What Is Chinese Zodiac

Chinese Zodiac, What Is Chinese Zodiac, Chinese Zodiac Signs, Chinese Astrology, Chinese Horoscope, Chinese Zodiac Years, Chinese New Year Animals, Chinese Zodiac History, What’s Your Zodiac Animal, Chinese Zodiac Compatibility, Chinese Zodiac Hours

Chinese Zodiac, What Is Chinese Zodiac, Chinese Zodiac Signs, Chinese Astrology, Chinese Horoscope, Chinese Zodiac Years, Chinese New Year Animals, Chinese Zodiac History, What’s Your Zodiac Animal, Chinese Zodiac Compatibility, Chinese Zodiac Hours

What is the Chinese Zodiac

The Chinese zodiac, Called Sheng Xiao or Shu Xiang, Includes 12 animal signs in this Arrangement: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Originated from early zoolatry and boasting a history of over 2,000 decades, it has a vital role in Chinese civilization. Even the 12 Chinese zodiac animals in a bicycle aren’t just utilized to represent decades in China but also affect people’s characters, career, compatibility, union, and luck.

What’s Your Zodiac Animal? – 12 Zodiac Animal Signs

Individuals’ arrival years determine their zodiac signs. But things aren’t that simple! An animal is representing every calendar year. However, the “season” is characterized by the Chinese lunar calendar, but not the Gregorian season you’re familiar with from Jan. 1st to Dec. 31st.
The Chinese Lunar New Year changes each year but will collapse on a day in January or even February. If you were born daily through March to December, it would not be hard to work out your zodiac animal signal; however, you will find more considerable odds of mistaking their indications for individuals with birthdays in January or February. So instead, you can use our zodiac calculator to look at your animal sign. Select your Gregorian date of arrival from the widget, and it’ll show your arrival date based on the lunar calendar, with your sign.
The 12 zodiac animals are shown below in order, with recent years for you to find out your birth year and animal sign directly.

Zodiac Animals,  Chinese Name, and Recent Years

1- Rat – 鼠 (shǔ) ,  1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020, 2032
2- Ox – 牛 (niú) , 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021, 2033
3- Tiger – 虎 (hǔ) , 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022, 2034
4- Rabbit – 兔 (tù) , 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023, 2035
5- Dragon – 龙 (lóng) , 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024, 2036
6- Snake – 蛇 (shé) , 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025, 2037
7- Horse – 马 (mǎ) , 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026, 2038
8- Sheep – 羊 (yáng) , 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027, 2039
9- Monkey – 猴 (hóu) , 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028, 2040
10- Rooster – 鸡 (jī) ,1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029, 2041
11- Dog – 狗 (gǒu) , 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030, 2042
12- Pig , 猪 (zhū) ,  1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031, 2043

Origin of Chinese Zodiac

The records in the excavated early bamboo novels have demonstrated the existence of Chinese before the Qin Dynasty (221 — 207BC). However, the complete 12 critters’ cycle was placed earlier or during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 — 220AD). So what is the source of the mysterious concept with over 2,000 years’ history? There’s, in fact, no judgment, but the numerous legends and guesses make it even more intriguing.
Today, many people feel that the 12 Chinese zodiac animals are simplified in the 28 creatures, which signify 28 constellations in early Chinese astronomy. However, others insist that the zodiac’s connection with Jupiter’s revolution span only about 12 decades ago. The most popular is that the totem expression of the source is linked to creature worship.
There’s an interesting legend concerning the origin of the Chinese zodiac. The Jade Emperor desired to pick 12 critters to function as the palace guards. He also preferred the Ox because of its honesty and diligence; out of everybody’s anticipation, the wise Rat covertly hid about the Ox rear and occupied the first place in the critical moment. The Tiger was crowned as the King of the Forest, although the Dragon was titled the Lord of the Sea, and they rated behind the Ox. The Rabbit won a race with all the Dragon and obtained No. 4. The Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, and Rooster followed. The Dog has been punished for being the final one for biting on the Rabbit at a pet. The Dog was the 11th since there’s one being late to the interview — that the Pig eventually took the previous location.

Science Behind Chinese Zodiac

How can creatures affect people’s lives and personalities? , The time and date of a person’s birth will be the keys. This is precisely the same in both Chinese and western horoscopes. The difference can be found in the ways of indicating the time of birth. The Chinese lunar calendar relies upon the combination of 10 Heavenly Stems (Tian Gan) and 12 Earthly Branches (Di Zhi), two standard groups of early Chinese astronomy and astrology conditions, which operate together in a predetermined sequence to indicate years, weeks, times, and hours. Hereunder are a few attractive technical conditions.
1- Twelve Earthly Branches: 12 terms in one-to-one correspondence with 12 zodiac animals – Zi (Rat), Chou (Ox), Yin (Tiger), Mao (Rabbit), Chen (Dragon), Si (Snake), Wu (Horse), Wei (Sheep), Shen (Monkey), You (Rooster), Xu (Dog) and Hai (Pig).
2- Ten Heavenly Stems: Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren, Gui. The 10 Heavenly Stems match the 12 Earthly Branches in a 60-pair cycle to mark years, months, and days, e.g., July 1st, 2020 in the Gregorian calendar is the Yi Si Day of Ren Wu Month in Gen Zi Year of the Rat. See more about Heavenly Stems & Earthly Branches.
3- Yin Yang: Yin means feminine and negative, while Yang means masculine and positive. They are profound terms in ancient Chinese philosophy. Their simple connection with zodiac animals is: Yang applies to Rat, Tiger, Dragon, Horse, Monkey, and Dog, while Yin goes to Ox, Rabbit, Snake, Sheep, Rooster, and Pig.
4- Five Elements: Ancient Chinese believed that all things in the world, including the zodiac animals, belonged to five categories – Metal (Monkey, Rooster), Wood (Tiger, Rabbit), Water (Rat, Pig), Fire (Snake, Horse), and Earth (Ox, Dragon, Sheep, Dog).
5- 12 Shi Chen: 12 two-hour periods form a day, with each called a Shi Chen and marked by one of the 12 Earthly Branches and its corresponding zodiac animal, e.g., 23:00 – 00:59 is called Zi Hour and represented by the Rat.
The 12 animals connect to people’s birth dates and time, with interactions from the above five perspectives affecting people’s personalities, compatibilities, and fortune in the future.

Chinese Zodiac Compatibility: Who’s Your Mr./Ms. Right?

The compatibilities of the zodiac animals are mainly based on the Five Elements they belong to – Metal (Monkey, Rooster), Wood (Tiger, Rabbit), Water (Rat, Pig), Fire (Snake, Horse), and Earth (Ox, Dragon, Sheep, Dog).
The traditional Chinese astrology indicates that the Five Elements are in a balanced generating cycle: Fire burns things to ash and Earth; Earth bears Metal inside; Metal turns into liquid (Water) in high temperature; Water nourishes Wood; Wood feeds Fire. Therefore some zodiac animals with agreeable elements can perfectly support and promote each other when they stay together. Some would remain in peace and tacit agreement; however, some restrict or even harm each other when they meet.

Top 3 Matches in Chinese Zodiac

1- Rat + Ox, 95%, Perfect Match! , Mutual Loyalty & Intimacy, Peaceful & Harmonious Marriage Life
2- Rabbit + Sheep, 90%, Perfect Match! , Talents in Common, Sympathetic Opinions on Art, Perfect Especially for Male Rabbit & female Sheep
3- Snake + Rooster, 90%, Perfect Match! , Mutual Appreciation, Happy Marriage, Natural Agreement, With Less Conflict

Zodiac Animal Best Match and Better Avoid

1- Rat –  ( Ox, Dragon, Monkey ) Best Match, ( Horse, Rooster ) Better Avoid
2- Ox – ( Rat, Snake, Rooster ) Best Match,  ( Tiger, Dragon, Horse, Sheep ) Better Avoid
3- Tiger – ( Dragon, Horse, Pig ) Best Match, ( Ox, Tiger, Snake, Monkey ) Better Avoid
4- Rabbit – ( Sheep, Monkey, Dog, Pig ) Best Match, ( Snake, Rooster ) Better Avoid
5- Dragon – ( Rooster, Rat, Monkey ) Best Match, ( Ox, Sheep, Dog ) Better Avoid
6- Snake – ( Dragon, Rooster ) Best Match, ( Tiger, Rabbit, Snake, Sheep, Pig ) Better Avoid
7- Horse – ( Tiger, Sheep, Rabbit ) Best Match, ( Rat, Ox, Rooster, Horse ) Better Avoid
8- Sheep, Goat – ( Rabbit, Horse, Pig ) Best Match, ( Ox, Tiger, Dog ) Better Avoid
9- Monkey – ( Ox, Rabbit ) Best Match, ( Tiger, Pig ) Better Avoid
10- Rooster – ( Ox, Snake ) Best Match, ( Rat, Rabbit, Horse, Rooster, Dog ) Better Avoid
11- Dog – ( Rabbit, Tiger ) Best Match, ( Dragon, Sheep, Rooster ) Better Avoid
12- Pig – ( Tiger, Rabbit, Sheep ) Best Match, ( Snake, Monkey ) Better Avoid

The Heavenly Gate Race Story, Reasons for Zodiac Rankings

Long, long ago, there was no Chinese zodiac. However, the Jade Emperor wanted to select 12 animals to be his guards. So he sent an immortal being into man’s world to spread the message that the earlier one went through the Heavenly Gate, the better the rank one would have.
1- Early Risers: Quick-Witted Rat and Diligent Ox
The Following Day, Creatures set off to the Heavenly Gate. Rat got up early. On his way into the gate, he struck a river. He needed to stop there due to the rapid presence. After waiting a very long time, Rat discovered Ox going to cross the river and immediately jumped to Ox’s ear. The meticulous Ox didn’t mind at all and only lasted. After crossing the river, he also hurried in the direction of the palace of the Jade Emperor. Unexpectedly, Rat jumped from Ox’s ear and rushed into the toes of the Emperor. Rat won the first position, and Ox was instant.
2- Competitive and Fast: Tiger and Rabbit
Tiger and Rabbit came third and forth because both are fast and competitive, but Tiger was faster. (Rabbit got across the river by hopping on stepping stones and a floating log.)
3- Good-Looking Dragon and Crafty Snake
Good-looking Dragon was instantly discovered by the Jade Emperor, who stated Dragon’s son might be sixth. However, Dragon’s son did not arrive with him that afternoon. Just afterward, Snake came forward and said Dragon was his adoptive dad; therefore, Snake rated sixth.
4- Kind and Modest Horse and Goat
Horse and Goat arrived. They were very kind and modest, and each let the other go first. The Jade Emperor saw how polite they were and ranked them seventh and eighth.
5- Jumping Monkey
Monkey had fallen well behind. But he jumped between trees and stones and caught up to be ninth. Last were Rooster, Dog, and Pig.

Chinese Zodiac Hours, Every Hour Has an Animal

Each year, it is widely known that each year is associated with a Chinese zodiac animal, but the animal signs are also assigned to months, days of the week, and hours. According to professional Chinese astrology, their personality and life are more decided by their birth hour than a year. Therefore, zodiac hours, days, months, and years are used together for in-depth character and destiny analysis. In popular astrology, by contrast, only the birth year is used.
In ancient times, to tell the time, people divided a day into twelve 2-hour periods and designated an animal to represent each period, according to each animal’s “particular time, according to an ancient mnemonic and everyday observations.

Zodiac animal Hours, Mnemonic and Observation

1- Rat 11pm-1am , Rats forage most actively. The ancients heard them at this hour.
2- Ox1-3 am, Oxen chew the cud most comfortably. People of old would get up and feed them at this time.
3- Tiger – 3-5 am; Tigers hunt most ferociously. Chinese people long ago often hear them roaring at this time.
4- Rabbit – 5-7 am, Rabbits pound the ground most fervently. Rabbits were seen to come out of their holes to eat grass with dew at dawn.
5- Dragon – 7-9 am, Dragons hover most thickly. Morning mists particularly coil around hills, made people think of dragons.
6- Snake – 9-11 am. Snakes emerge most readily. Snakes come out to sun themselves as the morning sun warms the ground.
7- Horse – 11 am-1pm. Horses stand most impressively. When the sun is strongest, only horses were seen standing, while most other animals would lie down to rest.
8- Goat – 1-3 pm, Goats eat and urinate most frequently. This was reputedly the best time to herd goats when the sun had dried the dew on the undergrowth.
9- Monkey – 3-5 pm, Monkeys, play most vigorously. Monkeys were seen and heard playing and calling in the trees at this time.
10- Rooster – 5-7 pm, Roosters return to their coops most routinely. Roosters are routinely led back to their henhouses before sunset.
11- Dog – 7-9 pm, Dogs guard most dutifully. People would take their dogs out to keep a watch at night before sleep.
12- Pig – 9-11 pm, Pigs snuffle most sweetly. As they settled down to sleep, people heard pigs snouting their troughs.

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