A Guide to the Chinese Zodiac

By David East

Infographic Illustrating Your 2018 Fortune Based On Chinese Zodiac Mythology

The Chinese Zodiac is a system of astrology that has been used in China for thousands of years. You might be familiar with some of the animals of the Chinese Zodiac. But you might wonder: what Chinese Zodiac sign am I? What does my Chinese zodiac sign mean? What year is 2018 in the Chinese Zodiac?

Since Chinese New Year isn’t too far away, we’ve put together this guide to the Chinese Zodiac. Hopefully you’ll learn something new! Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+ or Twitter for more facts and guides to all things Chinese.

The Story of the Chinese Zodiac

There are a number of stories behind the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac. Read More Show Less

A Chinese folk story says that the animals were summoned to a meeting with the mythical Jade Emperor, and had to cross a river to get there. The Rat and the Cat convinced the Ox to carry them across the river on his back. The Rat pushed the Cat off of the Ox as they crossed the river, then jumped off the Ox’s back to arrive first. The other animals all arrived in their order in the cycle, except for the Cat, who drowned. This is said to be the reason why cats always chase rats.

In Buddhism, the legend goes that the Buddha summoned all the animals of the earth to meet him before he passed away, but only twelve animals came. As a reward, he named a year after each of them, giving them the years in the order that they arrived.

What’s my sign?

The Chinese Zodiac works on a 12-year cycle, with each new year of the Zodiac starting on the date of Chinese New Year. Read More Show Less

The date for Chinese New Year changes each year, which means that being born in January or February might mean your sign is the previous year’s animal. The rat is traditionally considered the starting point of the cycle. Here’s a few dates for an example:

Rat: Feb 02, 1984–Feb 19, 1985 Ox: Feb 20, 1985–Feb 08, 1986 Tiger: Feb 09, 1986–Jan 28, 1987 Rabbit: Jan 29, 1987–Feb 16, 1988 Dragon: Feb 17, 1988–Feb 05, 1989 Snake: Feb 06, 1989–Jan 26, 1990 Horse: Jan 27, 1990–Feb 14, 1991 Goat: Feb 15, 1991–Feb 03, 1992 Monkey: Feb 04, 1992–Jan 22, 1993 Rooster: Jan 23, 1993– Feb 09, 1994 Dog: Feb 10, 1994–Jan 30, 1995 Pig: Jan 31, 1995–Feb 18, 1996 Rat:Feb 19, 1996–Feb 06, 1997
If you can’t find your birth year in the range we’ve given, then add or subtract 12 until you do. For example, if you were born in April 1976, then you’re a Dragon (1988).

2017 (from January 28 onward) was the Year of the Rooster. 2018 will be the Year of the Dog, which will start on February 16.

Signs and the Elements

Each year is also associated with one of the five classical elements, which cycle in the order wood, fire, earth, metal, water. The element changes every other year. This combination of 12 signs and 5 elements combines to make a 60-year cycle. The five elements are associated with their own characteristics:

Element	Characteristic
Wood	Benevolence, fate, nobility
Fire	Propriety, strength
Earth	Honesty, status, wealth
Metal	Righteousness, longevity
Water	Wisdom, talent

2017 was the Year of the Fire Rooster. 2018 will be the Year of the Earth Dog. 2019 will be the Year of the Earth Pig.

Pillars of Destiny

Animal signs are not just assigned by year, but also by the month, day, and hour of birth; these are known as the Four Pillars of Destiny. Read More Show Less The year is believed to represent your approach to family. The month represents your career. The day represents your inner spirit. And the hour represents your ambitions, hopes, and dreams.

MONTH Tiger: Feb 4 – Mar 5 Rabbit: Mar 6 – Apr 4 Dragon: Apr 5 – May 4 Snake: May 5 – Jun 5 Horse: Jun 6 – Jul 6 Goat: Jul 7 – Aug 6 Monkey: Aug 7 – Sep 7 Rooster: Sep 8 – Oct 7 Dog: Oct 8 – Nov 6 Pig: Nov 7 – Dec 6 Rat: Dec 7 – Jan 5 Ox: Jan 6 – Feb 3

DAY The day sign is decided by a mathematical formula known as the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches. This is a 60-day cycle based on the 10 Heavenly Stems and the 12 Earthly Branches. It’s a complicated system that requires some complex math, so it’s best to use an online calculator to figure it out.

HOUR 2300 to 0059 Rat 0100 to 0259 Ox 0300 to 0459 Tiger 0500 to 0659 Rabbit 0700 to 0859 Dragon 0900 to 1059 Snake 1100 to 1259 Horse 1300 to 1459 Goat 1500 to 1659 Monkey 1700 to 1859 Rooster 1900 to 2059 Dog 2100 to 2259 Pig
To see what your pillars could hold for you, check out the Four Pillars calculator at http://www.psychicscience.org/pillars.aspx

Animal Characteristics

The characteristics of the animals of the Zodiac are believed to be reflected in people born under those signs. Read More Show Less Rat Strengths: Adaptable, smart, cheerful Weaknesses: Timid, stubborn, unstable Ox Strengths: Honest, strong-willed, persistent Weaknesses: Stubborn, distant Tiger Strengths: Loyal, courageous, intelligent Weaknesses: Arrogant, short-tempered, hasty Rabbit Strengths: Gentle, compassionate, modest Weaknesses: Hesitant, timid, conservative Dragon Strengths: Decisive, ambitious Weaknesses: Eccentric, tactless Snake Strengths: Humorous, determined, smart Weaknesses: Jealous, fickle Horse Strengths: Easygoing, friendly, independent Weaknesses: Wasteful, hesitant Goat Strengths: Gentle, hardworking Weaknesses: Indecisive, timid, vain Monkey Strengths: Enthusiastic, sociable Weaknesses: Jealous, selfish Rooster Strengths: Independent, quick-minded Weaknesses: Impatient, selfish Dog Strengths: Loyal, courageous, clever Weaknesses: Sensitive, stubborn Pig Strengths: Warm-hearted, loyal, gentle Weaknesses: Naïve, sluggish, short-tempered

The Signs and Compatibility

The twelve signs of the Zodiac can be arranged in a circle, like a clock-face. Generally, signs that are four years apart from each other are considered the most compatible. Read More Show Less Rat Good Match: Dragon, Monkey Ox Good Match: Snake, Rooster Tiger Good Match: Horse, Dog Rabbit Good Match: Goat, Pig Dragon Good Match: Rat, Monkey Snake Good Match: Rooster, Ox Horse Good Match: Dog, Tiger Goat Good Match: Pig, Rabbit Monkey Good Match: Rat, Dragon Rooster Good Match: Ox, Snake Dog Good Match: Tiger, Horse Pig Good Match: Rabbit, Goat

What Will Next Year Bring?

A combination of factors can determine your luck in the year 2018.

Sign	Fortune
Rat	Those born under the sign of the Rat will be appreciated by their superiors, bringing a chance to increase their wealth but also extra pressure. They will need to make sure they stay positive in their love lives, and pay special attention to their health.
Ox	Those born under the sign of the Ox will have to be wary in 2018. They may conflict with friends and lovers and may lose money or suffer health problems. But hidden opportunities lie behind these challenges, and they should think twice before they charge head-first.
Tiger	People with the sign of the Tiger will find financial stability and possibly more in 2018, though they may come across difficulties in their career. They can find success in co-operation. Men can expect enjoyable romantic lives and women will find better friendships.
Rabbit	2018 should be a good year for people born under the Rabbit, with their projects bringing wealth (though not without challenges). Relationships will prosper, and some Rabbits may develop an affinity for spiritual and religious affairs.
Dragon	People born under the Dragon may find 2018 difficult, coming up against a number of barriers in their careers and love lives. They must work to understand other people better.
Snake	For people born under the Snake, 2018 is likely to bring good fortune if paired with hard work. They will be lucky in love, though men will find this easier than women. Their health is unlikely to trouble them in 2018.
Horse	In 2018, people born under the Horse may experience ups and downs in their career but their financial situation will remain stable as long as they work hard. Their relationships will go smoothly if they take time to cherish their loved ones. They should take up a little more exercise to keep fit.
Goat	For those born under the Goat, 2018 will be a struggle, but they will weather the storm. They should be careful who they trust, and will find themselves faced with serious competition in their careers. However, they can take comfort in their love lives, provided they make the effort to understand their partners. Health-wise, 2018 will not see any serious ailments, but should look out for any signs of discomfort.
Monkey	2018 looks to be a decent year for those born under the Monkey. There may be obstacles, but they will make progress in their career and relationships as long as they co-operate. They should consider studying something new.
Rooster	In 2018, people with the sign of the Rooster could see positive changes in their career, turning heads with their excellent performances. Singles have a chance at finding love, while coupled-up Roosters should make sure to focus on communication. They should be wary of food poisoning.
Dog	2018 may be the Year of the Dog, but that doesn’t mean it’ll be smooth sailing! They’ll face challenges in their career, and though those challenges could lead to success, they need to remain modest for the best result. Relationships might be rather tepid, and they should consider spending more time outdoors for the sake of their health.
Pig	People born under the Pig will find that 2018 is their lucky year. There might be some pressures in work and money, but their natural optimism will see them through, and their relationships will remain stable. They should make sure they exercise and get enough sleep.