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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Animals make up how many of the 12 zodiac signs?
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 intimately linked to his or her Chinese zodiac sign, which is decided by the year of birth.
Here you may 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.
Is it true that there are more than 12 Chinese zodiac signs?
The twelve animal signs are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig, one for each year in a twelve-year cycle. The year 2008 is the Year of the Rat, 2009 is the Year of the Ox, 2010 is the Year of the Tiger, 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit (Hare), 2012 is the Year of the Dragon, 2013 is the Year of the Snake, 2014 is the Year of the Horse, 2015 is the Year of the Sheep (Goat), 2016 is the Year of the Monkey, 2017 is the Year of the Rooster, 2018 is the Year of the Dog, and 2019 is the Year of the Pig. After then, we return to Rat and the cycle begins again. Each zodiac sign has its unique personality traits. The Chinese Zodiac signs’ qualities can be found here.
The notions of yin and yang must then be considered. Everything in the Chinese worldview is either yin or yang. Yin is a dark force that is passive, frigid, feminine, and yielding. Yang energy is energetic, hot, male, forceful, and light.
It’s vital to remember that yin and yang are both made up of the same seed. Everything appears to follow a cycle. If you start with yin, it will continue to grow until it achieves maturity, at which point the seed of yang will appear. The energy then gradually shifts from yin to yang, until the yang energy achieves its maximum. The yang energy begins to fade, and the yin energy begins to grow anew.
In Chinese astrology’s 60-year cycle, yin and yang will be used alongside the Five Elements.
Why are there only 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac?
According to legend, the Chinese zodiac’s twelve animals were chosen through a race. The purpose of this race is to provide a time measurement for the participants. There could only be twelve winners, and the animals had to cross a fast-flowing river and reach the finish line on the coast in order to win.
What is the order of the Chinese zodiac’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.
Which Chinese zodiac is the most fortunate?
The rat is the first of the twelve Chinese zodiac signs. It’s also regarded to be the luckiest zodiac signperhaps because the first one is always the greatest. People born in the year of the rat will have good fortune. They will have a better chance of living a happy and prosperous life.
Rats born into wealthy homes will receive financial assistance from their families in order to succeed in their jobs.
People born in the year of the rat excel at seizing opportunities and making the most of them in order to achieve success in life. When they are having challenges in their employment or education, they will seek assistance from others.
Rat guys have a good chance of marrying a beautiful wife since they are quick-witted and intelligent. Details regarding the Rat’s Horoscope in 2022 may be found here.
Ophiuchus is a type of animal.
Ophiuchus (/fijuks/), a big constellation crossing the celestial equator, is a vast constellation. Its name is derived from the Ancient Greek o (ophiokhos), which means “serpent-bearer,” and it is frequently shown as a man holding a snake. Serpens is the constellation that represents the serpent.
Why isn’t there a cat horoscope?
The cat realized it was too late when he awoke in the afternoon.
The news about the freshly chosen 12 creatures was all over the place, and the rat was the first of them.
After feeling betrayed by the rat, the cat became the rat’s nemesis. As a result, cats are always chasing after rodents.
History:
The two folktales mentioned above are the most common and amusing. They appeal to me. However, you are likely to disbelieve that this is the case. The Chinese zodiac’s 12 animals must have been developed for hundreds of years in the early stages of Chinese civilisation before becoming the current version; yet, determining the true origin is difficult. In terms of the lack of the cat, most historians agree that the Chinese zodiac’s 12 animals were founded before Buddhism brought cats to China. As a result, the answer is obvious: there is no cat on the list because Chinese people had never seen a cat before.
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 there a Japanese astrological sign?
The Japanese astrological calendar (Juunishi) is organized into 12 blocks, each having a group of years. Each block has 12 years between it and the year before or after it (in that block only). Based on the ancient Chinese belief that all time changes are based on these twelve units, each block is given the name of an animal. The twelve-year cycle, with a different animal symbolizing each block, is fairly widespread in Japan.