Chinese Zodiac

According to the Chinese system of Astrology, the year of birth indicates a certain phase or aspect of a sixty-year cycle of time.

Three systems are used for counting and classifying the years:
The ten Heavenly Stems, the twelve Earthly Branches and the twelve Animals. The exact origins of the twelve animal system remain unknown. However, legend has it that, once upon a time, the Jade King was bored, having nothing to do in Heaven. He did not see what was happening on Earth, as he had servants satiating his every wish and desire.
He decided that he wanted to see the animals that inhabited the earth so he sent word to his advisors to bring him twelve animals (which he considered to be a good sampling.) The advisor first sent an invitation to the rat, telling him to also bring the cat.
The rat’s jealousy prevented the cat from actually receiving the invitation.
Further invitations were sent on to the ox, the tiger, the rabbit, the dragon, the snake, the horse, the ram, the monkey, the rooster and the dog, asking for their presence at the palace the following day.
When they lined up in front of the king, he found that they numbered only eleven, instead of twelve as he had requested. The king sent his servant down to Earth to retrieve a twelfth animal.
The servant ran into a man carrying a pig, and he hastily grabbed it and delivered it to the king.
The animals stood in front of the king in no particular order. The rat, being smaller than the rest, hopped on the ox’s back and proceeded to play the flute.
The king was very impressed by this display. He gave the rat first place. Second place was given to the ox for its good sportsmanship, and third was given to the tiger, who appeared so courageous.
The rabbit was given fourth place, the dragon fifth, the snake sixth, the horse seventh, the ram eighth, the monkey ninth, the rooster tenth and the dog eleventh. By default, and due to the king’s just nature, twelfth place went to the pig.
After the ceremony concluded, the cat (who missed the invitation) begged the king to reconsider. but he was told it was too late.

Rat

Years : 1924 1936 1948 1960 1972 1984 1996 2008 2020 2032

Ranking order : First
Hours ruled by the RAT : 11pm – 1am
Direction of its sign : Directly North
Season and principal month : Winter December
Corresponds to Western sign : Sagittarius
Fixed Element : Water
Stem : Positive

 

Ox

Years : 1925 1937 1949 1961 1973 1985 1997 2009 2021 2033

Ranking order : Second
Hours ruled by the OX : 1 am – 3 am
Direction of its sign : North-Northeast
Season and principal month : Winter-January
Corresponds to Western sign : Capricorn
Fixed Element : Water
Stem : Negative

 

 

Tiger

Years : 1926 1938 1950 1962 1974 1986 1998 2010 2022 2034

Ranking order : Third
Hours ruled by the TIGER : 3 am – 5 am
Direction of its sign : East-Northeast
Season and principal month : Winter-February
Corresponds to Western sign : Aquarius
Fixed Element : Wood
Stem : Positive

 

Rabbit

Years : 1927 1939 1951 1963 1975 1987 1999 2011 2023 2035

Ranking order : Fourth
Hours ruled by the RABBIT : 5 am – 7 am
Direction of its sign : Directly East
Season and principal month : Spring – March
Corresponds to Western sign : Pisces
Fixed Element : Wood
Stem : Negative

 

Dragon

Years : 1928 1940 1952 1964 1976 1988 2000 2012 2024 2036

Ranking order : Fifth
Hours ruled by the DRAGON : 7 am – 9 am
Direction of its sign : East-Southeast
Season and principal month : Spring – April
Corresponds to Western sign : Aries
Fixed Element : Wood
Stem : Positive

 

Snake

Years : 1929 1941 1953 1965 1977 1989 2001 2013 2025 2037

Ranking order : Sixth
Hours ruled by the SNAKE : 9 am – 11 am
Direction of its sign : South – Southeast
Season and principal month : Spring – May
Corresponds to Western sign : Taurus
Fixed Element : Fire
Stem : Negative

 

Horse

Years : 1930 1942 1954 1966 1978 1990 2002 2014 2026 2038

Ranking order : Seventh
Hours ruled by the HORSE : 11 am – 1 pm
Direction of its sign : Directly South
Season and principal month : Summer – June
Corresponds to Western sign : Gemini
Fixed Element : Fire
Stem : Positive

 

Goat / Ram

Years : 1931 1943 1955 1967 1979 1991 2003 2015 2027 2039

Ranking order : Eighth
Hours ruled by the GOAT / RAM : 1 pm – 3 pm
Direction of its sign : South – Southwest
Season and principal month : Summer – July
Corresponds to Western sign : Cancer
Fixed Element : Fire
Stem : Negative

 

Monkey

Years : 1920 1932 1944 1956 1968 1980 1992 2004 2016 2028

Ranking order : Ninth
Hours ruled by the MONKEY : 3 pm – 5 pm
Direction of its sign : West – Southwest
Season and principal month : Summer – August
Corresponds to Western sign : Leo
Fixed Element : Metal
Stem : Positive

 

R00ster / Chicken

Years : 1921 1933 1945 1957 1969 1981 1993 2005 2017 2029

Ranking order : Tenth
Hours ruled by the ROOSTER : 5 pm – 7 pm
Direction of its sign : Directly West
Season and principal month : Autumn – September
Corresponds to Western sign : Virgo
Fixed Element : Metal
Stem : Negative

 

Dog

Years : 1922 1934 1946 1958 1970 1982 1994 2006 2018 2030

Ranking order : Eleventh
Hours ruled by the DOG : 7 pm – 9 pm
Direction of its sign : West – Northwest
Season and principal month : Autumn – October
Corresponds to Western sign : Libra
Fixed Element : Metal
Stem : Positive

 

Pig

Years : 1923 1935 1947 1959 1971 1983 1995 2007 2019 2031

Ranking order : Twelfth
Hours ruled by the PIG : 9 pm – 11 pm
Direction of its sign : North -Northwest
Season and principal month : Autumn – November
Corresponds to Western sign : Scorpio
Fixed Element : Water
Stem : Negative