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Chinese astrology is the divination of the future from the Chinese calendar, which is based on astronomy, and ancient Chinese philosophy. In particular, it is based on the sexagenary cycle of 60 years that has been documented since the time of the Shang Dynasty at the latest. This basic cycle has been constructed from two cycles: the 10 heavenly stems (the five elements in their yin and yang forms) and the 12 earthly branches, or the 12-year cycle of animals referred to as the Chinese zodiac. The Chinese animal zodiac also operates on a cycle of months or 'moons' and of hours of the day.

The Chinese zodiac refers to a pure calendrical cycle; there are no equivalent constellations like those of the occidental zodiac. In imperial times there were astrologers who watched the sky for heavenly omens that would predict the future of the state, but this was a quite different practice of divination from the popular present-day methods.

Background

The ancient Chinese astronomers called the 5 major planets by the names of the element they were associated with: Venus corresponds to Metal (gold); Jupiter to Wood; Mercury to Water; Mars to Fire; Saturn to Earth. According to Chinese Astrology, a person's destiny can be determined by the position of the major planets, along with the positions of the Sun, Moon and comets and the person's time of birth and Zodiac Sign. The system of the twelve year cycle of animal signs was built from observations of the orbit of Jupiter. Chinese astronomers divided the celestial circle into 12 sections to follow the orbit of 歳星 Suìxīng (Jupiter, the Year Star). Astronomers rounded the orbit of Suixing to 12 years (from 11.86). Suixing was associated with Sheti (ɳ Böotes) and sometimes called Sheti.

A laborious system of computing one's fate and destiny based on one's birthday and birth hours (known as Zi Wei Dou Shu 紫微斗數 zǐwēidǒushù) is still used regularly in modern day Chinese astrology to divine one's fortune. The 28 Chinese constellations (宿 xìu) are quite different from the 88 Western constellations. For example, the Big Bear (Ursa Major) is known as 斗 dǒu; the belt of Orion is known as 參 shēn, or the "Happiness, Fortune, Longevity" trio of demigods. The seven northern constellations are referred to as xúanwǔ (玄武). Xuan Wu is also known as the spirit of the northern sky or the spirit of Water in Taoism belief.

In addition to astrological readings of the heavenly bodies, the stars in the sky form the basis of many fairy tales. For example, the Summer Triangle is the trio of the cowherd (Altair), the weaving maiden fairy (Vega), and the "tai bai" fairy (Deneb). The two forbidden lovers were separated by the silvery river (the Milky Way). Each year on the seventh day of the seventh month in the Chinese calendar, the birds form a bridge across the Milky Way. The cowherd carries their two sons (the two stars on each side of Altair) across the bridge to reunite with their fairy mother. The tai bai fairy acts as the chaperone of these two immortal lovers. See Qi Xi for more versions of this story.

The lunisolar calendar

The 60-year cycle consists of two separate cycles interacting with each other. The first is the cycle of ten heavenly stems, namely the Five Elements (in order Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water) in their Yin and Yang forms.

The second is the cycle of the twelve Zodiac animal signs (生肖 shēngxiāo) or Earthly Branches . They are in order as follows: the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep (ram or goat), monkey, rooster, dog, and boar .

This combination of 5 elements × 12 animals creates the 60-year cycle, which always starts with Wood Rat and ends with Water Boar. Since the zodiac animal cycle of 12 is divisible by two, every zodiac sign can also only occur in either yin or yang: the dragon is always yang, the snake is always yin, etc. The current cycle began in the year 1984 (as shown in "Table of the sixty year calendar" below).

When trying to calculate the relevant year, an easy rule to follow is that years that end in an even number are yang, those that end with an odd number are yin. The cycle proceeds as follows:

• If the year ends in 0 it is Yang Metal.
• If the year ends in 1 it is Yin Metal.
• If the year ends in 2 it is Yang Water.
• If the year ends in 3 it is Yin Water.
• If the year ends in 4 it is Yang Wood.
• If the year ends in 5 it is Yin Wood.
• If the year ends in 6 it is Yang Fire.
• If the year ends in 7 it is Yin Fire.
• If the year ends in 8 it is Yang Earth.
• If the year ends in 9 it is Yin Earth.

However, since the (traditional) Chinese zodiac follows the (lunisolar) Chinese calendar, the switch over date is the Chinese New Year, not January 1 as in the Gregorian calendar. Therefore, a person who was born in January or early February has the sign of the previous year. For example, if a person was born in January 1970, his or her element would still be Yin Earth, not Yang Metal. Similarly, although 1990 was called the year of the horse, anyone born from January 1 to January 26, 1990 was in fact born in the Year of the Snake (the sign of the previous year), because the 1990 Year of the Horse did not begin until January 27, 1990. For this reason, many online sign calculators (and Chinese restaurant placemats) will give a person the wrong sign if he/she was born in January or early February.

The start of a new Zodiac is also celebrated on Chinese New Year along with many other customs.

Table of the sixty year calendar

Main article: sexagenary cycle

The following table shows the 60 year cycle matched up to the Western calendar for the years 1924 - 2043 (see main article for years 1804 - 1923).

Note: The Chinese symbols in the table for the elements and animal signs are special ones used only in astrology, not the ordinary symbols used in general writing.

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

Chinese agricultural calendar

There are some newer astrological texts which follow the Chinese Agricultural Calendar (the jie qi), and thus place the changeover of zodiac signs at the solar term li chun (beginning of Spring), at solar longitude 315 degrees. (See Chinese calendar) The Chinese New Year is determined by the start of the Lunar calendar, however the annual division between the signs is not the Chinese New Year. Rather, it is the beginning of spring, which is the 4th or 5th of February of each year. In this calendar, Combination Element is the result of the Elements movement.

Begin	End	Heaven Element	Combination Element	Sign
1960 Feb 4	1961 Jan 3	金 Metal 庚	earth	鼠 Rat
1961 Feb 4	1962 Jan 3	金 Metal 辛	earth	牛 Ox
1962 Feb 4	1963 Jan 3	水 Water	Gold	虎 Tiger
1963 Feb 4	1964 Jan 3	水 Water	Gold	兔 Rabbit
1964 Feb 4	1965 Jan 3	木 Wood	fire	龍 Dragon
1965 Feb 4	1966 Jan 3	木 Wood	fire	蛇 Snake
1966 Feb 4	1967 Jan 3	火 Fire	water	馬 Horse
1967 Feb 4	1968 Jan 3	火 Fire	water	羊 Sheep
1968 Feb 4	1969 Jan 3	土 Earth	earth	猴 Monkey
1969 Feb 4	1970 Jan 3	土 Earth	earth	雞 Rooster
1970 Feb 4	1971 Jan 3	金 Metal	Gold	狗 Dog
1971 Feb 4	1972 Jan 3	金 Metal	Gold	豬 Pig
1972 Feb 4	1973 Jan 3	水 Water	wood	鼠 Rat
1973 Feb 4	1974 Jan 3	水 Water	wood	牛 Ox
1974 Feb 4	1975 Jan 3	木 Wood	water	虎 Tiger
1975 Feb 4	1976 Jan 3	木 Wood	water	兔 Rabbit
1976 Feb 4	1977 Jan 3	火 Fire	earth	龍 Dragon
1977 Feb 4	1978 Jan 3	火 Fire	earth	蛇 Snake
1978 Feb 4	1979 Jan 3	土 Earth	fire	馬 Horse
1979 Feb 4	1980 Jan 3	土 Earth	fire	羊 Sheep
1980 Feb 4	1981 Jan 3	金 Metal	wood	猴 Monkey
1981 Feb 4	1982 Jan 3	金 Metal	wood	雞 Rooster
1982 Feb 4	1983 Jan 3	水 Water	water	狗 Dog
1983 Feb 4	1984 Jan 3	水 Water	water	豬 Pig
1984 Feb 4	1985 Jan 3	木 Wood	Gold	鼠 Rat
1985 Feb 4	1986 Jan 3	木 Wood	Gold	牛 Ox
1986 Feb 4	1987 Jan 3	火 Fire	fire	虎 Tiger
1987 Feb 4	1988 Jan 3	火 Fire	fire	兔 Rabbit
1988 Feb 4	1989 Jan 3	土 Earth	wood	龍 Dragon
1989 Feb 4	1990 Jan 3	土 Earth	wood	蛇 Snake
1990 Feb 4	1991 Jan 3	金 Metal	earth	馬 Horse
1991 Feb 4	1992 Jan 3	金 Metal	earth	羊 Sheep
1992 Feb 4	1993 Jan 3	水 Water	Gold	猴 Monkey
1993 Feb 4	1994 Jan 3	水 Water	Gold	雞 Rooster
1994 Feb 4	1995 Jan 3	木 Wood	fire	狗 Dog
1995 Feb 4	1996 Jan 3	木 Wood	fire	豬 Pig
1996 Feb 4	1997 Jan 3	火 Fire	water	鼠 Rat
1997 Feb 4	1998 Jan 3	火 Fire	water	牛 Ox
1998 Feb 4	1999 Jan 3	土 Earth	earth	虎 Tiger
1999 Feb 4	2000 Jan 3	土 Earth	earth	兔 Rabbit
2000 Feb 4	2001 Jan 3	金 Metal	Gold	龍 Dragon
2001 Feb 4	2002 Jan 3	金 Metal	Gold	蛇 Snake
2002 Feb 4	2003 Jan 3	水 Water	wood	馬 Horse
2003 Feb 4	2004 Jan 3	水 Water	wood	羊 Sheep
2004 Feb 4	2005 Jan 3	木 Wood	water	猴 Monkey
2005 Feb 4	2006 Jan 3	木 Wood	water	雞 Rooster
2006 Feb 4	2007 Jan 3	火 Fire	earth	狗 Dog
2007 Feb 4	2008 Jan 3	火 Fire	Gold	豬 Pig
2008 Feb 4	2009 Jan 3	土 Earth	fire	鼠 Rat
2009 Feb 4	2010 Jan 3	土 Earth	fire	牛 Ox
2010 Feb 4	2011 Jan 3	金 Metal	wood	虎 Tiger

Five elements

The Yin or Yang is broken down into Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water) on top of the cycle of animals. These are modifiers and affect the characteristics of each of the 12 animal signs. Thus, each of the 12 animals are governed by an element plus a Yin Yang Direction.

Although it is usually translated as 'element' the Chinese word xing literally means something like 'changing states of being', 'permutations' or 'metamorphoses of being'. ^[1] In fact Sinologists cannot agree on one single translation. The Chinese conception of 'element' is therefore quite different to the Western one. The Western elements were seen as the basic building blocks of matter. The Chinese 'elements', by contrast, were seen as ever changing and moving forces or energies - one translation of xing is simply 'the five changes'.

The balance of yin and yang and the five elements in a person's make-up has a major bearing on what is beneficial and effective for them in terms of feng shui, the Chinese form of geomancy. This is because each element is linked to a particular direction and season, and their different kinds of qì or life force.

木 Wood

• The East
• Spring
• The Planet Jupiter
• The Color Green
• Liver and gallbladder
• Generous, Warm, Persuasive, Co-operative, Seeks to Expand and Grow
• Idealistic, Ethical, Enthusiastic, Seeks to Explore

Wood 'Governs' the Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon

火 Fire

• The South
• Summer
• The Planet Mars
• The Color Red
• Circulatory system & Heart
• Dynamic, Humanitarian, Energetic, Passionate, Enterprising, Adventurous, Restless
• Competitive, Leadership Skills, Strong, Single-minded, Loves a good laugh

Fire 'Governs' the Snake, Horse and Sheep

土 Earth

• Center
• Three Enclosures, Change of seasons
• The Planet Saturn
• The Color Yellow
• Digestive system, Spleen and stomach
• Patient, Militaristic, Prudent, Stable, Reliable, Hard-working, Ambitious, Stubborn, and very energetic
• Disciplined, Tenacious, Logical, Governed by Service and Duty to Others

'Governs' Dragon, Rat, and Ox. It is the central balance of the elements and can lend qualities to all 12 animals as well.

金 Metal

• The West
• Autumn
• The Planet Venus
• The Color White
• Respiratory system & Lungs
• Determined, Self-reliant, Unyielding, Strong, Persistent, Forceful
• Reserved, Needs Personal Space, Sophisticated, Seeks pleasure

Metal 'Governs' the Monkey, Rooster, Dog

水 Water

• The North
• Winter
• The Planet Mercury
• The Color Blue
• Skeletal/Excretory System & Lungs
• Secretive, Charming, Intuitive, Compassionate, Sensitive, Creative
• Flexible, Compliant, Eloquence, Intellectual

Water 'Governs' the Pig, Rat, Ox

Element cycles

The doctrine of five phases describes two Cycles of Balance, a generating or creation (生, shēng) cycle and an overcoming or destruction (克, kè) cycle of interactions between the phases.

Generating:

• Wood feeds Fire;
• Fire creates Earth (ash);
• Earth bears Metal;
• Metal collects Water and
• Water nourishes Wood.

Overcoming:

• wood parts earth;
• earth absorbs water;
• water quenches fire;
• fire melts metal and
• metal chops wood

The 12 zodiac animals

In Chinese astrology the zodiac of twelve animal signs represents twelve different types of personality. The zodiac traditionally begins with the sign of the Rat, and there are many stories about the Origins of the Chinese Zodiac which explain why this is so (see below). The following are the twelve zodiac signs in order and their characteristics.^[2]

Note: The first symbol is simply the name of the animal written in Chinese, while the second Chinese symbol is the character specifically used in astrology to denote the animal sign.

1. 鼠 子 Rat (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Water): Forthright, disciplined, systematic, meticulous, charismatic, hardworking, industrious, charming, eloquent, sociable, shrewd. Can be manipulative, cruel, dictatorial, rigid, selfish, obstinate, critical, over-ambitious, ruthless, intolerant, scheming.
2. 牛 丑 Ox (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Water): Dependable, calm, methodical, patient, hardworking, ambitious, conventional, steady, modest, logical, resolute, tenacious. Can be stubborn, narrowminded, materialistic, rigid, demanding.
3. 虎 寅 Tiger (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Wood): Unpredictable, rebellious, colorful, powerful, passionate, daring, impulsive, vigorous, stimulating, sincere, affectionate, humanitarian, generous. Can be restless, reckless, impatient, quick-tempered, obstinate, selfish.
4. 兔 卯 Rabbit (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Wood): Gracious, kind, sensitive, soft-spoken, amiable, elegant, reserved, cautious, artistic, thorough, tender, self-assured, astute, compassionate, flexible. Can be moody, detached, superficial, self-indulgent, opportunistic, lazy.
5. 龍 辰 Dragon (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Wood): Magnanimous, vigorous, strong, self-assured, proud, direct, eager, zealous, fiery, passionate, decisive, pioneering, ambitious, generous, loyal. Can be arrogant, tyrannical, demanding, eccentric, dogmatic, over-bearing, impetuous, brash.
6. 蛇 巳 Snake (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Fire): Deep thinker, wise, mystic, graceful, soft-spoken, sensual, creative, prudent, shrewd, ambitious, elegant, cautious, responsible, calm, strong, constant, purposeful. Can be loner, bad communicator, possessive, hedonistic, self-doubting, distrustful, mendacious.
7. 馬 午 Horse (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Fire): Cheerful, popular, quick-witted, changeable, earthy, perceptive, talkative, agile mentally and physically, magnetic, intelligent, astute, flexible, open-minded. Can be fickle, anxious, rude, gullible, stubborn, lack stability and perseverance.
8. 羊 未 Sheep (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Fire): Righteous, sincere, sympathetic, mild-mannered, shy, artistic, creative, gentle, compassionate, understanding, mothering, determined, peaceful, generous, seeks security. Can be moody, indecisive, over-passive, worrier, pessimistic, over-sensitive, complainer.
9. 猴 申 Monkey (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Metal): Inventor, motivator, improviser, quick-witted, inquisitive, flexible, innovative, problem solver, self-assured, sociable, polite, dignified, competitive, objective, factual, intellectual. Can be egotistical, vain, selfish, cunning, jealous, suspicious.
10. 雞 酉 Rooster (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Metal): Acute, neat, meticulous, organized, self-assured, decisive, conservative, critical, perfectionist, alert, zealous, practical, scientific, responsible. Can be over zealous and critical, puritanical, egotistical, abrasive, opinionated.
11. 狗 戌 Dog (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Metal): Honest, intelligent, straightforward, loyal, sense of justice and fair play, attractive, amiable, unpretentious, sociable, open-minded, idealistic, moralistic, practical, affectionate, dogged. Can be cynical, lazy, cold, judgmental, pessimistic, worrier, stubborn, quarrelsome.
12. 豬 亥 Boar (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Water): Honest, simple, gallant, sturdy, couragous, persevering, resolute,sociable, peace-loving, patient, loyal, hard-working, trusting, sincere, diligent, calm, understanding, thoughtful, scrupulous, passionate, intelligent. Can be naive, over-reliant, self-indulgent, gullible, fatalistic, materialistic.

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

To sum it up, while a person might appear to be a dragon because they were born in the year of the dragon, they might also be a snake internally and an ox secretively. In total, this makes for 8,640 possible combinations (five elements x 12 animals in the 60 year cycle (12 x 5 = 60) , 12 months, 12 times of day) that a person might be. These are all critical for the proper use of Chinese astrology.

The months - the inner animals

Main article: Solar term

The 12 animals are also linked to the traditional Chinese agricultural calendar, that runs alongside the better known lunar calendar. Instead of months, this calendar is divided into 24 two week segments known as Solar Terms. Each animal is linked to two of these solar terms for a period similar to the Western month. Unlike the 60 year lunar calendar, which can vary by as much as a month in relation to the Western calendar, the agricultural calendar varies by only one day, beginning on the Western February 3rd or 4th every year. Again unlike the cycle of the lunar years, which begins with the Rat, the agricultural calendar begins with the Tiger as it is the first animal of spring.

An individual's monthly animal sign is called their inner animal and is concerned with what motivates a person. Since this sign dictates the person's love life and inner persona, it is critical to a proper understanding of the individual's compatibility with other signs.

As each sign is linked to a month of the solar year, it is thereby also linked to a season. Each of the elements are also linked to a season (see above), and the element that shares a season with a sign is known as that sign's fixed element. In other words, that element is believed to impart some of its characteristics to the sign concerned. The fixed element of each sign applies also to the year and hour signs, and not just the monthly sign. It is important to note that the fixed element is separate from the cycle of elements which interact with the signs in the 60 year cycle.

Solar Longitude	Solar term	Western date	Lunar Month	Fixed Element	Season
314°	立春 lìchūn	Feb 04 - Feb 18	1st -寅 Tiger	Wood	Spring
329°	雨水 yǔshui	Feb 19 - Mar 05
344°	啓蟄 qǐzhé (驚蟄 jīngzhé)	Mar 06 - Mar 20	2nd - 卯 Rabbit	Wood	Spring
0°	春分 chūnfēn	Mar 21 - Apr 04
14°	清明 qīngmíng	Apr 05 - Apr 19	3rd - 辰 Dragon	Wood	Spring
29°	穀雨 gǔyu	Apr 20 - May 04
44°	立夏 lìxià	May 05 - May 20	4th - 巳 Snake	Fire	Summer
59°	小滿 xiǎomǎn	May 21 - June 05
74°	芒種 mángzhòng	Jun 06 - Jun 20	5th - 午 Horse	Fire	Summer
89°	夏至 xiàzhì	Jun 21 - Jul 06
104°	小暑 xiǎoshǔ	Jul 07 - Jul 22	6th - 未 Sheep	Fire	Summer
119°	大暑 dàshǔ	Jul 23 - Aug 06
134°	立秋 lìqiu	Aug 07 - Aug 22	7th - 申 Monkey	Metal	Autumn
149°	處暑 chùshǔ	Aug 23 - Sep 07
164°	白露 báilù	Sep 08 - Sep 22	8th - 酉 Rooster	Metal	Autumn
181°	秋分 qiūfēn	Sep 23 - Oct 07
194°	寒露 hánlù	Oct 08 - Oct 22	9th - 戌 Dog	Metal	Autumn
211°	霜降 shuāngjiàng	Oct 23 - Nov 06
224°	立冬 lìdōng	Nov 07 - Nov 21	10th - 亥 Pig	Water	Winter
244°	小雪 xiǎoxuě	Nov 22 - Dec 06
251°	大雪 dàxuě	Dec 07 - Dec 21	11th - 子 Rat	Water	Winter
271°	冬至 dōngzhì	Dec 22 - Jan 05
284°	小寒 xiǎohán	Jan 06 - Jan 19	12th - 丑 Ox	Water	Winter
301°	大寒 dàhán	Jan 20 - Feb 03

The hours - the secret animals

The Chinese zodiac is also used to label times of day, with each sign corresponding to a "large-hour" or shichen (時辰), which is a two-hour period (24 divided by 12 animals). It is therefore important to know the exact time of birth to determine it. The secret animal is thought to be a person’s truest representation, since this animal is determined by the smallest denominator: a person’s birth hour. As this sign is based on the position of the sun in the sky and not the time of your local clock, it is important to compensate of daylight savings time. However, some online systems already compensate for daylight savings time, and astrologers may compensate your time for you oblivious to the fact that you've compensated it yourself, leading to an inaccurate reading.

The large-hour in which a person is born is their secret animal. It is a person's own true sign which their personality is based on. Note that while this chart is quite accurate, the exact time at which each animal begins shifts by the day.

• 23:00 - 01:00: 子 rat
• 01:00 - 03:00: 丑 ox
• 03:00 - 05:00: 寅 tiger
• 05:00 - 07:00: 卯 rabbit
• 07:00 - 09:00: 辰 dragon
• 09:00 - 11:00: 巳 snake
• 11:00 - 13:00: 午 horse
• 13:00 - 15:00: 未 sheep
• 15:00 - 17:00: 申 monkey
• 17:00 - 19:00: 酉 rooster
• 19:00 - 21:00: 戌 dog
• 21:00 - 23:00: 亥 pig

Categorizations of the twelve signs

Power Signs

• Rat
• Ox
• Tiger
• Dragon
• Snake
• Monkey

Romance Signs

• Rabbit
• Horse
• Sheep
• Rooster
• Dog
• Pig

The Four Animal Trines

The First Trine

The first trine consists of the Rat, Dragon, and Monkey. These three signs are intense and powerful individuals, capable of great good or great evil. They make great leaders, but the three have different approaches. Rats and Dragons have a tendency to be quite dictatorial and autocratic, whilst Monkeys are more diplomatic. Frustrated when hampered, these signs are ruled by highly potent energy and unpredictability. They are intelligent, magnanimous, charismatic, charming, authoritative, confident, eloquent and artistic. They can also be tyrannical, bombastic, prejudiced, deceitful, imperious, ruthless, power-hungry, and megalomaniacal.

The Second Trine

The second trine consists of the Ox, Snake, and Rooster. These three soul mates conquer life through endurance, application, and slow accumulation of energy. Although each sign is fixed and rigid in opinions and views, they are genius in the art of meticulous planning. They are hardworking, discreet, modest, industrious, charitable, loyal, punctual, philosophical, patient, and good-hearted individuals with high moral standards. They can also be self-righteous, vain, critical, judgemental, narrow-minded, petty, and pessimistic.

The Third Trine

The third trine consists of the Tiger, Horse, and Dog. These three signs seek one another, and are like-minded in their pursuit of humanitarian causes. Each is a gifted orator and excels at verbal communication. Relationships and personal contact are of highest priority and each one seek their intimate soul mate. Idealistic and impulsive, the Tiger, Horse and Dog follow the beat of their own drummer. Defiant against injustice, these three signs wilt without large amounts of physical affection and loyal support for causes. They are productive, enthusiastic, independent, engaging, dynamic, and honourable. They can also be rash, rebellious, quarrelsome, hot-headed, reckless, anxious, moody, disagreeable, stubborn, and selfish.

The Fourth Trine

The fourth trine consists of the Rabbit, Sheep and Pig. The quest for these three signs is the aesthetic and beautiful in life. Their calm nature gives them great leadership abilities. They are artistic, refined, intuitive, and well-mannered. These souls love the preliminaries in love, and are fine artists in their lovemaking. The Rabbit, Sheep and Pig have been bestowed with calmer natures than the other 9 signs. These three are compassionately aware, yet detached and resigned to their condition. They seek beauty and a sensitive lover. They are caring, unique, self-sacrificing, obliging, sensible, creative, empathetic, tactful, and prudent. They can also be naive, pedantic, insecure, cunning, indecisive, and pessimistic.

Zodiac origin stories

The 12 Zodiac animal signs (生肖 shengxiao) are, in order, the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep (ram or goat), monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. There are many legends to explain the beginning of the zodiac (see Origins of the Chinese Zodiac). One of the most popular reads, in summarized form, as follows:

The rat was given the task of inviting the animals to report to the Jade Emperor for a banquet to be selected for the zodiac signs. The cat was a good friend of the rat, but the rat tricked him into believing that the banquet was the next day. The cat slept through the banquet, thinking that it was the next day. When he found out, the cat vowed to be the rat's natural enemy for ages to come.

Interestingly, the cat does make it into the Vietnamese Zodiac, in place of the rabbit (see below).

Another popular legend has it that a race was used to decide the animals to report to the Jade Emperor.

The cat and the rat were the worst swimmers in the animal kingdom. Although bad swimmers, they were both 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 a naïve and good-natured animal, agreed to carry them across. However, overcome with a fierce competitiveness, the rat decided that in order to win, it must do something and promptly pushed the cat into the river. Because of this, the cat has never forgiven the rat, and hates the water as well. After the ox had crossed the river, the rat jumped ahead and reached the shore first, and it claimed first place in the competition.

Following closely behind was the strong ox, and it was named the 2nd animal in the zodiac. After the ox, came the tiger, panting, while explaining to the Emperor just how difficult it was to cross the river with the heavy currents pushing it downstream all the time. But with powerful strength, it made to shore and was named the 3rd animal in the cycle.

Suddenly, from a distance came a thumping sound, and the 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 the rabbit was lucky enough to grab hold of a floating log that later washed him to shore. For that, it became the 4th animal in the zodiac cycle. Coming in 5th place was the dragon, flying and belching fire into the air. Of course, the Emperor was deeply curious as to why a strong and flying creature such as the dragon should fail to reach first. The mighty dragon explained that he had to stop and make rain to help all the people and creatures of the earth, and therefore he was held back a little. Then, on his way to the finish line, he saw a little helpless rabbit clinging on to a log so he did a good deed and gave a puff of breath to the poor creature so that it could land on the shore. The Emperor was very pleased with the actions of the dragon, and he was added into the zodiac cycle. As soon as he had done so, a galloping sound was heard, and the horse appeared. Hidden on the horse's hoof is the snake, whose sudden appearance gave the horse a fright, thus making it fall back and gave the snake 6th spot while the horse took the 7th.

Not long after that, a little distance away, the ram, monkey and rooster came to the shore. These three creatures helped each other to get to where they are. The rooster spotted a raft, and took the other two animals with it. Together, the ram and the monkey cleared the weeds, tugged and pulled and finally got the raft to the shore. Because of their combined efforts, the Emperor was very pleased and promptly named the ram as the 8th creature, the monkey as the 9th, and the rooster the 10th.

The 11th animal is the dog. His explanation for being late—although he was supposed to be the best swimmer amongst the rest—was that he needed a good bath after a long spell, and the fresh water from the river was too big a temptation. For that, he almost didn't make it to finish line. Just as the Emperor was about to call it a day, an oink and squeal was heard from a little pig. The pig got hungry during the race, promptly stopped for a feast and then fell asleep. After the nap, the pig continued the race and was named the 12th and last animal of the zodiac cycle. The cat finished too late (thirteenth) to win any place in the calendar, and vowed to be the enemy of the rat forevermore.

Some versions of the tale say that the cattle nominated a water buffalo to represent them because he was more proficient at swimming. The trade was acceptable because both animals are bovines.

Another version of the tale expands the race. The route ran through a forest, over ranges of plains and grasslands and along a stream, before finally crossing a lake to the destination town.

Yet another variation tells of two different races. The first involved all the animals, in two divisions to avoid the fast animals dominating the top, and the top six in each division would "make the cut" for a second round, which would then determine the order of placement of the animals in the zodiac.

In yet another variation, each animal was called before its peers and had to explain why it deserved a position at the top of the Zodiac. The Boar, at a loss, proceeded to claim that the meat on its bones "tasted good". This explanation was apparently considered unsatisfactory, because the Boar was placed at the very end of the Zodiac.

Another variation shows that the cat was (informally) the 13th month (13 being an unlucky number or 1+3 = 4, also a bad number) so any cats (and especially the black cat) are considered a bad omen. Another variation tells the tale where the dogs and the wild boars were the last ones (and almost were left out), and they share a mutual affection despite their differences.

Cat Years

According to the legend, the cat was not included in the zodiac, but due to its naturally tricky nature, it "sneaks" into the zodiac anyway; for instance, the year 1989 and 2002 (this is under the Gregorian calendar, rather than the Chinese calendar, so it is merely an example) are cat years because their number is divisible by 13. These years are also snake and horse years, respectively, so the person under this zodiac would have traits associated with both the cat and the animal they are born under. Because this is a thirteen year cycle, rather than a 12 year one, each time the cat advances by one place, going until it gets to the end of the cycle.

The following years are divisible by 13 (using the Chinese calendar, ending with the divisible year at Chinese New Year): (1903-1904) - Dragon, (1916-1917) - Snake, (1929-1930) - Horse, (1942-1943) - Sheep, (1955-1956) - Monkey, (1968-1969) - Rooster, (1982-1983) - Dog, (1994-1995) - Boar, (2007-2008) - Rat, (2020-2021) - Ox, (2033-2034) - Tiger, (2046-2047) - Rabbit

Chinese zodiac in other countries

The Chinese zodiac signs are also used by cultures other than Chinese. For one example, they usually appear on Japanese New Year's cards and stamps. The United States Postal Service and those of several other countries issue a "Year of the _____" postage stamp each year to honor this Chinese heritage. However, those unfamiliar with the use of the Chinese lunar calendar usually just assume that the signs switch over on Jan 1 of each year. Those who are serious about the fortune telling aspect of the signs can consult a table, such as the one above.

The Chinese zodiac is also used in some other Asian countries that have been under the cultural influence of China. However, some of the animals in the Zodiac may differ by country.

For example, the Vietnamese zodiac is almost identical to Chinese zodiac except that the second animal is the water buffalo instead of the ox, the fourth animal is the cat instead of the rabbit and the eighth animal is the goat instead of the sheep. The Japanese zodiac includes the wild boar instead of the pig, and the Thai zodiac includes a naga in place of the dragon. The European Huns used the Chinese Zodiac complete with "dragon", "pig". This common Chinese-Turkic Zodiac was in use in Balkan Bulgaria well into the Bulgars' adoption of Slavic language and Orthodox Christianity. Following is the Hunnish or Turkic Bulgarian Pagan zodiac calendar, distinctive from the Greek zodiac but much in conformity with the Chinese one: Kam-Boyan Calendar.

Torè calendar

Names of years

1. Kuzgé - [Year of] Saravana
2. Shiger (Syger) - Artom (Taurus)
3. Kuman (Imén)
4. Ügur - Tiger Myachè Ügur - Tiger
5. Taushan - Rabbit
6. Samar - Dragon Birgün (Bergen, Birig, Baradj)- Dragon
7. Dilan - Snake
8. Tuki (Tykha) - Horse
9. Téké - Sheep (Ram or Goat)
10. Bichin, Michin - Monkey
11. Tavuk - Rooster, Hen (also written tağuk—ğ is pronounced as v in Turk. verbs döğmek and öğmek)
12. It - Dog
13. Shushma - Pig (many mistake it as boar though)(Turk., Russ. "Kaban" - Translator's Note, also cognate of Turkish şişman, "fat")

References