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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