The Shēngxiào (Chinese: 生肖), better known in English as the Chinese Zodiac, is a scheme that relates each year to an animal and its reputed attributes, which, combined with the 5 Chinese elements (fire, water, earth, wood, metal), creates a 60-year cycle.
Unlike the Western zodiac, it has no relation to the constellations on the ecliptic.
Many other Asian countries have adopted the Chinese Zodiac as well, sometimes with slight changes (see below).
