Chinese Zodiac

Unlike the Western or Indian zodiacs, the Chinese zodiac signs are not derived from constellations, and are not assigned to sections of the ecliptic. Instead, Chinese astrological signs operate on cycles of years, lunar months, and two-hour periods of the day (also known as shichen). A particular feature of the Chinese zodiac is its operation in a sixty year cycle in combination with the five elements of Chinese astrology (Wood, Fire, Metal, Water, and Earth). Nevertheless some researches says that there is obvious relationship between Chinese 12-year cycle and zodiac constellations: each year of the cycle corresponds to the certain disposal of Jupiter. For example, in the year of Snake Jupiter is in the Sign of Gemini, in the year of Horse Jupiter is in the Sign of Cancer and so on. So Chinese 12-year calendar is solar-lunar-jupiteriar calendar.

Zodiac Symbolism

The following table shows the twelve signs and their attributes.

Sign	Yin/Yang	Direction	Season	Fixed Element	Trine
Rat	Yang	North	Winter	Water	1st
Ox	Yin	North	Winter	Water	2nd
Tiger	Yang	East	Spring	Wood	3rd
Rabbit	Yin	East	Spring	Wood	4th
Dragon	Yang	East	Spring	Fire	1st
Snake	Yin	South	Summer	Fire	2nd
Horse	Yang	South	Summer	Fire	3rd
Goat	Yin	South	Summer	Fire	4th
Monkey	Yang	West	Autumn	Metal	1st
Rooster	Yin	West	Autumn	Metal	2nd
Dog	Yang	West	Autumn	Metal	3rd
Pig	Yin	North	Winter	Water	4th

子 Rat (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Water): Rat years include 1900, 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008. The month of the Rat is Dec 7 - Jan 5, and the hours of the Rat are 11pm - 1am. 丑 Ox (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Water): Ox years include 1901, 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009. The month of the Ox is Jan 6 - Feb 3, and the hours of the Ox are 1am - 3am. 寅 Tiger (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Wood): Tiger years include 1902, 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010. The month of the Tiger is Feb 4 - Mar 5, and the hours of the Tiger are 3am - 5am. 卯 Rabbit (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Wood): Rabbit Years include 1903, 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011. The month of the Rabbit is Mar 6 - Apr 4, and the hours of the Rabbit are 5am - 7am. 辰 Dragon (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Wood): Dragon years include 1904, 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012. The month of the Dragon is Apr 5 - May 4, and the hours of the Dragon are 7am - 9am. 巳 Snake (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Fire): Snake years include 1905, 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013. The month of the Snake is May 5 - Jun 5, and the hours of the Snake are 9am - 11am. 午 Horse (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Fire): Horse years include 1906, 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014. The month of the Horse is Jun 6 - Jul 6, and the hours of the Horse are 11am - 1pm. 未 Goat (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Fire): Goat years include 1907, 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015. The month of the Goat is Jul 7 - Aug 7, and the hours of the Goat are 1pm - 3pm. 申 Monkey (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Metal): Monkey years include 1908, 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016. The month of the Monkey is Aug 8 - Sep 7, and the hours of the Monkey are 3pm - 5pm. 酉 Rooster (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Metal): Rooster years include 1909, 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017. The month of the Rooster is Sep 8 - Oct 7 and the hours of the Rooster are 5pm - 7pm. 戌 Dog (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Metal): Dog years include 1910, 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018. The month of the Dog is Oct 8 - Nov 7, and the hours of the Dog are 7pm - 9pm. 亥 Pig (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Water): Pig years include 1911, 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019. The month of the Pig is Nov 8 - Dec 6, and the hours of the Pig are 9pm - 11pm. The Five Elements The elements differ in Chinese astrology from their Western counterparts: Air is not one of the elements as defined by the Chinese. Instead, Wood and Metal are elements alongside Fire and Water. In addition, the elements also govern various aspects of one's personality, and are assigned to various other things such as directions (North, South, East and West), colors, seasons and planets. The characteristics of the four elements are as follows: Metal: The metal person is rigid and resolute in expression and intense, with strong feelings. The direction associated with Metal is West, and the season is autumn, which makes it the fixed element for the animal signs Monkey, Rooster and Dog. Water: The water person is a good communicator and persuader, intuitive and sympathetic to others and good at conveying feelings and emotions. The direction associated with Water is North, and the season is winter, which makes it the fixed element for the animal signs Pig, Rat and Ox. Wood: The wood person has high morals, is self confident, expansive and co-operative, with wide and varied interests. The direction associated with Wood is East, and the season is spring, which makes it the fixed element for the animal signs Tiger, Rabbit and Dragon. Fire: The fire person has leadership qualities, and is decisive, self confident, positive and assertive. The direction associated with Fire is South, and the season is summer, which makes it the fixed element for the animal signs Snake, Horse and Sheep. Earth: The five elements operate together with the twelve animal signs in a sixty year calendar. The four elements appear in the calendar in both their yin and yang forms and are known as the eight heavenly stems. When trying to calculate the relevant year of the cycle in relation to the Western calendar, 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.