The Chinese zodiac: Which animal are you?

By Felipe / Last updated September 10, 2024

You have probably heard that every year is attached to an animal in Chinese culture. That's called the Chinese zodiac. For example, 2024 is the year of the Dragon (not technically an animal, I know). It's a fascinating part of Chinese culture that has been around for thousands of years and it's used to predict a person's personality, fortune, and even compatibility with others. Let's find out what other animals are part of the Chinese zodiac and why cats are not among them. You will also discover your own zodiac sign and what that means for your relationships with other people. Let's go!

What is the Chinese zodiac?

The Chinese zodiac is a cycle of 12 years, with each year represented by an animal. These zodiac animals are the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Unlike the Western zodiac, which partitions a single year into twelve zodiac signs, the Chinese zodiac partitions a twelve year cycle into twelve zodiac years. The most common school of thought nowadays regards Chinese New Year, which usually falls between January 21 and February 20, as the beginning of a new zodiac year.

Chinese zodiac sign calculator

You can use the calculator below to find out what your Chinese zodiac sign is. Simply enter your birth date and click the button.

The legend behind the zodiac

The Chinese zodiac is part of Chinese folklore and it's so old that its origins are not clear. However, there are many legends about how the animals were chosen for the zodiac. One popular story is a Great Race held by the Jade Emperor, one of the most important gods in Chinese mythology. According to this legend, a race was held to determine which animals would be included in the zodiac and in what order they would appear.

In order to reach the finish line, the animals had to cross a river. The Rat was smart and asked the Ox to take a ride on its back. The kind and strong Ox agreed and carried the Rat across the river. Just when they were about to cross the finish line, the rat jumped off the Ox' back and became the winner of the race.

The strong Tiger struggled a bit with the currents and came in third. The Rabbit crossed the river by jumping from stone to stone. However, along the halfway point, it fell into the water. Luckily, it managed to hold on to a floating log and got washed ashore to come in fourth.

The Dragon should have been the obvious winner of the race because it could just fly across the river. However, it got sidetracked and had to first bring some rain to a village nearby. When later crossing the river, it saw the Rabbit holding on to its log for dear life. The Dragon used its breath to push the log towards the shore and save the Rabbit. It then reached the finish line in fifth place.

The Horse arrived at the finish line next. However, just before finishing the race, it realized that the Snake was wrapped around one of its legs. The Horse got scared and backed off, giving the Snake a chance to finish ahead of the Horse.

The Goat, Monkey, and Rooster found a raft and showed a nice team effort to cross the river together. The Dog played in the fresh river water for so long that it almost came in last. Only the Pig was even slower because it had a meal on the way and then fell asleep.

Why is there no cat in the Chinese zodiac?

You might have wondered why there is no Chinese year of the cat. The simple answer is that cats had not yet been introduced to China when the Chinese zodiac was established. People later started incorporating the Cat into the original legend of the Great Race. In one version, the Cat and the Rat were both hitching a ride with the ox. However, before they reached the other side of the river, the Cat got pushed into the water by the Rat and drowned. No wonder cats still hold a grudge against rats to this day.

Characteristics of the zodiac animals

Each zodiac animal is believed to have specific characteristics that influence the personality of people born in that year. Let's take a closer look at each one:

• Rat (鼠 Shǔ): Smart, resourceful, quick-witted, charming. Rats are known for their adaptability and cleverness.

• Ox (牛 Niú): Diligent, dependable, strong, determined. Oxen are known for their hard work and reliability.

• Tiger (虎 Hǔ): Brave, confident, competitive, unpredictable. Tigers are natural leaders and are very charismatic.

• Rabbit (兔 Tù): Gentle, quiet, elegant, alert. Rabbits are compassionate and good-hearted.

• Dragon (龙/龍 Lóng): Confident, intelligent, enthusiastic, ambitious. Dragons are energetic and have a commanding presence.

• Snake (蛇 Shé): Wise, discreet, agile, attractive. Snakes are deep thinkers and are often very insightful.

• Horse (马/馬 Mǎ): Active, energetic, animated, charming. Horses love adventure and freedom.

• Goat (羊 Yáng): Calm, gentle, sympathetic, creative. Goats are kind and have a great sense of aesthetics.

• Monkey (猴 Hóu): Intelligent, curious, witty, playful. Monkeys are problem solvers and love having fun.

• Rooster (鸡/雞 Jī): Observant, hardworking, courageous, talented. Roosters are confident and always keep their promises.

• Dog (狗 Gǒu): Loyal, honest, kind, prudent. Dogs are faithful friends and always put others first.

• Pig (猪 Zhū): Generous, compassionate, diligent, straightforward. Pigs are sincere and enjoy life.

Do you see yourself in the description of your zodiac animal?

Compatibility in the Chinese zodiac

In addition to personality traits, the Chinese zodiac is also used to determine compatibility between people. Certain animals are considered more compatible with each other, while others might have a challenging relationship. A partner's zodiac animal is still a big deal for some people in Chinese culture nowadays. Check out the diagram below to see what kind of partner you should look for according to the Chinese zodiac.

If you can find a partner that you are connected to via a blue line, you don't need to worry. A green line is also okay. Everything else should be treated with care. Why? Good question, but also beyond the scope of this article. If you are curious about this aspect of Chinese philosophy, you can start from Five Elements Theory. Each zodiac animal is assigned to one of these elements and interacts differently with other zodiac animals based on their elements.

Closing thoughts

Regardless of whether you attach a lot of value to things like zodiac signs or not, they are a huge thing in the Chinese cultural sphere. Every year, people go and buy their favorite zodiac-themed New Year swag for the upcoming year. Furthermore, quite some people pay attention to zodiac signs when looking for a partner and even prefer to have their children born in dragon years to ensure good fortune.

Having a rough understanding of the Chinese zodiac is thus vital for Chinese learners and it's always a good conversation starter and a fun way to learn more about each other.

See you next time! 🐭 🐮 🐯 🐰 🐲 🐍 🐴 🐐 🐵 🐔 🐶 🐷

Featured image from Wikimedia Commons.