Year of the Rat
十shí二èr生shēng肖xiào––鼠shǔ

Rat is the first in the 12-year cycle of Chinese zodiac. The Years of the Rat include 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020, 2032…

Though people consider the rat not adorable, and it even makes its way into derogatory languages, it ranks first on the Chinese zodiac signs. It has characteristics of an animal with spirit, wit, alertness, delicacy, flexibility and vitality.

Earthly Branch of Birth Year: Zi
Wu Xing (The Five Elements): Shui (Water)
Yin Yang: Yang

Year of the Ox

十shí二èr生shēng肖xiào––牛niú

Ox is the second in the 12-year cycle of Chinese zodiac sign. Years of the Ox include 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021, 2033…

Oxen used to be capable farming tools in agricultural society, which attach to the symbol of diligence, persistence and honesty. People born in the Year of Ox are probably tardy in action, but industrious and cautious. Most of them are conservative and hold their faith firmly.

Earthly Branch of Birth Year: Chou
Wu Xing (The Five Elements): Tu (Earth)
Yin Yang: Yin

Year of the Tiger
十shí二èr生shēng肖xiào––虎hǔ

Tiger is the third in the 12-year cycle of Chinese zodiac sign. The Years of the Tiger include 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022, 2034…

Tigers, considered to be brave, cruel, forceful, stately and terrifying, are the symbol of power and lordliness. In ancient times, people usually compared emperors or grandees with the tiger. Court officials often said that ‘accompanying the emperor is just like being at the side of a tiger’. There are also many legends about this animal.

Earthly Branch of Birth Year: Yin
Wu Xing (The Five Elements): Mu (Wood)
Yin Yang: Yang

Year of the Rabbit
十shí二èr生shēng肖xiào––兔tù

Rabbit is the fourth in the 12-year cycle of Chinese zodiac sign. The Years of the Rabbit include 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023…

For Chinese people, the rabbit is a tame creature representing hope for a long time. It is tender and lovely. The moon goddess Chang’e in Chinese legend had a rabbit as her pet, which stimulated the thought that only this creature was amiable enough to match her noble beauty. People born in the Year of the Rabbit are not aggressive but approachable. They have a decent, noble and elegant manner.

Earthly Branch of Birth Year: Mao
Wu Xing (The Five Elements): Mu (Wood)
Yin Yang: Yin

Year of the Dragon
十shí二èr生shēng肖xiào––龙lóng

Dragon is the fifth in the 12-year cycle of Chinese zodiac sign. The Years of the Dragon include 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024…

The Dragon enjoys a very high reputation in Chinese culture. Chinese people regard themselves as descendents of the dragon. In ancient China, this imaginary creature was thought to speed across the sky with divine power. It is the token of authority, dignity, honor, success, luck, and capacity. Emperors entitled themselves exclusively as ‘dragon’.

Earthly Branch of Birth Year: Chen
Wu Xing (The Five Elements): Tu (Earth)
Yin Yang: Yang

Year of the Snake
十shí二èr生shēng肖xiào––蛇shé

Snake is the sixth in the 12-year cycle of Chinese zodiac sign. The Years of the Snake include 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025, 2037…

Snake carries the meanings of malevolence, cattiness and mystery, as well as acumen and divination. In some places, people believe that a snake found in their court can bring delight. However, in most cases, this animal is considered evil, which scares people from the bottom of the heart. There are some idioms in China indicating the danger of this animal, for example, once bitten by the snake twice shy of ten years.

Earthly Branch of Birth Year: Si
Wu Xing (The Five Elements): Huo (Fire)
Yin Yang: Yin

Year of the Horse
十shí二èr生shēng肖xiào––马mǎ

Horse is the seventh in the 12-year cycle of Chinese zodiac sign. The Years of the Horse include 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026…

The Five Elements of Horse is Fire (Huo), which symbolizes enthusiasm and energy. The animal gives people an impression of independence and integrity. Its spirit is recognized to be the Chinese people’s ethos – making unremitting efforts to improve themselves with passion and diligence.

Earthly Branch of Birth Year: Wu
Wu Xing (The Five Elements): Huo (Fire)
Yin Yang: Yang

Year of the Sheep / Goat / Ram
十shí二èr生shēng肖xiào––羊yáng

Sheep / Goat is the eighth in the 12-year cycle of Chinese zodiac. The Years of the Sheep include 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027, 2039, 2051…

Sheep (goat, or ram) is among the animals that people like most. It is gentle and calm. Since ancient times, people have learned to use its fleece to make writing brushes and fur to keep warm. The white cute creature often reminds people of beautiful things.

Earthly Branch of Birth Year: Wei
Wu Xing (The Five Elements): Tu (Earth)
Yin Yang: Yin

Year of the Monkey
十shí二èr生shēng肖xiào––猴hóu

Monkey is the ninth in the 12-year cycle of Chinese zodiac. The Years of the Monkey include 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028…

The monkey is a clever animal. It is usually compared to a smart person. During the Spring and Autumn Period (770 – 476 BC), the dignified Chinese official title of marquis was pronounced ‘Hou’, the same as the pronunciation of ‘monkey’ in Chinese. The animal was thereby bestowed with an auspicious meaning.

Earthly Branch of Birth Year: Shen
Wu Xing (The Five Elements): Jin (Metal)
Yin Yang: Yang

Year of the Rooster
十shí二èr生shēng肖xiào––鸡jī

Rooster is the tenth in the 12-year cycle of Chinese zodiac sign. The Years of the Rooster include 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029…

Rooster is almost the epitome of fidelity and punctuality. For ancestors who had no alarm clocks, the crowing was significant, as it could awaken people to get up and start to work. In Chinese culture, another symbolic meaning of chicken carries is exorcising evil spirits.

Earthly Branch of Birth Year: You
Wu Xing (The Five Elements): Jin (Metal)
Yin Yang: Yin

Year of the Dog
十shí二èr生shēng肖xiào––狗gǒu

Dog is the eleventh in the 12-year cycle of Chinese zodiac sign. The Years of the Dog include 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030, 2042…

Dog is man’s good friend who can understand the human’s spirit and obey its master, whether he is wealthy or not. The Chinese regard it as an auspicious animal. If a dog happens to come to a house, it symbolizes the coming of fortune. The invincible God Erlang in Chinese legend used a loyal wolfhound to help him capture monsters.

Earthly Branch of Birth Year: Xu
Wu Xing (The Five Elements): Tu (Earth)
Yin Yang: Yang

Year of the Pig
十shí二èr生shēng肖xiào––猪zhū

Pig is the twelfth in the 12-year cycle of Chinese zodiac sign. The Years of the Pig include 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031, 2043…

Pig is not thought to be a smart animal in China. It likes sleeping and eating and becomes fat. Thus it usually features laziness and clumsiness. On the positive side, it behaves itself, has no plan to harm others, and can bring affluence to people. Consequently, it has been regarded as wealth.

Earthly Branch of Birth Year: Hai
Wu Xing (The Five Elements): Shui (Water)
Yin Yang: Yin

中国文化 Chinese Culture - Know More about China
生肖 The Chinese Zodiac
在中国的汉族、回族、藏族和许多其他民族，以及一些亚洲国家，都在使用顺序完全一致的十二种动物来代表人的出生年，这就是十二生肖。有一些民族和地区的十二生肖用不同的动物或不同顺序来表示，但大致类似。现在，亚洲、东欧、北非等一些国家也流行十二生肖。
生肖可能来源于古人对动物的崇拜。现在一般是从农历正月初一开始计生肖年。中国人想问人是哪一年出生的，也会用“你属什么”来代替。
十二生肖各自有其不同的寓意，并且两两一组：鼠代表智慧，牛代表勤劳；虎代表勇猛，免代表谨慎；龙代表刚，蛇代表柔；马代表勇往直前，羊代表和顺；猴代表灵活，鸡因为定时打鸣而代表恒定；狗代表忠诚，猪代表随和。
每组生肖形成古人对人某一方面的期望，两个特点既不相同又互为补充，两者互相结合达到和谐与平衡。
The Chinese Zodiac, used by many of China's ethnic groups (including Han, Hui, and Tibetan and other Asian countries is comprised of twelve animals in a sequence assigned to each successive lunar year. Other ethnic groups and countries use a similar method, either
with different animals or with the same animals in a different order. The Chinese Zodiac has
gained popularity outside of Asia, including Eastern European and North African countries.
The Chinese Zodiac may be derived from the ancient worship of animals. When Chinese
people want to ask, "Which year were you born.” they may instead ask, "What's your animal?”
The twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac have different meanings, but are linked together in pairs: The rat represents wisdom while the ox indicates diligence; the tiger is brave and the rabbit is cautious; the dragon represents firmness while the snake represents tenderness; the horse is characterized by optimism and the sheep is characterized by softness; the monkey indicates flexibility whereas the rooster and his daily crowing indicate regularity; the dog is loyal and the pig is easygoing.
All of the above meanings reflect the ancient's expectation of life. The characteristics in every pair are different but complementary so that there is a balanced and harmonious combination.

posted by 夫子中文 Fuzizhongwen