Chinese Lunar Calendar
Background and Concept The Chinese animal signs are a 12-year cycle used for dating the
years. They represent a cyclical concept of time, rather than the Western linear concept of time.
The Chinese Lunar Calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, and is constructed in a different
fashion than the Western solar calendar. In the Chinese calendar, the beginning of the year falls
somewhere between late January and early February. The Chinese have adopted the Western
calendar since 1911, but the lunar calendar is still used for festive occasions such as the Chinese
New Year. Many Chinese calendars will print both the solar dates and the Chinese lunar dates.
Background Information
In the United States, the years are dated from the birth of Jesus Christ, for example, 1977 means
1,977 years after the birth of Christ. This represents a linear perception of time, with time
proceeding in a straight line from the past to the present and the future. In traditional China,
dating methods were cyclical, cyclical meaning something that is repeated time after time
according to a pattern. A popular folk method, which reflected this cyclical method of recording
years, are the Twelve Animal Signs. Every year is assigned an animal name or "sign" according
to a repeating cycle: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster,
Dog, and Boar. Therefore, every twelve years the same animal name or "sign" would reappear.
A cultural sidelight of the animal signs in Chinese folklore is that horoscopes have developed
around the animal signs, much like monthly horoscopes in the West have been developed for the
different moon signs, Pisces, Aries, etc. For example, a Chinese horoscope may predict that a
person born in the Year of the Horse would be, "cheerful, popular, and loves to compliment
others". These horoscopes are amusing, but not regarded seriously by the Chinese people.
The animal signs also serve a useful social function for finding out people's ages. Instead of
asking directly how old a person is, people often ask what is his or her animal sign. This would
place that person's age within a cycle of 12 years, and with a bit of common sense, we can
deduce the exact age. More often, though, people ask for animal signs not to compute a person's
exact numerical age, but to simply know who is older among friends and acquaintances.
Legend
According to Chinese legend, the twelve animals quarreled one day as to who was to head the
cycle of years. The gods were asked to decide and they held a contest: whoever was to reach the
opposite bank of the river would be first, and the rest of the animals would receive their years
according to their finish.
All the twelve animals gathered at the riverbank and jumped in. Unknown to the ox, the rat had
jumped upon his back. As the ox was about to jump ashore, the rat jumped off the ox's back, and
won the race. The pig, which was very lazy, ended up last. That is why the rat is the first year of
the animal cycle, the ox second, and the pig last. Additionally, legend explains the lack of the cat
on the zodiac as follows:
The rat was given the task of inviting the animals to report to the Jade Emperor for a
banquet to be selected for the zodiac signs. The cat was a good friend of the rat, but the
rat tricked him into believing that the banquet was the next day. The cat slept through the
banquet,thinking that it was the next day. When he found out, the cat vowed to be the rat's
natural enemy for ages to come.
Other Zodiacs:
The Chinese zodiac signs are also used by cultures other than Chinese. For one example, they
usually appear on Japanese New Year's cards and stamps. The United States Postal Service and
those of several other countries issue a "Year of the _____" postage stamp each year to honor
this Chinese heritage. However, those unfamiliar with the use of the Chinese lunar calendar
usually just assume that the signs switch over on Jan 1 of each year.
The Chinese zodiac is also used in some other Asian countries that have been under the cultural
influence of China. However, some of the animals in the Zodiac may differ by country.
For example, the Vietnamese zodiac is identical to Chinese zodiac except the fourth animal is the
cat not the rabbit, while the Japanese zodiac includes the wild boar instead of the pig.
Dog January 29, 2006
Review Questions: Boar February 18, 2007
Rat February 7, 2008
1. During what part of the year does the zodiac change?
Ox January 26, 2009
What holiday is associated with the changing of the
Tiger February 10, 2010
zodiac? Hare/Rabbit February 3, 2011
2. How many animal symbols are there in the cycle of the Dragon January 23, 2012
Chinese zodiac? Snake February 10, 2013
Horse January 31, 2014
3. What other parts of the world use an animal zodiac
Ram/Sheep February 19, 2015
system? Monkey February 9, 2016
4. What is the current Chinese zodiac year? Rooster January 28, 2017
Dog February 16, 2018
Boar February 5, 2019
1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008
People born in this year are famous for cheerfulness and
kindness. They are generous with those they love and are
imaginative and charming. They love to gossip and that can
cost them many friendships if they are not careful. Other
negative characteristics are: short tempered, critical and
nervous.
1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009
They are easy going and have a great deal of self-assurance
that helps help them to be successful. They have thoughtful
responses and love deeply and share their strength with those
they love. They are dependable, honest and patient but can be
self-centered, stubborn and humorless.
1962, 1974, 1986, 1998 , 2010
People from this year are brave, powerful, loyal, intelligent,
competent, and stubborn. They make great friends and tend
not to respect their elders and that can get them in a lot of
trouble. Other negative characteristics include a quick- temper
and impulsivity.
1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011
These people are lucky, happy, independent, affectionate,
bright, ambitious, artistic and trustworthy. People of this year
have little interest in learning to appear smart. They simply like
to know how things work. Unfortunately, they are also
temperamental, secretive and disloyal.
1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012
People of this year are honest, full of energy, stubborn, loyal,
strong, and protective. These people are incredibly lucky. They
love flattery, and can be attracted to bad behavior. Other
weaknesses include: arrogance, anger, demanding and
unwilling to compromise.
1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013
These people are wise, romantic and focused. They trust their
own judgment. People of this year cannot help but do their best
because they hate to fail at anything. They believe everyone
should lend a helping hand. This animal is manipulative,
possessive and demanding.
1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014
People of this year are popular, cheerful, quick witted, and
friendly. They are hardworking and intelligent. For some
reason, these people are indecisive, impatient and rebellious.
1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015
These people are elegant, wise, gentle, shy, and
compassionate. They can be bossy, but that's because they're
worried things will not get done correctly. This character trait
often makes money for them. Other negative characteristics
are: nervousness, a moody nature and pessimism.
1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016
People of this year are quick, funny, ambitious, nosey, clever,
witty, and successful. They have wonderful memories and are
well informed about everything. They tend to chatter. This does
drive friends away sometimes. They can also be vain, selfish
and jealous.
1969, 1981, 1993, 2005
People of this year are early risers, proud, alert, deep thinkers
and good speakers. They like to stay close to home. They are
honest and hard working but also temperamental and
combative.
1970, 1982, 1994, 2006
These people are loyal friends, quick to learn, eager to please,
and always try to do their best. They prefer to be with people
they know and like. While being protective they can also be
stubborn, outspoken and critical.
1971, 1983, 1995, 2007
People who are born in this Year are brave, popular, and treat
all people with great kindness. They are also sincere, honest
but can be materialistic and domineering. People of this year
are often late and forgetful.