8, 30–35, 60–64, 88–94, 118–124, 148–153, 178–184, 208–213, 238–244, 270–278, 306–312, 338–344, Souvenir Press, New York, 2005
  11. ^ Chiu, Lisa (2019-07-21). "Learn the History of the Chinese Zodiac". ThoughtCo. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  12. ^ a b c Ferlus, Michel (2013). The sexagesimal cycle, from China to Southeast Asia. 23rd Annual Conference of the Southeast Asian Linguistics Society, May 2013, Bangkok, Thailand. <halshs-00922842v2>
  13. ^ Baxter, William H.; Sagart, Laurent (2014). Old Chinese: A New Reconstruction. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-994537-5.
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  22. ^ Jan Van Alphen, Anthony Aris Oriental Medicine: An Illustrated Guide to the Asian Arts of Healing 1995 - Page 211 "Its influence on the cultural and medical traditions of Vietnam can be clearly seen in, for example, the classical distinction between Thuoc nam, 'Southern medicine', and Thuoc bac, 'Northern or Chinese Medicine'. Both were practised and ..."
  23. ^ Ronnberg, Ami; Martín, Kathleen Rock, eds. (2010). The book of symbols: archetypal reflections in word and image. Köln: Taschen. p. 300. ISBN 978-3-8365-1448-4.
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  25. ^ "Japanese Zodiac Signs and Symbols". japanesezodiac.org/. 5 January 2012. Archived from the original on 17 December 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
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  27. ^ "The Khmer Calendar | Cambodian Religion, Festivals and Zodiac Astrology". humanoriginproject.com. 2019-04-25. Archived from the original on 2019-07-19. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  28. ^ "Khmer Chhankitek Calendar". cam-cc.org. Archived from the original on 30 October 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  29. ^ Farouk Yahya (2015). "Glossary". Malay Magic and Divination in Illuminated Manuscripts. Brill. pp. 296–306. ISBN 978-90-04-30172-6.
  30. ^ Leyden, John. "Cycle of years used by the Malays". Notes and vocabularies in Malay, Thai, Burmese and other minor languages. The British Library. p. 104. Retrieved 16 June 2022 – via Digitised Manuscripts.[permanent dead link‍]
  31. ^ ""งูใหญ่-พญานาค-มังกร" รู้จัก 3 สัญลักษณ์ปี "มะโรง"". ประชาชาติธุรกิจ. 5 January 2012. Archived from the original on 1 January 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  32. ^ "การเปลี่ยนวันใหม่ การนับวัน ทางโหราศาสตร์ไทย การเปลี่ยนปีนักษัตร โหราศาสตร์ ดูดวง ทำนายทายทัก". Archived from the original on 2011-01-03.
  33. ^ "ตุงตั๋วเปิ้ง".
  34. ^ "dtrif/abv: Name list of Bulgarian hans". theo.inrne.bas.bg. Archived from the original on 2012-02-04. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
  35. ^ Именник на българските ханове – ново тълкуване. М.Москов. С. 1988 г. § 80,70
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  39. ^ Rasulid Hexaglot. P. B. Golden, ed., The King’s Dictionary: The Rasūlid Hexaglot – Fourteenth Century Vocabularies in Arabic, Persian, Turkic, Greek, Armenian and Mongol, tr. T. Halasi-Kun, P. B. Golden, L. Ligeti, and E. Schütz, HO VIII/4, Leiden, 2000.
  40. ^ Jan Gyllenbok, Encyclopaedia of Historical Metrology, Weights, and Measures, Volume 1, 2018, p. 244.
  41. ^ А. Мухамбетова (A. Mukhambetova), Казахский традиционный календарь "The traditional Kazakh calendar" Archived 2022-01-15 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
  42. ^ "Chinese Lunar Calendar Stamps from Kyrgyzstan". 2003.

Sources

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  • Shelly H. Wu. (2005). Chinese Astrology. Publisher: The Career Press, Inc. ISBN 1-56414-796-7.
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