In China, instead of asking your age, people may ask you questions like "what do you belong to?" Don't ever think that you are expected to answer like "I belong to the US". You are supposed to belong to one of twelve animals! (Those are mouse, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, 
snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.) It is not that weird as you have to follow the order of a mouse or a tiger. That is Chinese Zodiac. The Chinese Zodiac is based on a twelve year cycle --- each year being represented by an animal that imparts distinct characteristics to its year.
Many Chinese believe that the year of a person's birth is the primary factor in determining that person's personality traits, physical and mental attributes and degree of success and happiness throughout his lifetime. Actually, in China, this is just an alternative way to say how old you are.
Chinese astrology has a history of more than 3,000 years. Ancient Chinese people invented the 10 Heavenly Stems and 12 Earthly Branches for chronological purposes. However, since most people were illiterate, 12 animals were designated to symbolize the 12 Earthly Branches in order to be better remembered. These lucky animals are rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig successively.
According to legend, many years ago Buddha summoned all the animals to a meeting in which he would designate the first 12 animals arriving,to be signs of a year respectively. On the night before the departure, cat notified his pal, rat, and they agreed that the one waking up first the next morning must awake the other so they can depart for the meeting together. However, rat broke his promise and arrived for the meeting alone. Then, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig arrived one after the other. When cat woke up and hurried there, the meeting was over. It is said that is the reason why the cat kills rats.
Chinese astrology argues that one's personality profile can be revealed form one's birth time. However, Chinese zodiac is based on the year rather than in the month as in the western system. In China everybody knows which animal sign he or she is born under. Do you want to know which animal you are born under and check out your astrological path according to Chinese Zodiac? Read on to learn more.
Chinese New Year is the main holiday of the year for more than one quarter of the world's population. Although the People's Republic of China uses the Gregorian calendar for civil purposes, a special Chinese calendar is used for determining festivals. Various Chinese communities around the world also use this calendar. At right, a large dragon lantern glows at a festival for Chinese New Year at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial. Taipei, Taiwan.
The beginnings of the Chinese calendar can be traced back to the 14th century B.C.E. Legend has it that the Emperor Huangdi invented the calendar in 2637 B.C.E.
The Chinese calendar is based on exact astronomical observations of the longitude of the sun and the phases of the moon. This means that principles of modern science have had an impact on the Chinese calendar.
| The Five Types of Pig
A proud passionate pig with overpowering sentiments, who values his reputation. Intense and more dominating than others, the metal pig often has excessive appetites and could lack refinement or tact.
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| Pig
Pigs are honest, reliable, sincere, tolerant, shy, affectionate, kind, impulsive and short tempered. They are splendid companions, intellectuals with a very strong need to set difficult goals and carry them out.
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| Year of the Pig/Boar
A year of goodwill to all. An excellent climate for business, and industry in general will prevail. People will be more free and easy on the whole and the complaisant attitude of the Boar will generate a feeling of abundance.
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| The Rabbit Personality
People born in the year of the rabbit are the luckiest among "the twelve animals." The rabbit is a symbol for mercy, elegance, amiability and worship of beauty. People born in this year are kind, speak gently, peaceful, quiet and loving persons.
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| The Rabbit Child
A child born in the Rabbit's year will have a sweet disposition. Even-tempered and obedient, he will be sensitive to the moods of his parents and act accordingly. He may or may not be talkative, but he won't be rowdy or offensive. He can sit quietly and concentrate on one toy or game at a time.
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| Chinese Zodiac Compatibility - Rabbit
People born in the year of the rabbit and sheep are considered the most sympathetic. They know how to comfort others, and will listen to them patiently. They are realists.
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| The Five Types of Rabbit
The metal rabbit could be sturdier physically and mentally than Rabbits belonging to other elements.
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| Rabbit
Those born under this sign are affectionate, talented, obliging, always pleasant, valuing security and tranquility. They have a tendency to get too sentimental and superficial and to avoid conflict and emotional involvement.
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| Year of the Rabbit
A placid year, very much welcomed and needed after the ferocious year of the Tiger. We should go off to some quiet spot to lick our wounds and get some rest after all the battles of the previoous year.
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| The Rooster Personality
People born in the year of the rooster usually are good looking and like to show themselves off. Instead of being idle, they always appear to be decent and shrewd in public, even the most timid one of them.
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| The Rooster Child
As a child the Rooster-born will be a self-starter. A good student, fast learner and industrious little soul, he or she will be forever poking around for answers.
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| Chinese Zodiac Compatibility - Rooster
It is interesting that they can get along well with people born in the year of the snake, because their sanguineness and undaunt-edness and the latter's shrewdness and slipperiness complement each other.
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| The Five Types of Rooster
A practical,exacting and industrious type of Rooster with a flair for captivating others with his brilliant powers of deduction. Investigative, optimistic and idealistic, he will have a passionate attitude toward work.
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| Rooster
Roosters are courageous, hardworking, shrewd, arrogant, reckless, selfish and eccentric. They are thirsty for knowledge, devoted to work and definite involved in decision-making.
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| Year of the Rooster
The optimism of the Monkey year overlaps the year of the Rooster, but the Rooster tends to be overconfident and is prone to come up with nonsensical plans. While the colorful Rooster brings bright and happy days, he also dissipates energy.
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| The Sheep/Goat Personality
It is lucky that the sheep is ranked eighth in the series of Chinese zodiac animals, for the number "eight" in China is an auspicious one, symbolizing peace and prosperity.
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| The Sheep/Goat Child
The gentle Sheep child will be a treasure to his parents. He will love being cuddled, fussed over, petted and thoroughly spoiled.
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| The Five Types of Sheep
The Metal Sheep will have great faith in himself and know the value of his talents. He can camouflage his high degree of sensitivity by putting up a brave front, although actually he has a very vulnerable ego and is easily offended by offhand remarks.
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| sheep/goat
The sign suggests a person who is creative, artistic, passionate, elegant, warmhearted, honest, charming but pessimistic, timid, disorganized and vulnerable.
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| Year of the Sheep/Goat
This is a smooth year following that of the energetic Horse. A year to relax and make peace with oneself as well as with others. Things progress slwly and we find ourselves more sentimental and emotional. The Sheep's influence will draw us closer to home an dour families.
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| The Five Types of Snake
The metal Snake will be gifted with a calculating, intelligent mind and forceful willpower. Armed with discriminating tastes and a keen eye for locating opportunity, this Snake person can be a scheming loner.
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| Snake
Those born under this sign are usually considered clever, passionate, determined, romantic, intense, rich in wisdom and charm, but vain. Women born under Snake are often beautiful.
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| The Snake Child
The Snake child is a complex personality. Quiet, alert and intelligent, he will have a serious nature and is inclined to be particular.
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| Chinese Zodiac Compatibility - Snake
The best companions for persons born in the year of the snake are the reliable "ox," fearless "rooster," and heroic "dragon." Such a person can also get along well with people born in the year of the mouse, rabbit, sheep and dog.
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| Shoushi Calendar
Shoushi Calendar appeared in the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368) thanks to the efforts of Guo Shoujing and his co-workers.
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| The Snake Personality
People born in the year of the snake may become philosophers, theologians, politicians, or cunning financiers. The snake is the most enigmatic of the twelve zodiac animals.
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| Year of the Snake
A year for reflection, planning and searching answers. A good time for shrewd dealings, political affairs and coups d'etat. People will be more likely to scheme and ponder over matters before acting on them. An auspicious year for commerce and industry.
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| Solar Terms
Jieqi (or solar terms) are days marking one of the 24 time zones of the solar year in traditional Chinese calendar. Jieqi was used to indicate the alternation of seasons and climate changes in ancient China. It is a unique component and creative invention of Chinese traditional calendar.
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| The Tiger Child
A Tiger child could be a bundle of joy and a holy terror at the same time. A little live wire who dashes about sparkling with activity, he will throw himself into the thick of things. Even a very quiet one will know exactly where the action is and make a bee line for it.
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| Tiger
As the fighting animal, those born under tiger's sign are sensitive, aggressive, unpredictable, charming, emotional, courageous and capable of great love.
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| Tai Chu Calendar: China's First Complete Calendar
In its barest term, a calendar is a system showing the days, weeks, and months of a particular year. As agricultural activities are closely related to seasonal changes, in the very beginning the calendar was created to meet the demand of agricultural production.
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| Chinese Zodiac Compatibility - Tiger
For a person who is born in the year of the tiger, living with a person born in the year of the pig is a happy choice because those born in the year of the pig are honest, gentle and can help the tiger with his shortcoming of acting rashly.
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| The Five Types of Tiger
This is definitely not a reticent type of Tiger. The Metal Tiger is bound to be active, aggressive and passionate.
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| The Tiger Personality
People born in the year of the tiger have a lively disposition and are forthright and uninhibited in nature. They are broad-minded and quick to action. But there is another aspect to their characters. They are full of suspicion, and sometimes will take hasty action.
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| Year of the Tiger
This is definitely an explosive year. It usually beings with a bang and ends with a whimper. A year earmakred for war, disagreement and disasters of all kinds. Bit it will also be a big, bold year.
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