China has twelve zodiac animals: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. Each year has one animal, cycling every 12 years. Your sign is set by your birth year (lunar calendar).
Legend says the Jade Emperor chose 12 animals for the zodiac; the first to arrive would be selected. The clever rat rode on the ox's back and arrived first. The cat was tricked by the rat and missed out — that is why cats and rats are "enemies".
Chinese people say your sign shapes your character: tigers are brave, rabbits gentle, dragons lucky. In your "benming nian" (your zodiac year), people love wearing red. What is your animal?
The twelve zodiac signs are twelve animals Chinese use to mark age: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, pig. Each year has one animal; the cycle is twelve years.
Legend says long ago the Jade Emperor chose twelve animals for the zodiac. Cat and rat agreed to go together, but the rat did not wake the cat and went alone. So cat and rat became enemies; a cat chases any rat it sees.
In the race the ox ran fastest, about to arrive first. The clever rat jumped on the ox back and leapt forward near the finish, becoming first. So the rat tops the zodiac.
The dragon was originally fifth because it delayed to bring clouds and rain. These tales are amusing; though only stories, every Chinese person knows them.
Zodiac animals match years and, traditionally, personalities: horse people are lively, ox people diligent, dragon people imposing. Of course these are old sayings - do not take them too seriously.
Chinese ask age sometimes as "what is your shuxiang?" Knowing it, one can estimate age. If your birthday falls before Spring Festival, count the previous year animal.
To chat with Chinese people this is a fine topic: ask "nǐ shǔ shénme?" and tell them "wǒ shǔ..." (I belong to...). They will think you know Chinese culture well.
Every Spring Festival Chinese say auspicious phrases: "golden monkey brings luck", "dragon-horse spirit", "success immediately on horse arrival"... The zodiac carries new-year hopes.
Today Chinese bless friends with "dragon-horse spirit" and wish exam success with "ma dao cheng gong" (immediate success). If you want to know your zodiac, just tell me your birth year - I will tell you which lovely animal you are. It is one of the fastest, most fun ways into Chinese culture.
Zodiac culture has another fun part: Chinese wear red clothes in their benmingnian (own zodiac year), believing red brings luck. If this is your zodiac year, buy something red and wear it - when in Rome, and maybe luck truly comes! Remember: the zodiac is the Chinese "age code"; knowing it gives you a key to Chinese social topics.
Twelve animals, twelve temperaments, a twelve-year cycle - the gentle Chinese "memory of time".
What is your zodiac? Tell me, and let us chat.
Immediate success and dragon-horse spirit - good luck to you!
