The Chinese zodiac comprises 12 animals with a 12-year rotation for calendar purposes. The Chinese zodiac offers a cyclical idea of calendar as opposed to linear concept of time which is found in Western solar calendar. The Chinese lunar calendar calculates time with different stages of the moon and this is quite different from the Western Solar Calendar.

Although Chinese have adopted western solar calendar yet, traditionally, the lunar calendar is still used for celebrating different festivals. As far as the beginning of the Chinese year is concerned, a new year begins sometime between the end of January and start of February.

The traditional method of time calculation in China was cyclical rather than linear and represented by Twelve Animal Signs. Each year is given the name of an animal or sign. Twelve animals come one by one to complete the cycle of twelve years. The animals are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Boar.

According to Chinese zodiac, animal signs are used instead of typical signs like Sagittarius, Virgo, Leo etc. On the other hand, the Chinese horoscope gives prediction on the basis of “animal year”. For example, the person who is born in the year of the Horse will be jolly, famous, and likes to praise others. This horoscope is enjoyable but Chinese people don’t deem it authentic. The cyclical calendar of twelve animals was an ancient method for assigning names to years. 1976 was the year of the Dragon and 1977 was the snake year.

Chinese Zodiac