The Chinese animal signs are a 12-year cycle base on the Chinese Lunar Calendar, which is based on the cycle of the moon; the Western Calendar, Solar Calender, is based on the sun. There are 12 animal signs, each one represents a year, every 12 years, the same animal reappears, therefore, Chinese people are able to tell your age by only knowing your animal sign.

Why the animals stand in this order ? There is an interesting legend. The god in heaven held a race in order to decide the order of those 12 animals, the one who wins the race would be the first year, the rest would receive their years according to their finish. The clever rat knew he had no chance to win the race, so he sneaked onto the back of the ox, and stayed there until the ox was about to reach the finish line, then he jumped off and finished just before the ox, he won the race. The pig was too fat to catch up the others, so he ended up as the last.

Chinese Zodiac Animal Table

Animal	Year of Birth	Personality and Characters
Rat / Mouse	1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996	Imaginative, passionate, wise and intense
Ox	1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997	Bright, Inspiring, patient and hard working
Tiger	1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998	Loyal, courageous and enthusiastic
Rabbit	1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999	Shy, discreet, prudent and honest
Dragon	1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000	Active, healthy, dynamic and brilliant if eccentric
Snake	1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001	Clever, opportunistic and reflective, desires to help others
Horse	1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002	Popular, noble attractive and enterprising
Goat / Sheep	1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003	Adaptable, gentle, elegant
Monkey	1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004	Intelligent, influential and ambitious
Rooster	1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005	Obliging, pioneering and brave
Dog	1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006	Loyal, faithful and unselfish
Pig	1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007	Tolerant, generous and prosperous

Note: if you were born in January, normally will be the previous year, as Chinese New Year is at the end of January or beginning of February, if uncertain, please contact us

How to write and pronounce those animals in Chinese

Hand Carved Jade 12 Animals Pendants / Charm

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