The Chinese zodiac is known as 生肖 (shēng xiào) in Mandarin. It is based on a 12-year cycle, with each year represented by an animal.

The 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac (十二生肖, shí èr shēng xiào) follows this order:

Rat – 鼠 – shǔ

Ox – 牛 – niú

Tiger – 虎 – hǔ

Rabbit – 兔 – tù

Dragon – 龙 – lóng

Snake – 蛇 – shé

Horse – 马 – mǎ

Ram – 羊 – yáng

Monkey – 猴 – hóu

Rooster – 鸡 – jī

Dog – 狗 – gǒu

Pig – 猪 – zhū

As with many Chinese traditions, there is a story attached to the animals’ selection and their order. According to Chinese mythology, the Jade Emperor (玉皇大帝, yù huáng dà dì) governs all of heaven and earth. He was so busy ruling the universe that he had no time to visit the earth. He wished to know what the animals of the earth looked like, so he invited them all to his heavenly palace for a banquet.

The cat loved to sleep but did not want to miss the banquet, so he asked his friend the rat to wake him on the day of the banquet. The rat, however, jealous of the cat's beauty, purposely let the cat sleep.

As the animals arrived in heaven, the Jade Emperor was so impressed with them that he assigned each a year in the zodiac, based on the order of their arrival.

The cat, having missed the banquet, was furious with the rat for letting him sleep – sparking the eternal rivalry between cats and rats.

Chinese zodiac personalities

The Chinese zodiac attributes personality qualities to each of the 12 animal signs. These personalities are often inspired by the animals' characteristics or their actions in the Jade Emperor's story.

The dragon, for example, could have been the first to arrive at the banquet, since he could fly. But he stopped to help some villagers and then assisted the rabbit on his way. So those born in the Year of the Dragon are described as being interested in the world and helpful.

The rat, on the other hand, arrived by hitching a ride on the ox. Just as the ox was arriving at the palace, the rat stuck his nose forward, so he was the first to arrive. Those born in the Year of the Rat are described as shrewd and resourceful – qualities reflected in the story of the rat and the cat.

The snake made its way into the palace gracefully and unnoticed. Those born in the Year of the Snake, such as in 2025, are often seen as intellectual and cautious, always observing their surroundings and making calculated decisions.

Here is a brief summary of the personalities associated with each Chinese zodiac sign:

Rat – 鼠 – shǔ

Forthright, generous, outgoing, loves money, hates waste

Ox – 牛 – niú

Calm, dependable, obstinate, reliable, proud, and can be uncompromising

Tiger – 虎 – hǔ

Loving, giving, optimistic, idealistic, stubborn, self-centered, emotional

Rabbit – 兔 – tù

Careful, systematic, considerate, can be indifferent, temperamental, shrewd

Dragon – 龙 – lóng

Strong, energetic, proud, confident, but can be illogical and obsessive

Snake – 蛇 – shé

Intellectual, superstitious, independent, private, cautious, suspicious

Horse – 马 – mǎ

Cheerful, lively, impulsive, manipulative, friendly, self-reliant

Ram – 羊 – yáng

Good-natured, timid, emotional, pessimistic, mild, forgiving

Monkey – 猴 – hóu

Successful, charming, crafty, can be dishonest, self-centered, inquisitive

Rooster – 鸡 – jī

Conservative, aggressive, decisive, logical, can be overly critical

Dog – 狗 – gǒu

Clever, helpful, open-minded, practical, can be belligerent

Pig – 猪 – zhū

Brave, trustworthy, patient, diplomatic, can be hot-tempered

Source: Thought.Co

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