Chinese Astrological Signs
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What is your Chinese Astrological Sign?
Have you ever wondered how the Chinese Astrological Signs came to be named after animals? There's many folk stories that recount how the animals were chosen and this page features a selection.
Image: Protection Seal Print by Jaenne
Quicklinks to your Chinese Astrological Sign
Click on the link to be taken further down the page
- 2012 Chinese Horoscope
- Do you know your Chinese Astrological Sign?
- How the Chinese Astrological Signs were chosen
- More Chinese Mythology
- The thirteenth sign of the Chinese Zodiac?
- Yin and Yang
- The 12 Time Periods of the Chinese Zodiac
- Happy New year in Chinese - how to say
- Chinese Astrology Signs Years
- 1900 - 1909
- 1910 - 1919
- 1920 - 1929
- 1930 - 1939
- 1940 - 1949
- 1950 - 1959
- 1960 - 1969
- 1970 - 1979
- 1980 - 1989
- 1990 - 1999
- 2000 - 2009
- 2010 - 2019
- Chinese Zodiac
- Did this page help you find out about your Chinese Astrological Sign?
2012 Chinese Horoscope
Was does the Year of the Dragon have in store for you?
2012 Year of the Dragon Forecast - For all 12 Chinese Zodiac signs [Kindle Edition]
Do you know your Chinese Astrological Sign?
How the Chinese Astrological Signs were chosen
Forming the Chinese Zodiac
The 10 Heavenly Stems are Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren and Gui; the 12 Earthly Branches are Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu and Hai.
However according to Chinese Legend the Chinese people who were illiterate found it hard to remember the names of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches so they asked the Jade Emperor for help. After giving the matter some thought the Jade Emperor decided that as animals influenced and had close relationships with his people, he would choose 12 animals to represent the Earthly Branches.
The Jade Emperor gave notice to the animals that on a certain day they must come to him and the first 12 to arrive would have the honor of being named as the 12 Chinese Horoscopes.
The animals received the news and began to get ready. The cat and the rat were neighbors and good friends, so they decided to make the journey to see the Jade Emperor together.
The day before the appointed time the cat said to rat:
"We have to rise early, but I have got into the habit of sleeping in late. What should I do?"
Rat reassured Cat, saying:
"Do not worry. I will wake you and we will go together."
The next morning the rat went to wake the Cat, but then he had second thoughts:
"I had better not wake up Cat because he always walks faster than me", so Rat went to visit the Jade Emperor on his own. Rat was the first to arrive to visit the Jade Emperor, which is why the Rat is the first sign of the Chinese Zodiac.
More Chinese Mythology
How the Chinese Astrological Signs got their names
The good-natured Ox agreed to carry them both across. Half way across the river, Rat pushed Cat into the water. Then as soon as Ox was close enough to the river bank, Rat jumped off and ran ahead, becoming the first animal to meet the Jade Emperor and claiming his prize to become the first sign in Chinese Horoscopes.
Ox followed behind and became the second animal in the Chinese Zodiac.
Third came tiger, who explained how difficult it was to cross the river with the heavy currents but with its powerful strength, Tiger made it to shore.
Rabbit arrived in fourth place. It crossed the river by jumping from one stone to another in a nimble fashion. Halfway across Rabbit was almost swept downriver but was lucky enough to grab hold of a floating log that brought it to the riverbank.
The flying Dragon was fifth. The Jade Emperor was very surprised as to why the dragon failed to be first but the Dragon explained that he had to stop and make rain to help all the people and creatures of the earth, so he was delayed. He was further delayed because he saw a little helpless rabbit clinging onto a log so he gave a puff of breath to the poor creature so that it could land on the shore.
Space Dragons by Flynn_the_Cat
The next creature to arrive was the Horse, who should have been given sixth place. However, hiding on the horse's hoof was the snake, whose sudden appearance gave the horse a fright. The horse stepped back, so Snake was given sixth place while the horse was placed seventh.
Not long after that, the sheep, monkey, and rooster came to the shore. These three creatures helped each other. The rooster spotted a raft and took the sheep and monkey with it. The raft became caught in some weeds but together, the sheep and the monkey cleared the way and finally got the raft to the shore. The Jade Emperor was very pleased to see these animals helping each other and gave the sheep eighth place, the monkey ninth and the rooster the tenth.
Dog was believed to be the best swimmer but he ended up playing in the river longer than he should - although he told the Jade Emperor that he was bathing as he had not had a wash in a long time. The Dog became the eleventh of the Chinese Horoscope Signs.
Just as the Jade Emperor thought there would be no more animals, pig appeared. The pig became hungry during the race, stopped for a feast and then fell asleep. After his nap, the pig continued his journey and was named the twelfth of the Chinese Astrological animals.
The thirteenth sign of the Chinese Zodiac?
The Cat?
This is because it was Buddhists who introduced the cat to China from India and this was later than the earliest records of the Chinese Zodiac.
BLACK CAT - AUTUMN LEAVES Poster by BY_CYRA
Yin and Yang
in the Chinese Zodiac
Yin and Yang meaning, as defined at Wiki:"In Chinese philosophy, the concept of yin yang is used to describe how polar or seemingly contrary forces are interconnected and interdependent in the natural world, and how they give rise to each other in turn."
Once the twelve animals had been decided, the Chinese people then divided the 12 animals into Yin and Yang and the five Elements of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth.
This led to the evolution of the Chinese Horoscope and the belief that the twelve Chinese horoscope animals influenced people's characteristics and qualities.
The custom was also developed that when a person came to the year of his Chinese Zodiac Animal he must wear a red belt to pursue good fortune and shun calamity. Even children had to wear a red vest and underwear in their birth year. This custom of 'Birth Year' is still popular throughout China.
The 12 Time Periods of the Chinese Zodiac
Chinese Astrology Animals have named time periods
23:00 ~ 01:00: Zishi, when Rats are most active in seeking food
01:00 ~ 03:00: Choushi, when Oxen begin to crush the food, chewing in the mouth slowly and comfortably
03:00 ~ 05:00: Yinshi, when Tigers hunt their prey and show their ferocity
05:00 ~ 07:00: Maoshi, when the Jade Rabbit is busy pounding herbal medicine on the Moon according to legend
07:00 ~ 09:00: Chenshi, when Dragons are hovering in the sky and make rain
09:00 ~ 11:00: Sishi, when snakes leave their caves
11:00 ~ 13:00: Wushi, when the sun is high, while horses are still standing and other animals are lying down
13:00 ~ 15:00: Weishi, when sheep urinate frequently
15:00 ~ 17:00: Shenshi, when the monkeys are at their most lively
17:00 ~ 19:00: Youshi, when Roosters begin to roost
19:00 ~ 21:00: Xushi, when Dogs begin their duty to guard the houses
21:00 ~ 23:00: Haishi, when pigs are sleeping sweetly
Happy New year in Chinese - how to say
Xin Nian Kuai Le
"Happy New Year" in English is "New Year Happy" in Chinese:
"Xin Nian Kuai Le"
Chinese Astrology Signs Years
In this section you will find all the Chinese Astrological Signs
for every year between 1900 and 2019.
1900 - 1909
YEAR
FROM
TO
SYMBOL
ELEMENT
1900
31 January 1900
18 February 1901
Rat
Metal
1901
19 February 1901
07 February 1902
Ox
Metal
1902
08 February 1902
28 January 1903
Water
1903
29 January 1903
15 February 1904
Water
1904
16 February 1904
03 February 1905
Wood
1905
04 February 1905
24 January 1906
Snake
Wood
1906
25 January 1906
12 February 1907
Horse
Fire
1907
13 February 1907
01 February 1908
Sheep
Fire
1908
02 February 1908
21 January 1909
Monkey
Earth
1909
22 January 1909
09 February 1910
Rooster
Earth
1910 - 1919
YEAR
FROM
TO
SYMBOL
ELEMENT
1910
10 February 1910
29 January 1911
Dog
Metal
1911
30 January 1911
17 February 1912
Pig
Metal
1912
18 February 1912
05 February 1913
Rat
Water
1913
06 February 1913
25 January 1914
Ox
Water
1914
26 January 1914
13 February 1915
Wood
1915
14 February 1915
02 February 1916
Wood
1916
03 February 1916
22 January 1917
Fire
1917
23 January 1917
10 February 1918
Snake
Fire
1918
11 February 1918
31 January 1919
Horse
Earth
1919
01 February 1919
19 February 1920
Sheep
Earth
1920 - 1929
YEAR
FROM
TO
SYMBOL
ELEMENT
1920
20 February 1920
07 February 1921
Monkey
Metal
1921
08 February 1921
27 January 1922
Rooster
Metal
1922
28 January 1922
15 February 1923
Dog
Water
1923
16 February 1923
04 February 1924
Pig
Water
1924
05 February 1924
24 January 1925
Rat
Wood
1925
25 January 1925
12 February 1926
Ox
Wood
1926
13 February 1926
01 February 1927
Fire
1927
02 February 1927
22 January 1928
Fire
1928
23 January 1928
09 February 1929
Earth
1929
10 February 1929
29 January 1930
Snake
Earth
1930 - 1939
YEAR
FROM
TO
SYMBOL
ELEMENT
1930
30 January 1930
16 February 1931
Horse
Metal
1931
17 February 1931
05 February 1932
Sheep
Metal
1932
06 February 1932
25 January 1933
Monkey
Water
1933
26 January 1933
13 February 1934
Rooster
Water
1934
14 February 1934
03 February 1935
Dog
Wood
1935
04 February 1935
23 January 1936
Pig
Wood
1936
24 January 1936
10 February 1937
Rat
Fire
1937
11 February 1937
30 January 1938
Ox
Fire
1938
31 January 1938
18 February 1939
Earth
1939
19 February 1939
07 February 1940
Earth
1940 - 1949
YEAR
FROM
TO
SYMBOL
ELEMENT
1940
08 February 1940
26 January 1941
Metal
1941
27 January 1941
14 February 1942
Snake
Metal
1942
15 February 1942
04 February 1943
Horse
Water
1943
05 February 1943
24 January 1944
Sheep
Water
1944
25 January 1944
12 February 1945
Monkey
Wood
1945
13 February 1945
01 February 1946
Rooster
Wood
1946
02 February 1946
21 January 1947
Dog
Fire
1947
22 January 1947
09 February 1948
Pig
Fire
1948
10 February 1948
28 January 1949
Rat
Earth
1949
29 January 1949
16 February 1950
Ox
Earth
1950 - 1959
YEAR
FROM
TO
SYMBOL
ELEMENT
1950
17 February 1950
05 February 1951
Metal
1951
06 February 1951
26 January 1952
Metal
1952
27 January 1952
13 February 1953
Water
1953
14 February 1953
02 February 1954
Snake
Water
1954
03 February 1954
16 February 1955
Horse
Wood
1955
24 January 1955
11 February 1956
Sheep
Wood
1956
12 February 1956
30 January 1957
Monkey
Fire
1957
31 January 1957
17 February 1958
Rooster
Fire
1958
18 February 1958
07 February 1959
Dog
Earth
1959
08 February 1959
27 January 1960
Pig
Earth
1960 - 1969
YEAR
FROM
TO
SYMBOL
ELEMENT
1960
28 January 1960
14 February 1961
Rat
Metal
1961
15 February 1961
04 February 1962
Ox
Metal
1962
05 February 1962
24 January 1963
Water
1963
25 January 1963
12 February 1964
Water
1964
13 February 1964
01 February 1965
Wood
1965
02 February 1965
20 January 1966
Snake
Wood
1966
21 January 1966
08 February 1967
Horse
Fire
1967
09 February 1967
29 January 1968
Sheep
Fire
1968
30 January 1968
16 February 1969
Monkey
Earth
1969
17 February 1969
05 February 1970
Rooster
Earth
1970 - 1979
YEAR
FROM
TO
SYMBOL
ELEMENT
1970
06 February 1970
26 January 1971
Dog
Metal
1971
27 January 1971
15 January 1972
Pig
Metal
1972
16 January 1972
02 February 1973
Rat
Water
1973
03 February 1973
22 January 1974
Ox
Water
1974
23 January 1974
10 February 1975
Wood
1975
11 February 1975
30 January 1976
Wood
1976
31 January 1976
17 February 1977
Fire
1977
18 February 1977
06 February 1978
Snake
Fire
1978
07 February 1978
27 January 1979
Horse
Earth
1979
28 January 1979
15 February 1980
Sheep
Earth
1980 - 1989
YEAR
FROM
TO
SYMBOL
ELEMENT
1980
16 February 1980
04 February 1981
Monkey
Metal
1981
05 February 1981
24 January 1982
Rooster
Metal
1982
25 January 1982
12 February 1983
Dog
Water
1983
13 February 1983
01 February 1984
Pig
Water
1984
02 February 1984
19 February 1985
Rat
Wood
1985
20 February 1985
8 February 1986
Ox
Wood
1986
09 February 1986
28 January 1987
Fire
1987
29 January 1987
16 February 1988
Fire
1988
17 February 1988
05 February 1989
Earth
1989
06 February 1989
26 January 1990
Snake
Earth
1990 - 1999
YEAR
FROM
TO
SYMBOL
ELEMENT
1990
27 January 1990
14 February 1991
Horse
Metal
1991
15 February 1991
03 February 1992
Sheep
Metal
1992
04 February 1992
22 January 1993
Monkey
Water
1993
23 January 1993
09 February 1994
Rooster
Water
1994
10 February 1994
30 January 1995
Dog
Wood
1995
31 January 1995
18 February 1996
Pig
Wood
1996
19 February 1996
07 February 1997
Rat
Fire
1997
08 February 1997
27 January 1998
Ox
Fire
1998
28 January 1998
15 February 1999
Earth
1999
16 February 1999
04 February 2000
Earth
2000 - 2009
YEAR
FROM
TO
SYMBOL
ELEMENT
2000
05 February 2000
23 January 2001
Metal
2001
24 January 2001
11 February 2002
Snake
Metal
2002
12 February 2002
31 January 2003
Horse
Water
2003
01 February 2003
21 January 2004
Sheep
Water
2004
22 January 2004
08 February 2005
Monkey
Wood
2005
09 February 2005
28 January 2006
Rooster
Wood
2006
29 January 2006
17 February 2007
Dog
Fire
2007
18 February 2007
06 February 2008
Pig
Fire
2008
07 February 2008
25 January 2009
Rat
Earth
2009
26 January 2009
13 February 2010
Ox
Earth
2010 - 2019
YEAR
FROM
TO
SYMBOL
ELEMENT
2010
14 February 2010
02 February 2011
Metal
2011
03 February 2011
22 January 2012
Metal
2012
23 January 2012
09 February 2013
Water
2013
10 February 2013
30 January 2014
Snake
Water
2014
31 January 2014
18 February 2015
Horse
Wood
2015
19 February 2015
07 February 2016
Sheep
Wood
2016
08 February 2016
27 January 2017
Monkey
Fire
2017
28 January 2017
15 February 2018
Rooster
Fire
2018
16 February 2018
04 February 2019
Dog
Earth
2019
05 February 2019
24 January 2020
Pig
Earth
What are people saying about Chinese Zodiac Signs on Twitter?
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Did you find your Chinese Astrological Animal?
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MindPowerProofs
Apr 1, 2012 @ 3:55 am | delete
- Another great lens. Thank you
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Feb 12, 2012 @ 7:06 am | delete
- I am a Snake. I have to look into it a little more. Great lens.
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JoshK47
Jan 27, 2012 @ 10:21 am | delete
- I'm an Ox - but I already knew that! Great lens! Blessed by a SquidAngel!
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sybelle
Jan 3, 2012 @ 11:50 pm | delete
- I am a rabbit! I am a rabbit! hop hop hop
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KathyMcGraw
Jan 1, 2012 @ 1:25 pm | delete
- I thought I was right...and I was..I am the year of the Rabbit :)
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