The former is based on a lunar year and five 12-year sub-cycles, while the latter revolves around a 12-month solar year. The Chinese Zodiac differs in many crucial respects from the Western Zodiac, and the two should not be confused. Although the Chinese Zodiac is based on a 60-year cycle, most folks only know about the 12-year cycle associated with 12 Zodiac animals. Its 60-year (sexagenary) cycle is still of crucial importance to modern art historians, for it helps them pinpoint the date of artwork made in earlier times. The Chinese Zodiac is the preeminent calendar of old-world Asia.

Although replaced in modern times by the Gregorian (solar) calendar, the Zodiac is still used today (unofficially) as a popular method of divination in many Asian and Western nations. It was calibrated to track the waxing and waning phases of the moon, used as a method for counting years, months, days and hours in the Chinese imperial court and civil calendar, and utilized to forecast one’s future and determine one’s character. The Chinese Zodiac is part of an elaborate and laborious system based on Chinese astrology, cosmology, and divination. “10 Stems and 12 Branches.” It refers to theĬhinese Zodiac’s 10 stems, 12 animals, and

Twelve Animals of the Chinese Zodiac System. Jūnishi (Junishi) 十二支 = 12 Zodiac Animals The yin or the yang of the animals is based on the odd or even number of their claws (or their toes or hooves) and the animals are then arranged in an alternating (complementary) yin-yang sequence.Last Update: July 2014, Added photo also added note on constellations Yes, the 12 Chinese Zodiac animals are in a fixed order according to Chinese Yin and Yang Theory. The other six animals: rat, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake and monkey are all popular with the Chinese people. The ox, horse, goat, rooster, pig, and dog are six of the main domestic animals raised by Chinese people. The 12 animals were chosen deliberately as they are either closely related to ancient Chinese people’s daily lives, or have lucky meanings. Why are there 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac? If you were born in January or February, check whether your birth date falls before or after Chinese New Year to know what your Chinese zodiac year is - or just use the handy tool below. See the years of each animal below, but if you were born in January or February take care as the Chinese (Lunar) New Year moves between January 21 and February 20. And for more about plans to celebrate Chinese New Year in Newcastle see here. With this in mind we take a look here at the Chinese Zodiac and explore the characteristics of its 12 signs. Read more: Chinese New Year and the legend of the animals People are said to hold similar personality traits to the animal named after the year they were born. The Chinese Zodiac, known as Sheng Xiao, runs on a 12-year cycle, calculated by the lunar calendar.Įach year is named after an animal and they are: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. January 22 will mark the start of Chinese New Year in 2023 and this is the Year of the Rabbit. Whatever your belief in zodiac signs, many people are intrigued to know what they are all about and, as Chinese New Year approaches, now is as good a time as any to learn more about Chinese Zodiac signs and discover what sign your birth year falls under.

Lunar new year animals dates