Chinese Zodiac — The 12 Animal Signs

The Chinese zodiac is based on a 12-year cycle. Each year is assigned one of 12 animals in a fixed order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. The cycle repeats every 12 years.

Each animal is also associated with one of five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) based on the Heavenly Stems cycle. Since there are 10 stems and 12 branches, the complete cycle of unique animal-element combinations takes 60 years.

Important: the Chinese zodiac follows the lunar calendar, not January 1st. The new zodiac year begins at Chinese New Year (usually between late January and mid-February). If you were born in January or early February, check whether your birth date fell before or after Chinese New Year that year.