Chinese Zodiac

The Chinese zodiac, or Sheng Xiao (生肖), is a repeating 12-year cycle of animal signs and their ascribed attributes, based on the lunar calendar. In order, the zodiac animals are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig.

The Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, marks the transition from one animal to the next—2023 is the year of the Rabbit, which began on Janurary 22nd, 2023, and ends on February 9th, 2024. February 10th, 2024 (Chinese New Year) will signal the start of the year of the Dragon.

What’s Your Zodiac Sign?

Your birth year determines your Chinese zodiac sign, but it can get tricky, as the lunar calendar varies from the solar, or Gregorian, calendar.

Because the dates of Chinese New Year change every year, individuals born in January or February will need to pay special attention to their birth date in addition to their birth year.

The 12 Zodiac Animals

If you already know your Chinese zodiac sign, or are curious to explore them all, select one from below to discover the personality traits, romantic compatibility, and what fortune 2024 will bring.

• Rat

• Ox

• Tiger

• Rabbit

• Dragon

• Snake

• Horse

• Goat

• Monkey

• Rooster

• Dog

• Pig

Chinese Zodiac Years

Since the Chinese zodiac cycle repeats every 12 years, it’s easy to figure out if it’s your year—just check if your age is a multiple of 12! Listed below are the 12 zodiac animals in order with accompanying years:

Ben Ming Nian (Zodiac Birth Year)

Maybe you think your zodiac year (本命年 / ben ming nian) will be lucky. It’s your year after all. However, it’s the total opposite.

It’s seen as a hurdle you have jump over. The way to protect yourself from evil spirits and bad fortune is to wear red underwear every day for the entire year. Even in modern times, it’s still treated as a real concern.

In some places, married men even have to be accompanied by their wives when they go out at night during their year!

Origins of the Chinese Zodiac

It is generally believed the origins of the Chinese zodiac are rooted in zoolatry, or animal worship, with the system dating back to the Qin dynasty, more than 2,000 years ago.

Legend has it that the Jade Emperor summoned all the animals to his palace in a “Great Race” (or possibly for a banquet), and the order in which they arrived determined the animal’s place in the zodiac.

With such a rich past, it’s little wonder the Chinese zodiac remains so popular throughout China and much of Asia. An integral part of everyday life, it’s used to determine your fortune for the year, marriage compatibility, career path, best times to have a baby, and so much more.

The Science Behind the Chinese Zodiac

How do Chinese astrologers know each zodiac’s personality, fortune and compatibility with others?

Below is some technical information you might be interested in.

Dì Zhī (地支), or Earthly Branches, were the original terms used for the years. These branches are also assigned to the hours of the day, based on solar time.

The animals were later added as mnemonics and categorized as either yīn (阴) or yáng (阳).

Ten Celestial Stems (天干 / tiān gān) pair with the Earthly Branches for a 60 year calendrical cycle. Then add in an element. These cycle through, but each zodiac also has a fixed element. This fixed element is what determines which sign you’re compatible with.

Twelve Earthly Branches: zi (子), chǒu (丑), yín (寅), mǎo (卯), chén (辰), sì (巳), wǔ (午), wèi (未), shēn (申), yǒu (酉), xū (戌), hài (亥).

Ten Celestial Stems: jiǎ (甲), yǐ (乙), bǐng (丙), ding (丁), wù (戊), jǐ (己), gēng (庚), xīn (辛), rén (壬), guǐ (癸).

Five elements: water (水 / shuǐ), wood (木 / mù), fire (火 / huǒ), earth (土 / tǔ), metal (金 / jīn).

A calendar of recent years with everything explained above would look like this:

Compatibility

There are six groups (六合 / liù hé) of most compatible pairs. They fit into each other like jigsaw pieces. These are the ones who support you in the background.

Four groups of trios (三合 / sān hé) are the next most compatible signs. Working in a team, they complement your skills.

Fortune and Personality of the 12 Zodiac Animals

As mentioned before, the Earthly Branches are also assigned to hours of the day. The animals, depending on what they did, became associated with that certain time. This is another explanation for the ordering of the animals. The following list include each zodiac’s time of day, culture, personality and compatibility.

1. Zodiac

   Year of the Rat

   Rat (鼠 / Shǔ)

   People born in the year of the Rat like saving and collecting. They never have hard times financially and live organized lives. If you receive a valuable gift from a Rat, know that he thinks highly of you, because he doesn’t usually like opening his wallet for others. Rats don’t look for praise and recognition. They are very sensitive and know when there is trouble. When they do take risks, they’re usually successful.

   • Science
     Rat is Yang, and its earthly branch is Zi.
   • Hours
     23:00–01:00. Rats are at the height of their activity at this time and people began to associate rats with the Zi hour.
   • Folklore
     Rats steal food, which can be interpreted as the household being wealthy and having surpluses. Because of their fast reproduction rate, some also pray to rats for children.
   • Compatibility
     Best match: Ox
     Best group: Monkey, Dragon
     Incompatible: Horse

2. Zodiac

   Year of the Ox

   Ox (牛 / Niu)

   People born in the year of the Ox are hard workers and have a strong sense of responsibility. Even if they run into difficulty during work, they’ll persevere through. They aren’t very romantic, but are patient and would never force themselves onto someone who doesn’t like them. They are usually quiet and keep their emotions bottled up inside. It’s hard for others to understand them. When they do lose their temper, it’s like an explosion and can drive others away.

   • Science
     Ox is Yin, and its earthly branch is Chǒu.
   • Hours
     01:00–03:00. This is when farmers would wake up to feed their oxen.
   • Folklore
     Whipping spring cattle (打春—dǎ chūn) was a ritual performed to begin a new year of hard work and good harvests. The ox’s stomach would be filled with five types of grains and scattered after the whipping to represent the sowing and harvest.
   • Compatibility
     Best match: Rat
     Best group: Snake, Rooster
     Incompatible: Goat

3. Zodiac

   Year of the Tiger

   Tiger (虎 / Hǔ)

   People born in the year of the Tiger are independent and have high self-esteem. They enjoy being the leader and protector of average people. They love justice and never back down in an argument. Recklessness is their biggest weakness, causing them to fail. However, they never truly fail. Tigers will always find a way to stand back up and succeed in the end.

   • Science
     Tiger is Yang, and its earthly branch is Yín.
   • Hours
     03:00–05:00. Tigers are the most dangerous at night. Farmers would always be able to hear their frightening roars during this hour.
   • Folklore
     Tigers are the kings of all beasts. People believe that they are the guardians of children. In the past, infants were washed with water boiled with tiger bones to prevent diseases. Children also wear hats and shoes with tiger designs.
   • Compatibility
     Best match: Pig
     Best group: Horse, Dog
     Incompatible: Monkey

4. Zodiac

   Year of the Rabbit

   Rabbit (兔 / Tù)

   People born in the year of the Rabbit are gentle, quiet and polite. They are patient, intelligent and chic. Their sense of responsibility and attention to detail lead to great career success. They take love seriously as well, and would never fall for someone easily. If they find the right person, they’ll love them to the end of the world and back.

   • Science
     Rabbit is Yin, and its earthly branch is Mǎo.
   • Hours
     05:00–07:00. At daybreak, rabbits would come out of their homes to feed on the dew.
   • Folklore
     The rabbit represents the moon. Rather than the man in the moon, the ancient Chinese believed that there was a rabbit in the moon.
   • Compatibility
     Best match: Dog
     Best group: Pig, Goat
     Incompatible: Rooster

5. Zodiac

   Year of the Dragon

   Dragon (龙 / Lóng)

   People born in the year of the Dragon have hearts full of adventure and romance. It’s hard for people to understand a Dragon’s mysterious personality. At the same time, they are indifferent to things the average person worries about. They may seem lazy, but once they decide to do something, they’ll be more ambitious and vigorous than anyone else.

   • Science
     Dragon is Yang, and its earthly branch is Chén.
   • Hours
     07:00–09:00. This is the most common time for fog to appear. According to folklore, dragons ride the fog to come down to Earth.
   • Folklore
     Dragons are the most revered creature in Chinese culture and are used to represent royalty. Emperors were often seen as a dragon’s reincarnation. Paired with the phoenix, they also symbolize a happy marriage and harmony between yin and yang.
   • Compatibility
     Best match: Rooster
     Best group: Monkey, Rat
     Incompatible: Dog

6. Zodiac

   Year of the Snake

   Snake (蛇 / Shé)

   People born in the year of the Snake are idealists. On the outside, they may seem cold but, deep inside, they are warm and enthusiastic. Their desire of exclusive ownership is very fierce. It irks them if they can’t fully understand someone. Snakes are devoted and determined, but their worst enemy is laziness.

   • Science
     Snake is Yin, and its earthly branch is Sì.
   • Hours
     09:00–11:00. After the fog has dissipated, snakes would come out to bask in the sun. When creating the character for sì (巳), it was written to look like a snake.
   • Folklore
     Snakes usually have a negative diction and are symbols of witchcraft. However, Nǚ Wā (女娲), the creator of the world in Chinese mythology, had a human’s head and a snake’s body.
   • Compatibility
     Best match: Monkey
     Best group: Rooster, Ox
     Incompatible: Pig

7. Zodiac

   Year of the Horse

   Horse (马 / Mǎ)

   People born in the year of the Horse are never one to surrender. They are always positive and energetic, pushing themselves forward. Their biggest desire is to have the freedom to do what they like and be able to express themselves. However, they also have various negative traits. Horses are bad at keeping secrets and lose interest quickly.

   • Science
     Horse is Yang, and its earthly branch is Wǔ.
   • Hours
     11:00–13:00. When the sun is at its brightest moment, the horses would gallop and prance joyfully in the fields.
   • Folklore
     As the head of the six domestic animals, horses are crucial in transportation and war. They represent speed and freedom. Many Northern ethnicities, such as the Mongolians and Manchurians, revere and worship the horse.
   • Compatibility
     Best match: Goat
     Best group: Tiger, Dog
     Incompatible: Rat

8. Zodiac

   Year of the Goat

   Goat (羊 / Yang)

   People born in the year of the Goat have a pure and kind heart. They’d rather suffer silently than argue and ruin someone else’s mood. However, even in silence, they still hold onto their own opinion. In regards to their passions, they will do anything possible to fulfill their wishes. Though kind, Goats have tricks up their sleeves as well. They are skilled at using soft power, able to patiently and politely persuade others into their favor.

   • Science
     Goat is Yin, and its earthly branch is Wèi.
   • Hours
     13:00–15:00. At this time, the dew on the grass would be dried by the sun. This is the best hour to let the goats and sheep out.
   • Folklore
     Xiè Zhì (獬豸) is a mythological one-horned goat. It was the assistant of Gāo Yáo (皋陶), god of Justice. The Goat is also the symbol of filial piety.
   • Compatibility
     Best match: Horse
     Best group: Pig, Rabbit
     Incompatible: Ox

9. Zodiac

   Year of the Monkey

   Monkey (猴 / Hóu)

   People born in the year of the Monkey do things based on interest. If it’s something they don’t quite care for, they’ll do the work sloppily. If it something they’re interested in, they’ll put their entire heart into it and work until they succeed. They live a long life full of energy and curiosity for the world. Monkeys also value relationships. However, spoiling children may be their weakness.

   • Science
     Monkey is Yang, and its earthly branch is Shēn.
   • Hours
     15:00–17:00. The weather is much cooler with the sun setting and the monkeys would play around in the forest.
   • Folklore
     There are multiple legends about the Monkey as humans’ ancestor. Monkeys also like eating peaches. Peaches are symbols of longevity and, with time, monkeys also became associated with long life.
   • Compatibility
     Best match: Snake
     Best group: Rat, Dragon
     Incompatible: Tiger

10. Zodiac

    Year of the Rooster

    Rooster (鸡 / Jī)

    People born in the year of the Rooster are able to sense what the other person is thinking or feeling. They have quick reactions and high EQ. They make great friends, although some are cunning. Roosters are creative and talented in the arts, although few find a career in that field. They have foresight and plan everything carefully.

    • Science
      Rooster is Yin, and its earthly branch is Yǒu.
    • Hours
      17:00–19:00. The character for yǒu (酉) looks similar to wine (酒—jiǔ), and evening is the time for dinner and wine. It is also time to collect the roosters and hens and put them back in their nests, else it’ll be too dark to find them.
    • Folklore
      According to legends, roosters are able to protect against evil spirits. In ancient times, sworn brothers must swear to the heavens, then drip rooster blood into wine and drink it all.
    • Compatibility
      Best match: Dragon
      Best group: Snake, Ox
      Incompatible: Rabbit

11. Zodiac

    Year of the Dog

    Dog (狗 / Gǒu)

    People born in the year of the Dog are conservative and full of justice. Because of their loyalty, Dogs are valued in the workplace. They rarely break rules, except for people important to them. In life, they only wish to live quietly with their family.

    • Science
      Dog is Yang, and its earthly branch is Xū.
    • Hours
      19:00–21:00. Before sleeping, the people must patrol around for a check. Trailing behind them is the dog, humanity’s little helper.
    • Folklore
      In the Qin and Han dynasty, the Stone Dog was worshipped by the people. In the Guangdong province, it is still popular to name dogs Wàng Cái (旺财). It means “prosperous wealth” and comes from dogs’ barking sounds (旺旺—wàng wàng).
    • Compatibility
      Best match: Rabbit
      Best group: Tiger, Horse
      Incompatible: Dragon

12. Zodiac

    Year of the Pig

    Pig (猪 / Zhū)

    People born in the year of the Pig think logically and are able to fix whatever problem they’re in. They aren’t good communicators, but they’re kind and able to provide for the family. Most of them are wealthy. Their only obvious fault is that they lose their temper easily.

    • Science
      Pig is Yin, and its earthly branch is Hài.
    • Hours
      21:00–23:00. At night, the pig can be heard rustling around. In order to fatten it up, the farmer must feed before calling it a day.
    • Folklore
      Pigs are the symbol of wealth. Their chubby faces and big ears are signs of fortune as well.
    • Compatibility
      Best match: Tiger
      Best group: Rabbit, Goat
      Incompatible: Snake