Chinese Zodiac

The Chinese Animal Zodiac, or Sheng Xiao in Chinese, is based on the traditional Chinese calendar. The Chinese Lunar Calendar names each of the twelve years after an animal. According to a Chinese legend, the Lord Buddha summoned all the animals to come to him before he departed from earth. Only twelve came to bid him farewell and as a reward he named a year after each one in the order they arrived.

The Chinese believe the animal ruling the year in which a person is born has a profound influence on personality, saying: "This is the animal that hides in your heart."


           

Rat 1924 1936 1948 1960 1972 1984 1996Ox 1925 1937 19491961 1973 1985 1997Tiger 1926 1938 1950 1962 1974 1986 1998Rabbit 1927 1939 1951 1963 1975 1987 1999Dragon 1928 1940 1952 1964 1976 1988 2000Snake 1929 1941 1953 1965 1977 1989 2001Horse 1930 1942 1954 1966 1978 1990 2002Sheep 1931 1943 1955 1967 1979 1991 2003Monkey 1932 1944 1956 1968 1980 1992 2004Rooster 1933 1945 1957 1969 1981 1993 2005Dog 1924 1946 1958 1970 1982 1994 2006Boar 1935 1947 1959 1971 1983 1995 2007