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Chinese Zodiac Animals

The Chinese zodiac, also known as the Twelve Earthly Branches, is a system of 12 animals corresponding to the traditional Chinese calendar's earthly branches. The 12 animals are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig (Boar), each possessing distinct personality traits and symbolic meanings. The cycle repeats every 12 years, and the animal of one's birth year is believed to influence their character and fortune. Widely celebrated across East Asia including Japan, these zodiac animals are featured in New Year decorations, fortune-telling, and cultural celebrations.

Chinese zodiac zodiac animals Shengxiao astrology lunar calendar traditional culture animals New Year
code slug name description bestMatches branch branchReading challengingMatches direction directionEn element elementEn hours personalityTraits years yinYang yinYangEn
1 rat Rat An animal symbolizing wisdom and agility. ["Ox","Dragon","Monkey"] 子 し ["Horse"] 北 North 水 Water 23:00-1:00 ["Intelligent","Quick-witted","Adaptable","Cautious","Frugal"] [1924,1936,1948,1960,1972,1984,1996,2008,2020,2032] 陽 Yang
2 ox Ox An animal symbolizing diligence and honesty. ["Rat","Snake","Rooster"] 丑 ちゅう ["Goat"] 北北東 North-Northeast 土 Earth 1:00-3:00 ["Diligent","Patient","Honest","Stubborn","Responsible"] [1925,1937,1949,1961,1973,1985,1997,2009,2021,2033] 陰 Yin
3 tiger Tiger An animal symbolizing bravery and confidence. ["Pig","Horse","Dog"] 寅 いん ["Monkey"] 東北東 East-Northeast 木 Wood 3:00-5:00 ["Brave","Confident","Leadership","Passionate","Short-tempered"] [1926,1938,1950,1962,1974,1986,1998,2010,2022,2034] 陽 Yang
4 rabbit Rabbit An animal symbolizing caution and elegance. ["Dog","Pig","Goat"] 卯 ぼう ["Rooster"] 東 East 木 Wood 5:00-7:00 ["Elegant","Cautious","Kind","Sensitive","Harmony-seeking"] [1927,1939,1951,1963,1975,1987,1999,2011,2023,2035] 陰 Yin
5 dragon Dragon A mythical creature symbolizing power and transformation. ["Rooster","Rat","Monkey"] 辰 しん ["Dog"] 東南東 East-Southeast 土 Earth 7:00-9:00 ["Charismatic","Energetic","Confident","Visionary","Overbearing"] [1928,1940,1952,1964,1976,1988,2000,2012,2024,2036] 陽 Yang
6 snake Snake An animal symbolizing wisdom and regeneration. ["Monkey","Ox","Rooster"] 巳 し ["Pig"] 南南東 South-Southeast 火 Fire 9:00-11:00 ["Intelligent","Observant","Mysterious","Calculating","Intuitive"] [1929,1941,1953,1965,1977,1989,2001,2013,2025,2037] 陰 Yin
7 horse Horse An animal symbolizing freedom and vitality. ["Goat","Tiger","Dog"] 午 ご ["Rat"] 南 South 火 Fire 11:00-13:00 ["Energetic","Free-spirited","Charismatic","Hardworking","Moody"] [1930,1942,1954,1966,1978,1990,2002,2014,2026,2038] 陽 Yang
8 goat Goat An animal symbolizing gentleness and creativity. ["Horse","Rabbit","Pig"] 未 び ["Ox"] 南南西 South-Southwest 土 Earth 13:00-15:00 ["Gentle","Creative","Empathetic","Reserved","Overthinking"] [1931,1943,1955,1967,1979,1991,2003,2015,2027,2039] 陰 Yin
9 monkey Monkey An animal symbolizing agility and curiosity. ["Snake","Rat","Dragon"] 申 しん ["Tiger"] 西南西 West-Southwest 金 Metal 15:00-17:00 ["Agile","Curious","Humorous","Adaptable","Restless"] [1932,1944,1956,1968,1980,1992,2004,2016,2028,2040] 陽 Yang
10 rooster Rooster An animal symbolizing discipline and honesty. ["Dragon","Ox","Snake"] 酉 ゆう ["Rabbit"] 西 West 金 Metal 17:00-19:00 ["Honest","Meticulous","Observant","Punctual","Perfectionistic"] [1933,1945,1957,1969,1981,1993,2005,2017,2029,2041] 陰 Yin
11 dog Dog An animal symbolizing loyalty and justice. ["Rabbit","Tiger","Horse"] 戌 じゅつ ["Dragon"] 西西北 West-Northwest 土 Earth 19:00-21:00 ["Loyal","Just","Reliable","Anxious","Stubborn"] [1934,1946,1958,1970,1982,1994,2006,2018,2030,2042] 陽 Yang
12 pig Pig An animal symbolizing tolerance and abundance. ["Tiger","Rabbit","Goat"] 亥 がい ["Snake"] 北北西 North-Northwest 水 Water 21:00-23:00 ["Tolerant","Considerate","Optimistic","Sincere","Indulgent"] [1935,1947,1959,1971,1983,1995,2007,2019,2031,2043] 陰 Yin

The 12 animals of the traditional Chinese zodiac (Earthly Branches).