What is Chinese Zodiac?
The Chinese zodiac known as Sheng Xiao or Shu Xiang features 12 animal signs in this order: Rat Ox Tiger Rabbit Dragon Snake Horse Sheep Monkey Rooster Dog and Pig. Originated from ancient zoolatry and boasting a history of more than 2000 years it plays an essential role in Chinese culture. The 12 Chinese zodiac animals in a cycle are not only used to represent years in China but also believed to influence people’s personalities career compatibility marriage and fortune.

What's your zodiac animal? – 12 Zodiac Animal Signs
People’s birth years determine their Chinese zodiac signs. However things are not that easy! There is an animal representing each year but the year is defined by Chinese lunar calendar not the Gregorian year you are familiar with from Jan. 1st to Dec. 31st.

The dates of Chinese Lunar New Year vary every year but will fall on a day in January or February. If you were born on a day during March to December it won’t be difficult to figure out your zodiac animal sign but for people with birthdays in January or February there are bigger chances of mistaking their signs.

You can use our zodiac calculator to search for your animal sign. Select your Gregorian date of birth in the widget and it will reveal your date of birth according to the lunar calendar together with your sign.

Origin of Chinese Zodiac
The records from the excavated ancient bamboo books have proved the existance of Chinese zodiac before the Qin Dyansty (221 – 207BC) and the complete 12 animals’ cycle had been set before or during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 – 220AD). What’s the origin of this mysterious theory with more than 2000 years’ history? There is actually no conclusion but the various guesses and legends make it more intriguing.

Some people believe that the 12 Chinese zodiac animals are simplified from the 28 animals which represent 28 constellations in ancient Chinese astronomy while some insist the zodiac’s relationship with Jupiter’s revolution period just about 12 years. The most popular is the totem saying of the origin related to animal worship.

There is an interesting legend about the origin of Chinese zodiac. The Jade Emperor wanted to select 12 animals to be his palace guards. He prefered the Ox to be the first for its honesty and deligence but out of everyone’s expectation the smart Rat covertly hided on the Ox back and occupied the first place at the essential moment. The Tiger was crowned as the King of the Forest while the Dragon was titled the Lord of the Sea and they ranked behind the Ox. The Rabbit won a race with the Dragon and gained No. 4. The Snake Horse Sheep Monkey and Rooster followed. The Dog was punished to be the last one for biting the Rabbit in a pet. Actually the Dog was the 11th because there is one being late for the interview – the Pig finally took the last place.






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