The Chinese zodiac and its signs are not determined on the basis of the date of birth, but only on the basis of the year in which you were born. Do they describe you better than astrologers?
You may already be able to assess at a glance who is who in the astrological zodiac, based on his personality. And can you assess the same when it comes to the Chinese zodiac?
What Are the Signs of the Chinese Zodiac?
Legend has it that in ancient times the Buddha invited all the animals to come and say goodbye to him before his death. Only 12 animals responded to this call. That is why he decided to give each of them one year in which it will be given a special honor. This is how the 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac came into being.
The animals that came to the last farewell from the Buddha were:
Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.
2022 will be a year of the Tiger, starting from February 1st and ending on January 31th, 2023.
Some of these animals were part of households (goats, pigs, roosters) while some have more symbolic significance in Chinese culture such as dragons, snakes, or tigers.
These signs are arranged in a zodiac circle, alternately, according to yin and yang theory.
- Yin animals are all those that have an even number of toes on their feet
- Yang animals have an odd number of fingers on their extremities.
The exception is the rat, which has a different number of fingers on the front and back extremities (front 4 back 5), so it is both yin and yang, and the Chinese zodiac begins with its sign.
Yin and yang is a well-known sign and it has its own symbolism.
Yin is the black part of the circle and represents the darker side of the things that surround us.
Yang is the white part of the circle and represents the day, the positive and bright side of things around us.
It is the best and most comprehensive logo ever made that explains the essence of life. And it was made a long time ago… The point is to find spiritual balance and complete a circle. Everything around us is full of opposites that complement each other. Where good disappears, bad takes its place. Where the night ends, the day begins… but it all makes one black and white circle!
The Chinese zodiac is highly valued when you need to find your destiny love. Not the karmic love with which you pay off debts from the past, but the one with which you will complete the yin and yang energy.
If you are a yin sign, it would be desirable for your partner to be a yang.
This zodiac does not deal with the position of stars and planets, but it does not mean that it denies that our environment affects our character. In China, it refers to 5 basic elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water.
Sign Calculation in the Chinese Zodiac
Are you wondering, ” What am I in the Chinese zodiac” or do you already know that? If this is something new to you, then you should know that the calculation of the sign in the Chinese zodiac is different from the calculation of the astrological zodiac to which we are accustomed.
Your Chinese zodiac sign depends on the year you were born in.
It should be kept in mind that the Chinese New Year does not begin on January 1. There are two calendars used – solar and lunar. The beginning of the year in the first calendar is February 4, and that day counts as the beginning of spring. According to the second calendar, the beginning of the year is a changeable date, but it falls in the period between January 20 and February 20.
Pay attention if you were born at the beginning of the year, whether your sign belongs to the current year, or is still part of the previous one.
So, the answer to the question of what you are in the Chinese zodiac lies in the year in which you were born. The following is a list of years in which certain animals rule.
- Rat – 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020
- Ox – 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021
- Tiger – 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022
- Rabbit – 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023
- Dragon – 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024
- Snake – 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025
- Horse – 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026
- Goat – 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027
- Monkey – 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028
- Rooster – 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029
- Dog – 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030
- Pig – 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031
Is the Year of Your Sign Lucky or Unlucky?
The cycle is repeated every 12 years. The year of your sign will be repeated every twelfth year. This means that your twelfth, twenty-fourth, thirty-sixth… years of life are a kind of turning point.
If the current year is in your sign that does not mean that it is a period in which you will shine! On the contrary – life will set you many temptations and then you should be especially careful!
It is believed that the year of the monkey (such as 2016) brings bad luck. Against bad luck in China, they recommend wearing red – T-shirts, socks, hair bands, underwear.
Characteristics of Specific Signs
They say that the characteristics we show in relation to other people, and especially the first impression we leave, depend on the sub-signs in the zodiac. This is true when we talk about astrology. Here’s what the Chinese zodiac says about your character, so evaluate which one describes you more accurately.
Rat
Rat is the sign with which the Chinese zodiac begins. Its element is water and it is, as we said, both a yin and a yang sign. If any sign is self-sufficient, then it’s a rat. Still, it gets along best with the Dragon and the Monkey.
Rats are characterized by charm, intelligence, and easy adaptation, so they are a favorite in society. They are communicative but sometimes hasty and too critical.
Rats have their own beliefs which they stubbornly stick to, and they make deviations from them only after a long consideration.
They are individuals, but when they love someone then they do it with all their might. As for work, they don’t like to take many risks and prefer to enjoy their comfort zone.
Ox
The ox in the Chinese zodiac is an earth element that belongs to the yin part of the circle. People in this sign are born leaders and are characterized by stability and security. They are very disciplined and when they set some goal, they try to achieve it.
Like Rats, they rarely step out of their comfort zone and stick to what they started until they make it to the end. Ox likes to hold things in his hands and these people can be equally good as military leaders and as successful surgeons. What they do, they do safely and perfectly.
This is not an overly emotional sign and it is difficult to move from friendship to a deeper relationship. When they realize it, they try to make it a long-term relationship, ideally with the Rooster or the Snake.
As far as work and career are concerned, they can be successful in everything they start because they are persistent and disciplined in their intention to succeed and achieve the set goal.
Tiger
The tiger in the Chinese zodiac is related to the wood element and is characterized by courage, ambition, charisma, similar to how the lion is characterized by these characteristics in astrology.
People born in the sign of the tiger are emotional and very often stubborn. Unlike the Ox who is disciplined and fairly predictable, the tiger often behaves unpredictably and moves abruptly from situation to situation when he thinks it is the right thing to do.
These people rarely show what is going on inside them. They have big goals, big dreams, and big loves. When we talk about love, in relationships they are very passionate when a person attracts their attention, but they can also very quickly forget the one who is not in their head and easily get over the breakup and move on to a new relationship.
In business, they look for an opportunity to prove themselves at every step. Since they really care about being honored, they manage better and faster in a smaller team where they are easier to stand out than in larger companies. This is a sign that belongs to yang energy.
Rabbit
The Chinese zodiac for the rabbit sign connects the elements of the earth and yin philosophy and the characteristics of trust, sociability, care, empathy.
These people are always kind, often too sentimental when they shouldn’t be. However, they get along well with other people, they are always willing to provide help and advice.
On an emotional level, they still need a lot of time to get into a relationship and share their feelings with someone. People in this sign love other people, make friends easily, and like to make people happy because it makes them happy too.
That is why they are less successful in business. They would rather spend time with friends and doing something that gives them pleasure, than in hard work. When they find a job that makes them happy and that makes others happy, only heaven is their limit.
Dragon
The dragon has a lot of symbolism in the Chinese world and it is quite logical that it is also an integral part of the Chinese zodiac. It is an earth sign with yang energy, and is characterized by charisma, happiness, spirituality, imagination, and enthusiasm.
The dragon is popular in society, but sometimes he expects too much from other people. These people often go to the extreme of good or bad and are prone to getting into various risky situations. Although they can sometimes lose faith in themselves, in general they are very strong and eventually emerge victorious from any situation.
A love relationship that is stable is a reflection of happiness in life for them, but they can have problems finding that stability.
Dragons in the Chinese zodiac can be successful in their careers because they believe that hard work pays off. Sometimes they can overdo it and work to exhaustion. Very often they forget about themselves and the fact that they need a rest and a little time alone, which can sometimes lead to unnecessary battles and stressful life.
Snake
The snake in the Chinese zodiac is a symbol of the fire element and yin energy. It is organized, intuitive, intelligent, elegant, charming, and romantic.
Snakes value their own experience, learn best from their mistakes, and are rarely the victims of some deception. People in this sign are often self-centered and enjoy solitude because among people it is harder to protect their interests and they seem to lose the strings from their hands.
In relationships, they are often misunderstood because they need time to settle their thoughts and weigh all the facts in their head. In essence, they are not romantic and find it difficult to let people into their lives.
As far as career and work are concerned, snakes love their comfort and routine, they often seem unambitious and are not prone to change. Money doesn’t mean much in their lives, but when needed, they easily adapt to all business situations.
Horse
The horse is a sign in the Chinese zodiac that also belongs to the element of fire, but with yang energy and which gets along best with the dog and the tiger. These people are adaptable, loyal, brave, and smart.
Their main feature is stubbornness when it comes to some of their decisions. They act sensibly and do not get into trouble unnecessarily. People in the sign of the horse are loyal friends and partners and resolve conflicts very well. That’s why people love them.
In a relationship, they mostly have a passive role and let their partner be the leader. They do not chase love opportunities but wait for them to come on their own. The horse in the Chinese zodiac is a favorite in society, but he doesn’t wait long to let it be known whether he likes someone or not. When he has a positive opinion of someone, he easily engages in communication. But when they don’t like someone, they withdraw from the conversation and society and simply don’t show interest.
Speaking about their attitude to work and money, the basic characteristic of a horse is thrift. They like a simple life with small pleasures.
Goat
The goat in the Chinese horoscope is an earth sign with yin energy. These people are tasteful, skilled, charming, smart, elegant, and intuitive.
They are not prone to sudden decisions and sudden changes but are more prone to long-term and careful planning. Life with them is easy and without setbacks, if they let you into it. They are very picky about the people who will make up their inner circle – their trust should be earned. Otherwise, they keep their distance.
Goats in the Chinese zodiac engage in romantic relationships in the same way. Very often, they are close friends with someone before embarking on romance and discovering deeper feelings. They let problems pass rather than solve them.
As far as work is concerned, goats are one of the most adaptable signs, but they all need wind in their backs and motivation from friends and family.
Monkey
The monkey is a sign whose element is metal and carries yang energy. These people are characterized by cheerful and charming nature, they are witty, smart and resourceful, and magnetically attract other people.
They are not slaves to routine and habits so they easily go from experience to experience because they love excitement. Such situations bring them either success or failure and valuable lessons.
The monkey in the Chinese zodiac is guided by emotions and pleasure, so even in love he often falls into romantic relationships that do not have a long-term destiny. But even from that, they know how to learn a lesson. These people often change their moods and character, and for some people that carries a certain amount of mystery and magnetism.
At work, they are best when they can focus on one activity. When they need to change jobs and career directions, they tend to make mistakes.
Rooster
The rooster is a sign in the Chinese zodiac whose element is earth and has yin energy. Its main characteristics are honesty, trust, flexibility, energy.
These people are dreamers, and if you recognize them by anything, it is the tendency to wear conspicuous clothes. They are led by instincts. When they start thinking too much about things, the details drag them in the other direction.
In love, they are considerate and open. Although they act instinctively in other fields, they involve more caution in love.
Rooster is known as a hard worker so they achieve everything they imagine. They can be successful in their careers because they are very hardworking, but the problem arises when they need to rely on their decisions.
Dog
The dog in the Chinese zodiac is an earth element with yang energy and someone who is characterized by loyalty, sociability, adaptability, intelligence, courage, and liveliness.
These people have a sharp tongue and one important characteristic – they will never let you down. People born in the year of a dog have a rich inner life, but they share little of that life with the people around them. They are often lost in thought and can be entertained for hours with puzzles and similar ways of having fun that does not involve other people. They do not try to impress others.
They can be difficult in love. They need someone who will understand their nature and the need to have their own little inner world. These people do not easily enter society, let alone love relationships, and they need time to adjust.
For work and career, it is best to choose those jobs that require mathematical and logical reasoning and details.
Pig
Although it may sound ridiculous to be a pig in the Chinese zodiac, you should know that it does not have bad characteristics. It is a sign whose element is water with yin energy, and it is characterized by love for people, charity, optimism, sociability, tolerance.
These are very good people who can turn out to be very often naive, but they like to be leaders. These people can spend a lot of time with friends, but they equally enjoy loneliness. Conversation with them is easy and simple and they are easy to adjust.
In a relationship, they can be leaders but they can also be led. In society, they like to be the center of attention and often talk more than they listen.
It’s the same in business. Since they like to be at the top, they strive for success and are excellent in jobs that require leading more people. The ease with which they communicate and the desire for leadership are their advantages in this field.
Does the year of birth affect your character more, or are the month and day of birth more accurate in that prediction?
The Chinese zodiac claims that all those born in the same year were born with similar characteristics. Undoubtedly, they live in similar circumstances, and they also affect our character. But maybe the stars are more deserving and accurate for the character? What do you think?
