China Zodiac: A Complete Guide to the 12 Animal Signs and Their Meanings

The Chinese zodiac, or shengxiao, is a 3,000-year-old system that assigns 12 animals to years in a fixed sequence—Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Each year also carries one of five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) in a 60-year cycle, shaping how signs are interpreted. This guide explains how the animals are ordered, how the elements and yin–yang polarity combine, how your birth year and month influence personality and compatibility, and why the zodiac remains central to festivals, naming customs, and life decisions in China and across East Asia.