The Chinese Calendar

The Chinese calendar is based on the cycles of the moon and the sun. Instead of being linear like the Western calendar – going straight into the future – the Chinese calendar repeats itself in cycles.

In the Chinese calendar:
GREAT YEAR equals 12 years.
CYCLE equals 5 GREAT YEARS equals 60 years.
EPOCH equals 60 CYCLES equals 60 times 60 years equals 3,600 years.

The 12 Western calendar years it takes to complete a GREAT YEAR are named after animals.

Legend has it that the order of the animals came about when a race was held to cross a river. A cat and rat hitched a ride on the back of the ox, because the two little creatures were afraid of water and the big animal could not see very well. After the ox was guided across the river by the cat and the rat and the shore was in sight, the rat pushed the cat into the river. The poor feline was never heard from again, but the rat jumped over the ox's head and reached the shore first. That put him first in the cycle of animals and the ox second. The slow-moving pig came in last.

The order of the animal zodiac is rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, ram, monkey, rooster, dog, pig.

Some people believe the animal that represents the year you were born reflects the personality you have.

What personality does your animal have?

The Year of the Rat
1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996
People born in the Year of the Rat carefully watch how they spend their money. Hard-workers, rats often want everything to be perfect, which can lead to a hot temper. Most rats are successful in their jobs.

The Year of the Ox
1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997
People born in the Year of the Ox are usually quiet and patient, but watch out – they can also get mad very quickly if the situation arises. There mental and physical capabilities are strong, which makes them stubborn on occasion.

The Year of the Tiger
1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998
People born in the Year of the Tiger can be very brave and powerful, but they also have their sensitive side. Drawing respect from others is easy for them, but figures of authority as well as older people sometimes draw conflict.

The Year of the Rabbit
1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999
People born in the Year of the Rabbit seem to have four lucky rabbit's feet because they are often lucky. Conservative, wise, talented and ambitious all describe a person born under this symbol. To top everything off, the rabbit also represents kindness.

The Year of the Dragon
1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000
People born in the Year of the Dragon often are stubborn, but they make up for that trait by also being brave, sensitive, trustworthy, kind, to the point. Easy-to-be-excited dragons can either be great fun to be around or quick in temper.

The Year of the Snake
1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001
People born in the Year of the Snake are wise. Fortune often come to people born in these years. Self-reliant, snakes hate to fail and believe in the adage, "If you want something done right, do it yourself." They can be tight with their money.

The Year of the Horse
1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002
People born in the Year of the Horse are short-tempered sometimes, but mostly are happy and talkative. Naturally-born party animals, horses love to be around people. They know how to handle their money and are often smart in everything they do.

The Year of the Sheep
1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003
People born in the Year of the Sheep are passionate in what they do and believe in. Usually highly successful in money matters, sheep are also shy and artistic. And although they are often confused by life's mysteries, they are comfortable in all that they have.

The Year of the Monkey
1920, 1932, 1944, 1958, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004
People born in the Year of the Monkey are clever, flexible and skillful. Practically made of charm, they could fool anyone. Because they don't worry about what others think of them, monkeys enjoy living life to the fullest.

The Year of the Rooster
1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005
People born in the Year of the Rooster can be eccentric, but they are also deep thinkers who possess many talents. They are rather conceited about always being right because they usually are. Emotions swing high and low for roosters.

The Year of the Dog
1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006
People born in the Year of the Dog are famous for their sharp tongues. Great leaders, dogs are also loyal, trustworthy and honest. They may have little concern for wealth and can shut out people if the mood strikes.

The Year of the Pig
1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007
People born in the Year of the Pig always put their best efforts into their work and play. Extremely loyal, pigs are usually quiet and love to learn about their world. They possess a mixed list of other traits including kindness, impulsiveness and optimistic.

Chinese Animals By Year

Rat	1924	1936	1948	1960	1972	1984	1996	2008
Ox	1925	1937	1949	1961	1973	1985	1997	2009
Tiger	1926	1938	1950	1962	1974	1986	1998	2010
Rabbit	1927	1939	1951	1963	1975	1987	1999	2011
Dragon	1928	1940	1952	1964	1976	1988	2000	2012
Snake	1929	1941	1953	1965	1977	1989	2001	2013
Horse	1930	1942	1954	1966	1978	1990	2002	2014
Sheep	1931	1943	1955	1967	1979	1991	2003	2015
Monkey	1932	1944	1956	1968	1980	1992	2004	2016
Rooster	1933	1945	1957	1969	1981	1993	2005	2017
Dog	1934	1946	1958	1970	1982	1994	2006	2018
Boar	1935	1947	1959	1971	1983	1995	2007	2019

Sources: World Book Encyclopedia, www.c-c-c.org, chinapage.com