The Chinese Zodiac · 生肖
The Twelve Signs of the Chinese Zodiac
The shēngxiào (生肖) cycle assigns an animal to each lunar year, repeating every twelve. Legend orders them by the Great Race across the river — the clever Rat first, the easygoing Pig last. Each sign carries a fixed element, a yin or yang polarity, and two hours of the day it is said to govern.
Rat
The quick-witted opportunist who finds a way in — and a way out.
1972 · 1984 · 1996 · 2008 · 2020 · 2032
Ox
The tireless builder who loses the sprint and wins everything after.
1973 · 1985 · 1997 · 2009 · 2021
Tiger
The fearless heart that swims against the current — and expects you to keep up.
1974 · 1986 · 1998 · 2010 · 2022
Rabbit
The soft-spoken tactician who wins by never needing the fight.
1975 · 1987 · 1999 · 2011 · 2023
Dragon
The zodiac's only myth — and it has every intention of living up to the billing.
1976 · 1988 · 2000 · 2012 · 2024
Snake
The silent strategist who was six moves ahead before you sat down.
1977 · 1989 · 2001 · 2013 · 2025
Horse
The zodiac's open road — all heart, full speed, and allergic to fences.
1978 · 1990 · 2002 · 2014 · 2026
Goat
The gentle artist — soft as cashmere, quietly harder to break than it looks.
1979 · 1991 · 2003 · 2015 · 2027
Monkey
The quicksilver trickster — three moves ahead and already grinning about it.
1980 · 1992 · 2004 · 2016 · 2028
Rooster
Up with the sun, immaculate by breakfast, and never knowingly wrong.
1981 · 1993 · 2005 · 2017 · 2029
Dog
The night watchman of the zodiac — loyal past reason and worried on your behalf.
1982 · 1994 · 2006 · 2018 · 2030
Pig
Last across the river, first to enjoy the far bank.
1983 · 1995 · 2007 · 2019 · 2031
The Great Race, briefly
The Jade Emperor summoned the animals to a race across a wide river: the first twelve to arrive would mark the years. The Rat hitched a ride on the diligent Ox and leapt ashore first. The Tiger fought the current, the Rabbit hopped across on stones and logs, and the kind Dragon stopped to bring rain to a village before gliding in. So the order was set — a story about temperament as much as speed, and the reason each year keeps an animal’s character.
The twelve signs at a glance
| Sign | Earthly Branch | Fixed element | Polarity | Zodiac hours | Recent years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rat | 子 zǐ | Water | Yang | 23:00–01:00 | 1996, 2008, 2020, 2032 |
| Ox | 丑 chǒu | Earth | Yin | 01:00–03:00 | 1997, 2009, 2021 |
| Tiger | 寅 yín | Wood | Yang | 03:00–05:00 | 1998, 2010, 2022 |
| Rabbit | 卯 mǎo | Wood | Yin | 05:00–07:00 | 1999, 2011, 2023 |
| Dragon | 辰 chén | Earth | Yang | 07:00–09:00 | 2000, 2012, 2024 |
| Snake | 巳 sì | Fire | Yin | 09:00–11:00 | 2001, 2013, 2025 |
| Horse | 午 wǔ | Fire | Yang | 11:00–13:00 | 2002, 2014, 2026 |
| Goat | 未 wèi | Earth | Yin | 13:00–15:00 | 2003, 2015, 2027 |
| Monkey | 申 shēn | Metal | Yang | 15:00–17:00 | 2004, 2016, 2028 |
| Rooster | 酉 yǒu | Metal | Yin | 17:00–19:00 | 2005, 2017, 2029 |
| Dog | 戌 xū | Earth | Yang | 19:00–21:00 | 2006, 2018, 2030 |
| Pig | 亥 hài | Water | Yin | 21:00–23:00 | 2007, 2019, 2031 |