The 12 Chinese Zodiac Signs and Their Meanings
|
Animal |
Characters |
Yin/Yang |
Trine |
Fixed Element |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rat |
鼠, shǔ (子) |
Yang |
1st |
Water |
|
Ox |
牛, niú (丑) |
Yin |
2nd |
Earth |
|
Tiger |
虎, hǔ (寅) |
Yang |
3rd |
Wood |
|
Rabbit |
兔, tù (卯) |
Yin |
4th |
Wood |
|
Dragon |
龙/龍, lóng (辰) |
Yang |
1st |
Earth |
|
Snake |
蛇, shé (巳) |
Yin |
2nd |
Fire |
|
Horse |
马/馬, mǎ (午) |
Yang |
3rd |
Fire |
|
Goat |
羊, yáng (未) |
Yin |
4th |
Earth |
|
Monkey |
猴, hóu (申) |
Yang |
1st |
Metal |
|
Rooster |
鸡/雞, jī (酉) |
Yin |
2nd |
Metal |
|
Dog |
狗, gǒu (戌) |
Yang |
3rd |
Earth |
|
Pig |
猪/豬, zhū (亥) |
Yin |
4th |
Water |
12 Chinese Zodiac Signs and Horoscope with Meaning
The Chinese zodiac is a way of grouping years using the Chinese calendar. Each year is linked with an animal and its traits repeating every twelve years. This is important in Chinese culture and reflects their beliefs. According to Chinese tradition, a person’s personality is tied to the animal year they were born in. For example, someone born in the Year of the Rat might be considered clever.
The Chinese zodiac is used not just in China but also in other Asian countries like Japan and South Korea.