chinese zodiac
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).
| The Twelve Zodiacs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animal | Romanized (Ch.) | Chinese (Trad.) | Chinese (Sim.) | Earthly Branch |
| Rat | Shǔ | 鼠 | 子 | |
| Ox | Niú | 牛 | 丑 | |
| Tiger | Hǔ | 虎 | 寅 | |
| Rabbit | Tù | 兔 | 卯 | |
| Dragon | Lóng | 龍 | 龙 | 辰 |
| Snake | Shé | 蛇 | 巳 | |
| Horse | Mǎ | 馬 | 马 | 午 |
| Goat | Yáng | 羊 | 未 | |
| Monkey | Hóu | 猴 | 申 | |
| Rooster | Jī | 雞 | 鸡 | 酉 |
| Dog | Gǒu | 狗 | 戌 | |
| Pig | Zhū | 豬 | 猪 | 亥 |
Variations
Japan
Pig -> Boar
Kazakhstan
Dragon -> Snail
Tiger -> Leopard
Malaysia
Rabbit -> Mousedeer
Thailand
Dragon -> Naga (mythological creature)
Tibet
Rooster -> Bird
Vietnam
Rabbit -> Cat
Ox -> Water Buffalo
See also
External links
The following tags implicate this tag: year_of_the_dog, year_of_the_dragon, year_of_the_goat, year_of_the_horse, year_of_the_monkey, year_of_the_ox, year_of_the_pig, year_of_the_rabbit, year_of_the_rat, year_of_the_rooster, year_of_the_snake, and year_of_the_tiger (learn more).
