Chinese zodiac

TheChinese zodiacis a traditional classification scheme based on theChinese calendarthat assigns an animal and its reputed attributes to each year in a repeating twelve-year cycle.The zodiac is very important in traditional Chinese culture and exists as a reflection ofChinese philosophyandculture.Chinese folkways held that one's personality is related to the attributes of their zodiac animal.Originating fromChina, the zodiac and its variations remain popular in manyEast AsianandSoutheast Asiancountries, such asJapan,South Korea,Vietnam,Singapore,Nepal,Bhutan,Cambodia, andThailand.
Identifying this scheme as a "zodiac" reflects superficial similarities to theWestern 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.
For the starting date of a zodiac year, there are two schools of thought inChinese astrology:Chinese New Yearor thestart of spring.
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 theHan 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 twelveEarthly Branches(地支) with the tenHeavenly 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, theJade Emperorheld 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.
However, according to historical records and research,the Chinese zodiac appeared after the establishment of the "Ganji Chronicle Law",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 theEastern Han dynasty,Xu Shensaid that the charactersi(巳) was the image of a snake, and the same was true forhai(亥) andshi(豕; 'pig'). Since the twelveEarthly Branchesof 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.
"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.
Thezodiactraditionallybegins with the sign of theRat.The following are the twelvezodiacsigns in order, each with its associated characteristics (Heavenly Stems,Earthly Branch,yin/yang force,Trine, andnature element).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.
InChinese astrologythe animal signs assigned byyearrepresent self-presentation or perception by others.It is a common misconception that the animals assigned by year are the only signs, and manyWesterndescriptions ofChinese astrologyonly reference this system. There are also animal signs assigned bymonth(called "inner animals"), byday(called "true animals"), andhours(called "secret animals"). TheEarthis all twelve signs, with five seasons.
Michel Ferlus(2013) notes that the Old Chinese names of the earthly branches are ofAustroasiaticorigin.Some of Ferlus's comparisons are given below, with Old Chinese reconstructions cited from Baxter & Sagart (2014).
There is also a lexical correspondence withAustronesian:
The terms for the earthly branches are attested fromShang dynastyinscriptions 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.
Within theFour 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 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 aTigeris 12, 24, 36, (etc.) years old in the year of the Tiger (2022); in the year of theRabbit(2023), that person is one year older.
The following table shows the 60-year cycle matched up to theGregorian calendarfor 1924–2043. Thesexagenary cyclebegins atlichunabout February 4 according to someastrologicalsources.
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.).
The first Trine consists of theRat,Dragon, andMonkey. 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.
The second Trine consists of theOx,Snake, andRooster. 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.
The third Trine consists of theTiger,Horse, andDog. 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.
The fourth Trine consists of theRabbit,Goat, andPig. 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.
As the Chinese zodiac is derived according to the ancientFive Elements Theory, everyChinesesign is associated with five elements with relations, among those elements, of interpolation, interaction, over-action, and counter-action—believed to be thecommon lawof motions and changes of creatures in theuniverse. Different people born under each animal sign supposedly have different personalities, and practitioners ofChinese astrologyconsult suchtraditionaldetails and compatibilities to offer putative guidance in life or for love and marriage.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.
Manystoriesandfablesexplain the beginning of thezodiac. Since theHan dynasty, the twelveEarthly Brancheshave been used to record the time of day. However, for entertainment and convenience,they were replaced by the twelve animals, and amnemonicrefers to the behavior of the animals:
Earthly Branchesmay refer to a double-hour period.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.
An ancientfolktalecalled "The Great Race" tells of theJade 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.
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,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.
InChinese 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.
InBuddhistlegendGautama Buddhasummoned all animals of theEarthto come before him before his departure from thisEarth, 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 ofChinese 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 ofBuddhism. However until recently, the Vietnamese moved away from theirtraditional textsand 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.Another popular cultural reason is that the ancient word forrabbit(Mao) sounds like cat (Meo).
The Chinese zodiac signs are also used byculturesother thanChinese. For example, they usually appear onKorean New YearandJapanese New Year's cards and stamps. TheUnited States Postal Serviceand several other countries' postal services issue a "Year of the ____" postage stamp each year to honor thisChineseheritage.
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 andChinese lunar coins. The coins depictzodiacanimals, inspired theCanadian Silver Maple Leafcoins, as well as varieties fromAustralia,South Korea, andMongolia.
The Chinese zodiac is also used in some Asian countries that were under theculturalinfluence ofChina. However, some of the animals in thezodiacmay differ bycountry.
TheKorean zodiacincludes theSheep(yang) instead of theGoat(which would beyeomso), although theChinesesource of the loanwordyangmay refer to anygoat-antelope.
TheJapanese zodiacincludes theSheep(hitsuji) instead of theGoat(which would beyagi), and theWild boar(inoshishi,i) instead of thePig(buta).Since 1873, theJapanesehave celebrated the beginning of the new year on 1 January as per theGregorian calendar.
TheVietnamese zodiacvaries from the Chinese zodiac with the second animal being theWater Buffaloinstead of theOx, and the fourth animal being theCatinstead of theRabbit.
TheCambodian zodiacis exactly identical to that of the Chinese although the dragon is interchangeable with the Neak (nāga)Cambodiansea snake.Sheep and Goat are interchangeable as well. TheCambodian New Yearis celebrated in April, rather than in January or February as it is in China and most countries.
TheCham zodiacuses the same order as the Chinese zodiac, but replaces theMonkeywith the turtle (known locally askra).
Similarly theMalay zodiacreplaces theRabbitwith themousedeer(pelanduk) and thePigwith the tortoise (kuraorkura-kura).TheDragon(Loong) is normally equated with thenāgabut it is sometimes called Big Snake (ular besar) while theSnake signis called Second Snake (ular sani). This is also recorded in a 19th-century manuscript compiled byJohn Leyden.
TheThai zodiacincludes anāgain place of theDragonand begins, not at theChinese New Year, but either on the first day of the fifth month in theThai lunar calendar, or during theSongkranNew Year festival(now celebrated every 13–15 April), depending on the purpose of the use.Historically,Lan Na(Kingdom around Northern Thailand) also replaces pig with elephant. While modern Thai have returned to pig, its name is stillกุน (gu̜n), retaining the actual word for elephant in the zodiac.
TheGurungzodiacinNepalincludes 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.
TheBulgar calendarused from the 2nd centuryand that has been only partially reconstructed uses a similar sixty-year cycle of twelve animal-named years groups.
TheOld Mongol calendaruses the Mouse, the Ox, theLeopard, theHare, theCrocodile, the Serpent, the Horse, the Sheep, the Monkey, theHen, the Dog and the Hog.
TheTibetan calendarreplaces theRoosterwith thebird.
TheVolga Bulgars,Kazarsand other Turkic peoples replaced some animals by local fauna: Leopard (instead of Tiger),Fishor Crocodile (instead of Dragon/Loong),Hedgehog(instead of Monkey),Elephant(instead of Pig), andCamel(instead of Rat/Mouse).
In thePersianversion of the Eastern zodiac brought by Mongols during the Middle Ages, the Chinese wordlóngand Mongol wordlū(Dragon) was translated asnahangmeaning "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 termnahangis used almost exclusively as meaningWhale, thus switching the Loong for the Whale in the Persian variant.
In the traditionalKazakhversion of the twelve-year animal cycle (Kazakh:мүшел,müşel), theDragonis replaced by a snail (Kazakh:ұлу,ulw), and theTigerappears as a leopard (Kazakh:барыс,barıs).
In theKyrgyzversion 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.
In theTurkishversion of zodiac, the animals are almost the same, but it replaces Tiger with Leopard (Pars), Dragon with Fish (Balık) and Goat with Sheep (Koyun). Remarkably, the practise of zodiac persisted since theOttoman Empire, including the presence of Pig (Domuz) despite contradicting Islamic rule.
Due to confusion with synonyms during translation, some of the animals depicted by theEnglishwords did not exist inancient China.For example: