Chinese Zodiac Years
The Chinese Zodiac, known as Sheng Xiao, is based on a twelve-year cycle, each year in that cycle related to an animal sign. There are – the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. There are also 5 elements in the zodiac associated with the animals and their personalities: Wood, Earth, Fire, Water and Metal. The Chinese calender differs from the Western calender – the beginning of a Chinese new year changes every year, on dates ranging between late January and late February.
According to the eastern legend, the order of the signs was not chosen by chance. Legend say that when the great Buddha decided to say goodbye to our planet, the animals took turns to say goodbye to him, and it was in this order that the rulers of the Chinese horoscope were elected by year of birth. Traditionally, the astrological new year according to the Chinese horoscope begins depending on the lunar calendar. An online calculator will help determine the zodiac sign by date of birth and find out which year of the animal according to the Chinese horoscope falls at a certain point in time.