The Chinese zodiac, also known as shengxiao, is a circle of 12 animals that represents the passage of time. The lunar year in which you were born determines your sign or animal.
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What are the names of the 12 zodiac animals?
The Chinese zodiac, known as shengxiao (/shnng-sshyao/, ‘born resembling’), is made up of 12 animals. The Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig are the animals in order.
At Chinese New Year (in January/February), the Chinese zodiac years begin and end. Each year of the 12-year zodiac cycle is symbolized by a zodiac animal, each with its own set of purported characteristics.
People in China believe that a person’s horoscope, personality, and love compatibility are all linked to his or her Chinese zodiac sign, which is decided by his or her birth year.
You can learn everything there is to know about the Chinese zodiac, including how to determine your Chinese zodiac sign and horoscope.
Is there a thirteenth Chinese zodiac sign?
Emperor Huangdi, the first Chinese emperor, is claimed to have invented what is now known as the Chinese zodiac in 2637 B.C. (the 14th century). During the North Zhou Dynasty, the zodiac became quite popular as a technique to determine a child’s birth year, and it is still widely used today. The Chinese zodiac was used to calculate years, months, days, and even hours in a calendar, and it was based on Chinese astrology. The Chinese zodiac consists of 12 animals, one for each year.
Many people are aware of the origins of the zodiac, but they are unaware of the existence of the 13th animal, the cat.
Most of you are familiar with the legend that the Jade Emperor once invited the whole animal kingdom to compete in a massive race! In order of appearance, the first 12 animals to cross the river would be ascribed to a Chinese zodiac year. The word travelled quickly, and each animal was eager for the race to begin. On the day of the race, all of the animals congregated around the river’s edge. The rat won the race, which seems improbable given his small size and lack of swimming ability, but he was clever and used his expertise to defeat each animal. The rat had persuaded the ox that they would have a better chance of winning the race if they worked together. Because the ox was strong, the rat was carried to the finish line by the ox. The rat leaped off the ox and crossed the finish line first as they got closer. The tiger was the next animal to cross the river, followed by the rabbit, who was then followed by the dragon, then the snake, horse, goat, monkey, and rooster. The dog was the 11th animal to cross the river, and the pig followed him.
This was correct, but they had overlooked an important component. This detail would alter your perception of the story. The tale of the cat and the rat is told here.
The cat and the mouse were the best of friends, the kind of friends who spent almost every waking hour together. Both were ecstatic when they heard about the massive race and immediately began making plans to cross the river. Cat needed a little rest before the race started because it would certainly take a lot of effort and energy, so he asked his best friend the rat to wake him up when the race started. The only thing on rat’s mind was winning the race.
Instead of waking up his best friend, the cat, when the race was about to begin, the rat crept out and made his way to the river’s edge. Cat awoke from his restful snooze to find that the race had already ended and that his best friend rat had won first place. The cat was saddened and enraged at the same moment, vowing to hate rats for the rest of his life. That is why the rat is pursued by the cat.
The Rat is the Chinese Zodiac sign for 2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, and 1960. Rats are quick-witted, intelligent, charming, sharp, and amusing. They have outstanding taste, are fantastic friends, and are generous and devoted to those who are regarded members of their pack. Money motivates him, and he can be greedy. He is always curious, seeks education, and enjoys difficulties. Compatible with either the Dragon or the Monkey.
The Ox is a sturdy, strong, goal-oriented leader who is detail-oriented, hard-working, stubborn, serious, and introverted, yet might feel lonely and insecure. Is a dependable, protective, and strong companion who finds solace in friends and family. Snake and Rooster are both compatible.
Tiger: 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962-Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Tiger are powerful leaders, charming, ambitious, fearless, warm-hearted, very alluring, moody, intense, and ready to pounce at any moment. Horses and dogs are both compatible.
Rabbit: 2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963-Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Rabbit value their relationships with family and friends. They’re well-liked, sympathetic, and truthful, yet they want to avoid conflict and are sometimes viewed as softies. Rabbits prefer spending time at home and entertaining guests. Goat and pig are both compatible.
Dragon: 2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964- Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Dragon are energetic and warm-hearted, charming, love-lucky, and egotistic. They’re natural born leaders who know how to give instructions and do what it takes to stay on top. Monkey and Rat are both compatible.
Snake: 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965-Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Snake are seductive, sociable, introverted, generous, charming, good with money, analytical, insecure, jealous, slightly dangerous, smart, they trust their gut impulses, and they are hardworking and intelligent. Compatible with either the Rooster or the Ox.
Horse (Chinese Zodiac sign): 2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966-Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Horse enjoy freedom. They’re vivacious, financially self-sufficient, and like traveling, love, and intimacy. They’re good at seducing, quick-witted, impatient, and a bit of a drifter. Can be used with either a dog or a tiger.
2015, 2003, 1991, 1979, and 1967-
The Goat, according to the Chinese Zodiac, enjoys being alone with their thoughts. They’re imaginative, thinkers, wanderers, unorganized, high-strung, insecure, and anxious. They require a great deal of love, support, and assurance. It’s also crucial to look good. Pig and Rabbit are both compatible.
Monkey: 2016, 2004, 1992, 1980, 1968-Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Monkey are happiest when they are having a good time. They’re vivacious, enthusiastic, and attentive, but they lack self-control. They prefer to be active and stimulated, and they prefer to please themselves before satisfying others. They’re heartbreakers, bad at long-term relationships, and have questionable morality. Compatible with either the Rat or the Dragon.
Rooster: 2017, 2005, 1993, 1981, 1969-Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Rooster are practical, resourceful, observant, analytical, direct, trusting, honest, perfectionists, neat, and conservative. Ox or Snake are both compatible.
Dog: 2018, 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970-Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Dog are loyal, faithful, honest, distrustful, prone to white lies, temperamental, moody, dogmatic, and sensitive. Dogs are great at business, but they have a hard time finding partners. Compatible with either the Tiger or the Horse.
Pig (Chinese Zodiac Sign): 2019, 2007, 1995, 1983, 1971-Those born under the Chinese Zodiac sign of the Pig are exceptionally kind, polite, and tasteful. They’re perfectionists who appreciate finer things without being labeled as snobs. They adore assisting people and make terrific companions until someone close to them crosses them, at which point they should be avoided! They’re intelligent, always on the lookout for new information, and exclusive. Rabbit and Goat are both compatible.
Why are there 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac?
According to legend, the Jade Emperor, one of the most significant gods in traditional Chinese religion, organized a race and invited all of the world’s animals to participate. A pig, dog, rooster, monkey, sheep, horse, snake, dragon, rabbit, tiger, ox, and rat were among the twelve animals that arrived at the starting line.
Is Ophiuchus an uncommon species?
Aries is the second rarest zodiac sign, followed by Sagittarius, both of which are fire signs, according to Stardust.
According to Stardust, the first sign of the zodiac is Aries, which has a spark of creativity that “gets everyone going and moving.” According to Stardust, Sagittarius, the third rarest zodiac sign, “falls during the autumn season and are renowned to be adventurous and free-spirited.”
What is the appearance of Ophiuchus?
Ophiuchus is located northwest of the Milky Way’s center, between Aquila, Serpens, Scorpius, Sagittarius, and Hercules. Scorpius to the west and Sagittarius to the east make up the southern portion. Summer is the greatest time to see it in the northern hemisphere. It’s the polar opposite of Orion. Ophiuchus is represented as a man holding a serpent, with his body dividing the Serpens constellation into two sections, Serpens Caput and Serpens Cauda. Ophiuchus is a constellation that spans the equator, with the most of its territory in the southern hemisphere. Rasalhague, the brightest star in the constellation, is located towards the northern edge of Ophiuchus, with a declination of about +12 30 degrees. The constellation reaches 30 degrees declination to the south. Within Ophiuchus, portions of the ecliptic are south of 20 degrees declination.
What are the Chinese New Year’s 12 animals?
Only 12 of them, the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig, arrived, and each was granted a year’s worth of honor depending on their arrival order.
Is there a Japanese astrological sign?
Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Boar are the 12 zodiac animals of Japan, in order.
The Chinese zodiac signs were directly influenced by Japan’s. The only variation is that in Japan, the last animal is a Boar, while in China, it is a Pig. Since the lunar calendar was abandoned in 1872, the Chinese zodiac is based on the Chinese lunar calendar, but Japan’s is based on the solar calendar.
Why was the cat omitted from the Chinese horoscope?
The Cat is the 13th animal emblem in the Vietnamese and Gurung zodiacs’ 12-year cycle, replacing the Rabbit in the Chinese zodiac. As a result, the Rabbit’s characteristics are assigned to the Cat. The Rat and the Cat are at odds.
Legends about the Chinese zodiac arrangement frequently include tales about why the cat was not included among the twelve animals. Because the Rat duped the cat into missing the Jade Emperor’s dinner, the cat was not invited, was unaware that the feast was taking place, and was not given a year, and thus began the animosity between cats and rats. Domesticated cats may not have been widespread in China at the time of the zodiac’s inception.
Another mythology, known as “The Great Race,” claims that all of the zodiac animals were on their way to the Jade Emperor. The Cat and Rat were the smartest of the animals, but they were also bad swimmers and ended up in a river. They both conned the helpful, ignorant Ox into letting them ride on its back across the river. The Rat pushed the Cat into the river as the Ox approached the opposite side, then hopped from the Ox and dashed to the Jade Emperor, becoming the first of the zodiac. The other animals made it to the Jade Emperor, but the Cat was sabotaged by the Rat and left to drown in the river. This is also supposed to be why cats are continuously on the lookout for rats.
There have been several theories as to why the Vietnamese, unlike all other countries that use the Sino lunar calendar, have the cat as their zodiac animal rather than the Rabbit. The most frequent reason is that “rabbit” (mao) sounds like “cat” in ancient Chinese (meo).
Is the year 2022 the cat’s year?
The Chinese New Year falls on February 1st. The rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig are among the 12 animal signs that signify each year in the Chinese zodiac.
Every 12 years, the animals cycle through in that order, and each of them has its own distinct personality qualities. Your Chinese zodiac sign is determined by your birth year, and persons born in the animal’s year are considered to share the attributes of their zodiac critter.
Because 2022 is the Year of the Tiger, why not celebrate with another feline: your cat? Here are some ways to celebrate the year of the tiger with your cat as you get ready to ring in the new year.
In Chinese, what year is 2021?
The Metal Ox is the animal of the year. The Year of the Ox officially begins on February 12, 2021. While you may be familiar with the 12-year Chinese zodiac calendar, which is symbolized by 12 different animals, it is actually far more complicated.