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The traditional Chinese lunar calendar has been used in China for over three millennia. It counts the years in sixty-year cycles, utilizing combinations of two series of numbers known as the ten Heavenly Stems and twelve Earthly Branches.

The Chinese zodiac consists of a twelve-year cycle, with each year corresponding to one of the twelve Earthly Branches and represented by a different animal. The year in which a person is born is equated with one of these twelve "Animal Years." The Chinese terms for the twelve Animal Years of the Chinese zodiac, shengxiao and shuxiang, may be translated as "birth-year categories," indicating that people's characters are determined to some extent by the year of their birth. The Chinese zodiac has always been very important to the Chinese people, particularly the personal characteristics associated with each of the Animal Years. Numerous legends and customs concerning the Animal Years have arisen over the ages, informing the Chinese imagination and exploration of the human condition. The Chinese zodiac is an ancient and important component of China's folk culture, vividly reflecting the rich psychology of the Chinese people.

The star signs of the Western zodiac are based on the month, rather than the year, of one's birth, and are named after constellations, rather than animals. It is believed that people's star signs may affect their character, behavior, and destiny, much like the Animal Years of the Chinese zodiac. Of course, the Chinese zodiac is calculated according to the traditional Chinese lunar calendar, unlike the Western zodiac, which uses the solar calendar.

.The Origins and Order of the Twelve Animal Years

The twelve years of the Chinese zodiac cycle are each named after a different animal.2004 is the Year of the Monkey, jiashen (jia, the first Heavenly Stem, combined with shen, the ninth Earthly Branch) according to the numbering of the traditional Chinese lunar calendar. The Year of the Monkey ends on February 8, 2005, the last day of the year jiashen. The following day marks the beginning of the year yiyou (yi, the second Heavenly Stem, combined with you, the tenth Earthly Branch), the Year of the Rooster. The year of a person's birth corresponds to one of the twelve Animals Years of the Chinese zodiac. When Chinese people talk about birthdays, they generally ask each other what their Animal Year is, rather than when they were born.

There is an old Chinese story concerning the origins of the Animal Years. It is said that the Yellow Emperor, the legendary ancestor of the Chinese people, decided to hold a competition to select twelve animals to serve as his bodyguards. When this news was announced, it caused a great stir throughout the animal kingdom. Rat was supposed to sign up for Cat, but forgot. As a result, Cat was unable to compete, and Cat and Rat have been enemies ever since. Elephant, although the largest of the animals, lost when Rat distracted him by running up his trunk. In the end, the twelve victors of the competition became the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. Of course, this story is merely apocryphal. Most likely, the ancient practice of naming the years after animals originated with the prehistoric worship of animal totems. Later, the Chinese zodiac was developed as a way to keep track of when people were born, with years and animals associated in a fixed order for clarity and ease of recording.

How was the order of the Animal Years determined? According to one legend, Ox, as the largest of the twelve selected animals, should have been in first place. However, Rat, the cleverest of the animals, cut to the front of the line by hopping onto Ox's back. How the order actually was determined will never be known.

The order of the twelve Animal Years of the Chinese zodiac is as follows: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig.

.The Twelve Animal Years and the Solar and Lunar Calendars

The standard Gregorian calendar is generally referred to as the solar calendar in China. The traditional Chinese lunar calendar, also known as the jiazi calendar, counts the years in sixty-year cycles by combining two series of numbers - the ten Heavenly Stems and the twelve Earthly Branches. The ten Heavenly Stems are jia (first), yi (second), bing (third), ding (fourth), wu (fifth), yi (sixth), geng (seventh), xin (eighth), ren (ninth), and gui (tenth). The twelve Earthly Branches are zi (first), chou (second), yin (third), mao (fourth), chen (fifth), si (sixth), wu (seventh), wei (eighth), shen (ninth), you (tenth), xu (eleventh), and hai (twelfth).

The sixty years of the jiazi cycle are calculated by combining the ten Heavenly Stems and twelve Earthly Branches in ascending pairs as follows: jiazi (first-first), yichou (second-second), bingyin (third-third), etc., for a total of sixty combinations. This system was used without interruption from 776 BC until the Chinese Nationalist Revolution of 1911 AD. It is the world's oldest and most comprehensive calendar system.

The traditional Chinese lunar year is divided into twenty-four solar terms, according to the position of the sun on the ecliptic in relationship to the earth. The solar terms designate agricultural periods, and can predict changing seasonal conditions, temperature, and weather throughout the course of the year. They are extremely important to agricultural production. Changes in the four seasons are determined by eight solar terms: lichun (Beginning of Spring), chunfen (Spring Equinox), lixia (Beginning of Summer), xiazhi (Summer Solstice), liqiu (Beginning of Autumn), qiufen (Autumn Equinox), lidong (Beginning of Winter), and dongzhi (Winter Solstice). Changes in temperature are indicated by five solar terms: xiaoshu (Slight Heat), dashu (Great Heat), chushu (Limit of Heat), xiaohan (Slight Cold), and dahan (Great Cold). Changing weather conditions are indicated by seven solar terms: yushui (Rain Water), guyu (Grain Rain), bailu (White Dew), hanlu (Cold Dew), shuangjiang (Frost's Descent), xiaoxue (Slight Snow), and daxue (Great Snow). Recurring natural phenomena are indicated by four solar terms: jingzhe (Waking of Insects), qingming (Pure Brightness), xiaoman (Grain Full), and mangzhong (Grain in Ear).

The Chinese zodiac and the traditional Chinese calendar are closely interrelated. Ancient inscriptions on bones and tortoise shells indicate that the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac had been determined by the Xia-Shang period, with each animal linked to one of the twelve Earthly Branches. For instance, Rat corresponded to zi (the first Earthly Branch), Ox corresponded to chou (the second Earthly Branch), etc. By the time of the Southern and Northern Dynasties, the order of the twelve animals had been finalized, with each animal representing one year of the twelve-year cycle of Earthly Branches. During this time, the Animal Years started to be used to indicate the year in which a person was born. The final order of the Earthly Branch-Animal combinations was as follows: zishu (First Rat), chouniu (Second Ox), yinhu (Third Tiger), maotu (Fourth Rabbit), chenlong (Fifth Dragon), sishe (Sixth Snake), wuma (Seventh Horse), weiyang (Eighth Sheep), shenhou (Ninth Monkey), youji (Tenth Rooster), xugou (Eleventh Dog), and haizhu (Twelfth Pig).

The first day of the lunar year is Spring Festival, or Lunar New Year's Day. Each year of the twelve-year cycle of Earthly Branches is generally referred to by its representative animal, with Lunar New Year's Day marking the start of each Animal Year. For instance, 2004 is the Year of the Monkey, the year jiashen according to the numbering of the traditional Chinese calendar. The Year of the Monkey ends on February 8, 2004 (the 30th day of the 12th lunar month of the year jiashen). The following day, Lunar New Year's Day, marks the start of the year yiyou, the Year of the Rooster.

.Sayings About Rat

A little mouse ran up a lamp

to steal some oil and couldn't get down

It squeaked for its grandma

But she wouldn't come

So down it fell, clattering all the way

The lively and loveable mouse in this Beijing nursery rhyme is a great favorite of Chinese children. It is said that every year around the Lunar New Year, the mice send their daughters off to get married. A traditional New Year's painting from Sichuan Province, "Mouse Takes a Wife," shows a great wedding procession of mice banging gongs and hitting drums. The mouse bride rides in a traditional bridal sedan chair, while the mouse groom sits astride a toad, decked out in red and green finery with a big smile on his face. A crowd of excited mouse friends surrounds them, cheering and hugging each other and adding their delight to the festive New Year's occasion.

The characteristic behavior and appearance of mice and rats have given rise to many expressive Chinese idioms. The belief that mice have poor eyesight is the basis of the expression "A mouse can't see past its whiskers," describing a person with a limited outlook. "Rat belly, chicken guts" is a metaphor for someone who is intolerant and narrow-minded. Imagine the discomfort of a rat stuck inside a bellows, buffeted by air being sucked in from one end and expelled out the other. People who have to resolve conflicting complaints often refer to this image, wryly saying that they are "Trapped like a rat in a bellows, catching flak from both ends."

It can be seen that Rat, although first in the Chinese zodiac, can be an object of scorn as well as admiration.

. Characteristics of Rat

The characteristics attributed to Rat are similar to those of Aquarius in the Western zodiac. Rats are sensitive, resourceful, and adaptable. People born in the Year of the Rat are kind, curious, and quick-witted by nature. They are good at seizing opportunity and can easily master a wide range of subjects. These qualities, along with their innate optimism, make them very lovable. Women born in the Year of the Rat are very clean and neat, and create meticulously organized domestic environments.

However, people born in the Year of the Rat also tend to be rather timid and lacking in leadership qualities. They generally do not have the forcefulness to serve as authority figures.

.Perpetual Calendar for the Year of the Rat

People whose birthdays fall during the following periods are born in the Year of the Rat:

February 05, 1924 - January 23, 1925
January 24, 1936 - February 10, 1937
February 10, 1948 - January 28, 1949
January 28, 1960 - February 14, 1961
February 15, 1972 - February 02, 1973
February 02, 1984 - February 19, 1985
February 19, 1996 - February 06, 1997
February 07, 2008 - January 25, 2009

The first date indicates Lunar New Year's Day. The second date indicates the last day of the lunar year.

. Sayings About Ox

China's traditional agricultural society holds cattle in high esteem. Regrettably, Rat beat out Ox for the leading position in the Chinese zodiac, leaving Ox in second place. People love and appreciate cattle because they produce milk on nothing but grass, labor tirelessly, and bear burdens willingly. It is believed that Ox's great strength can empower the small and weak, so the idiom "possessing the spirit of an ox" is used as a metaphor for a person who is strong and determined. On the other hand, the phrase "blowing cow" is used to describe a person who is full of hot air.

The sad and beautiful tale of the Cowherd and the Weaver Maid is familiar throughout China. The Weaver Maid, daughter of the goddess Wangmu Niangniang, fell in love with a mortal cowherd, and they married and had two children in the human world. He farmed the land and she wove cloth, and together they lived in harmony, depending on each other for everything. But their happiness was not to last. Their little family was torn apart when Wangmu Niangniang cast them into the heavens, with the Milky Way forming an impassable barrier between them. Ever since, they can only meet once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. For the duration of this one night, heavenly magpies form a bridge across the Milky Way, allowing the Cowherd and their children to cross over and be reunited with the Weaver Maid.

. Characteristics of Ox

Like the diligent and earnest ox, people born in the Year of the Ox are enterprising, cautious, and sure-footed by nature. They carefully consider the consequences of their actions, stand by their convictions, and have great endurance and patience. People born in the Year of the Ox attach great importance to both work and home, are conservative, and respect tradition. Capricorn is the Western zodiac sign that corresponds to Ox.

People born in the Year of the Ox can also be bull-headed and stubborn, and are not particularly good at social interaction.

. Perpetual Calendar for the Year of the Ox

People whose birthdays fall during the following periods are born in the Year of the Ox:

January 25, 1925 - February 12, 1926
February 11, 1937 - January 30, 1938
January 29, 1949 - February 16, 1950
February 15, 1961 - February 04, 1962
February 03, 1973 - January 22, 1974
February 20, 1985 - February 08, 1986
February 07, 1997 - January 27, 1998
January 26, 2009 - February 13, 2010

The first date indicates Lunar New Year's Day. The second date indicates the last day of the lunar year.

. Sayings About Tiger

.The tiger is the King of Beasts, respected by humans and animals alike for its power and dignity. Tiger holds third place in the Chinese zodiac. During the Han Dynasty, people put images of tigers on their doorways to ward off misfortune. It is still customary in many rural areas to dress infants in tiger shoes decorated with endearing cloth tiger heads.

People's fear of tigers gave rise to the folk saying "Don't pat a tiger on the ass," meaning "Don't go looking for trouble." The saying "You can't capture a tiger's cub without entering the tiger's den" indicates that success cannot be achieved without great risk and effort.

. Characteristics of Tiger

Tiger is the fiercest of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. Tiger corresponds to Sagittarius in the Western zodiac. People born in the Year of the Tiger are strong and self-confident by nature, and tend to be risk-takers. They thrive on challenge and hate to defer to others, preferring to be in charge. Like the tiger, they convey an air of calm dignity, and will not rest until they achieve their goals.

People born in the Year of the Tiger tend to be overconfident, and have difficulty communicating effectively. They often go to extremes, and although they may have numerous acquaintences, they find it difficult to form deep friendships.

. Perpetual Calendar for the Year of the Tiger

People whose birthdays fall during the following periods are born in the Year of the Tiger:

February 13, 1926 - February 01, 1927
January 31, 1938 - February 18, 1939
February 17, 1950 - February 05, 1951
February 05, 1962 - January 24, 1963
January 23, 1974 - February 10, 1975
February 09, 1986 - January 28, 1987
January 28, 1998 - February 15, 1999
February 14, 2010 - February 02, 2011

The first date indicates Lunar New Year's Day. The second date indicates the last day of the lunar year.

People born in the Year of the Rabbit are careful and prudent by nature. They prefer to have a calm and stable love life. They have a highly developed sense of aesthetics, and create beautifully arranged and furnished homes. Like the docile rabbit, people born in the Year of the Rabbit are gentle and compassionate, and always willing to help others. They are outstanding workers, although they don't always stick to their opinions. Rabbit corresponds to Scorpio in the Western zodiac.

People born in the Year of the Rabbit are often overcautious. They are unwilling to reveal their true feelings, and tend towards escapism. Due to their gentle and accomodating nature, they easily fall into emotional entanglements.

. Perpetual Calendar for the Year of the Rabbit

People whose birthdays fall during the following periods are born in the Year of the Rabbit:

February 02, 1927 - January 22, 1928
February 19, 1939 - February 07,1940
February 06, 1951 - January 26, 1952
January 25, 1963 - February 12, 1964
February 11, 1975 - January 30, 1976
January 29, 1987 - February 16, 1988
February 16, 1999 - February 04, 2000
February 03, 2011 - January 22, 2012

The first date indicates Lunar New Year's Day. The second date indicates the last day of the lunar year.

. Sayings About Rabbit

Rabbit comes fourth in the Chinese zodiac. People love rabbits for their cleverness, agility, and charm. In traditional Chinese culture, Jade Rabbit is another name for the moon. On Mid-Autumn Festival, the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month, Chinese people spend the night enjoying the full moon, hoping for a glimpse of the moon goddess Chang'e and her companion, Jade Rabbit.

There are many interesting sayings concerning rabbits. "Quick as a fleeing bunny" describes great agility, while "A wily rabbit has three burrows" describes someone who has more than one line of retreat prepared, or who can flexibly resolve complex situations. The rabbit and fox are both considered to be smart and resourceful, so the saying "When the rabbit dies, the fox grieves" describes the bond between opponents who are also kindred spirits.

. Sayings About Dragon

Dragon is the only animal in the Chinese zodiac that does not exist in the natural world. Despite this, the dragon is one of the most revered symbols of the Chinese people. In traditional Chinese culture, the dragon symbolizes imperial power and high status, as well as good fortune and success. According to ancient legend, the Yellow Emperor and the Yan Emperor, the ancestors of the Chinese people, were Sons of the Dragon. The Chinese people are therefore called "Descendants of the Dragon."

An old story relates that Ye Gao was a high official who loved dragons. His clothing and home were all decorated with images of dragons. The Heavenly Dragon heard about this and came to pay Ye Gao a visit, but faced with an actual dragon, Ye was terrified and fled. As a result, the saying "Lord Ye loves dragons" is used to describe someone who insincerely professes affection for something. Another saying, "Dotting the eyes on a painted dragon," refers to providing the finishing touch to a work of art or literature, and thus bringing it to life.

Dragon comes fifth in the Chinese zodiac.

. Characteristics of Dragon

Dragon is the only animal in the Chinese zodiac that does not exist in the natural world. Dragon corresponds to Libra in the Western zodiac. People born in the Year of the Dragon are physically vigorous and full of energy. They are highly ambitious, and do not easily admit defeat. Their intense sense of self leads them to strive for perfection in all things and to be quite concerned with their public image.

Due to their constant pursuit of perfection, people born in the Year of the Dragon may be rather irascible. They expect a lot from others, and tend to be intolerant. They are easily frustrated and lacking in tenacity, and prefer to retreat rather than risk failure. 

. Perpetual Calendar for the Year of the Dragon

People whose birthdays fall during the following periods are born in the Year of the Dragon:

February 03, 1916 - January 22, 1917
January 23, 1928 - February 09, 1929
February 08, 1940 - January 26, 1941
January 27, 1952 - February 13, 1953
February 13, 1964 - February 01, 1965
January 31, 1976 - February 17, 1977
February 17, 1988 - February 05, 1989
February 05, 2000 - January 23, 2001
January 23, 2012 - February 09, 2013

The first date indicates Lunar New Year's Day. The second date indicates the last day of the lunar year.

. Sayings About Snake

Snake, sixth in the Chinese zodiac, is often respectfully referred to as "Little Dragon." This is because the mythical figure of the dragon is said to have originally been modeled on the snake. According to one Chinese legend, Fu Xi, the Descendant of the Dragon, and Nv Wa, the Descendant of the Snake, were the original father and mother of the Chinese people.

The traditional Chinese opera The Legend of White Snake tells the story of Bai Shejing, a magical snake who was able to transform herself into a beautiful woman named Bai Niangzi. Despite her great supernatural powers, Bai Niangzi was gentle and beautiful, and yearned for the freedom of human love. One day, she and her handmaiden Xiao Qing (originally a snake named Qing Shejing) were walking along the banks of West Lake in their human forms, when they encountered the scholar Xu Xian. Bai Niangzi and Xu Xian fell deeply in love. Although they encountered many obstacles, and Bai Niangzi was imprisoned for many years under Leifeng Pagoda, she never wavered in her love.

People tend to be afraid of snakes, as reflected in the saying "Bit once by a snake, scared by a piece of rope for ten years." "Insatiable as a snake swallowing an elephant" describes extreme greed. "Adding feet to a drawing of a snake" means ruining something with superfluous additions.

. Characteristics of Snake

Clever and adaptable Snake is the only coldblooded animal in the Chinese zodiac. Snake corresponds to Virgo in the Western zodiac. People born in the Year of the Snake are cool and collected by nature. They are eloquent and tenacious, inspired and resourceful, and are unwilling to accept defeat.

However, people born in the Year of the Snake also tend to be self-important and suspicious, and need to work on cooperating with others. They have a vulnerable side to their personality, and can be easily hurt emotionally.

. Perpetual Calendar for the Year of the Snake

People whose birthdays fall during the following periods are born in the Year of the Snake:

January 23, 1917 - February 10, 1918
February 10, 1929 - January 29, 1930
January 27, 1941 - February 14, 1942
February 14, 1953 - February 02, 1954
February 02, 1965 - January 20, 1966
February 18, 1977 - February 06, 1978
February 06, 1989 - January 26, 1990
January 24, 2001 - February 11, 2002
February 10, 2013 - January 30, 2014

The first date indicates Lunar New Year's Day. The second date indicates the last day of the lunar year.

. Sayings About Horse

Throughout the ages, Chinese people have loved horses. There is even a Chinese deity called "Dragon-Horse" that is part horse and part dragon. The phrase "Dragon-horse spirit" describes the Chinese people's continual quest for self-improvement. The image of a spirited horse running free symbolizes ease and success, so the saying "The horse arrives and success is achieved" refers to speedy victory. The saying "One horse leads the herd" describes great initiative. "Ten thousand horses surging forward" describes a glorious and dynamic spectacle. The saying "A horse's strength is revealed on a long journey" means that a person's true capabilities, like a horse's stamina, are demonstrated best when they are tested under arduous conditions. Bo Le was an ancient Chinese connoisseur of fine horses, whose name is used today to describe someone who is proficient at recognizing human talent and ability. "Artillery lags behind cavalry," a term from Chinese chess, is used to describe effort that comes too late to do any good.

Horse is the seventh of the twelve Animal Years of the Chinese zodiac.

. Characteristics of Horse

Horse corresponds to Leo in the Western zodiac. Like a beautiful and spirited horse running free, people born in the Year of the Horse are optimistic and outgoing, always moving forward. They are indomitable by nature, and nothing will stop them from reaching their goals. People born in the Year of the Horse are snappy dressers, and like to look their best.

People born in the Year of the Horse are often short-tempered, and do not easily accept advice from others. They tend to be insufficiently thrifty in their lifestyle, and often are overly concerned with reputation and surface appearances.

. Perpetual Calendar for the Year of the Horse

People whose birthdays fall during the following periods are born in the Year of the Horse:

February 11, 1918 - January 31, 1919
January 30, 1930 - February 16, 1931
February 15, 1942 - February 04, 1943
February 03, 1954 - January 23, 1955
January 21, 1966 - February 08, 1967
February 07, 1978 - January 27, 1979
January 27, 1990 - February 14, 1991
February 12, 2002 - January 31, 2003
January 31, 2014 - February 18, 2015

The first date indicates Lunar New Year's Day. The second date indicates the last day of the lunar year.

. Sayings About Sheep 

The sky is blue, the land is vast

The wind blows, the grass lies flat

Revealing cows and sheep

Sheep comes eighth in the Chinese zodiac. Sheep are docile and benevolent, and many auspicious Chinese characters, such as "善" shan (kindness), "美" mei (beauty), "祥" xiang (luck), and "鲜" xian (brightness), include the component "羊" yang (sheep). The sheep is the symbol of Guangdong, one of the largest cities in southern China, which is also known as Yangcheng (Sheep City).

The sheep symbolized justice in ancient China. Legend has it that a type of divine sheep called xiezhi was able to recognize wrongdoers, and would gore them in punishment. Consequently, judges in the ancient State of Chu (present-day Hubei Province) wore an image of the xiezhi on their hats as a symbol of impartiality.

. Characteristics of Sheep

Docile Sheep corresponds to Cancer in the Western zodiac. According to some legends, it is relatively inauspicious to be born in the Year of the Sheep, but this prejudice is unwarranted. People born in the Year of the Sheep are meticulous and considerate by nature, and are able to find appropriate ways to deal with any situation. They are steadfast and unafraid of hardship, and understand the value of thrift.

However, people born in the Year of the Sheep can be self-absorbed and obstinate, while also timid and irresolute. They are attracted to the mysterious, and prefer to resign themselves to fate rather than struggle to overcome it. Women born in the Year of the Sheep are kindhearted and supportive, and are ideal domestic partners.

. Perpetual Calendar for the Year of the Sheep

People whose birthdays fall during the following periods are born in the Year of the Sheep:

February 01, 1919 - February 19, 1920
February 17, 1931 - February 05, 1932
February 05, 1943 - January 24, 1944
January 24, 1955 - February 11, 1956
February 09, 1967 - January 29, 1968
January 28, 1979 - February 15, 1980
February 15, 1991 - February 03, 1992
February 01, 2003 - January 21, 2004
February 19, 2015 - February 07, 2016

The first date indicates Lunar New Year's Day. The second date indicates the last day of the lunar year.

. Sayings About Monkey

Although ninth in the Chinese zodiac, Monkey is first in terms of wit and agility. Sun Wukong, the monkey spirit in the classical Chinese novel Journey to the West, is a magical character who can leap 108,000 li in a single bound and transform himself into 72 different forms. He even dares to challenge the Jade Emperor of Heaven. After proclaiming his commitment to Buddhism, Sun Wukong accompanies the monk Tang Seng on his journey to seek the original Buddhist scriptures in the Western Lands (present-day India) and return with them to China. He steadfastly protects Tang Seng along the way, vanquishing numerous demons and monsters. Sun Wukong is a beloved folk hero of the Chinese people.

Despite their intelligence, monkeys can still be tricked on occasion. The Chinese philosophical classic Zhuangzi tells the story of a man who gathered acorns to feed his monkeys. He told them that they would each get three acorns in the morning and four in the evening. The monkeys got very upset when they heard this. The man then told them that instead, he would give them each four acorns in the morning and three in the evening, and the monkeys all cheered up. This story originally was taken to mean that intelligent people are creative and foolish people are clueless, and later became a metaphor for capricious behavior. Another popular saying concerning monkeys is "When the tree falls, the monkeys run away." This means that when powerful people fall from power, their hangers-on are left without support and will rapidly disperse.

. Characteristics of Monkey

Monkey is the cleverest of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. Monkey corresponds to Gemini in the Western zodiac. People born in the Year of the Monkey are brave and resourceful, energetic and competitive, and enjoy novelty. They have a great thirst for knowledge and astonishing powers of recall. Their eloquence and sensitivity enable them to easily win the trust of others.

However, people born in the Year of the Monkey love to exaggerate and can be quite capricious. Due to their highly playful nature, they tend to be flighty and impetuous.

. Perpetual Calendar for the Year of the Monkey

People whose birthdays fall during the following periods are born in the Year of the Monkey:

February 20, 1920 - February 07, 1921
February 06, 1932 - January 25, 1933
January 25, 1944 - February 12, 1945
February 12, 1956 - January 30, 1957
January 30, 1968 - February 16, 1969
February 16, 1980 - February 04, 1981
February 04, 1992 - January 22, 1993
January 22, 2004 - February 08, 2005
February 08, 2016 - January 27, 2017

The first date indicates Lunar New Year's Day. The second date indicates the last day of the lunar year.

. Sayings About Rooster

Rooster, the tenth of the twelve Animal Years, is the only domestic fowl in the Chinese zodiac. In agricultural societies, the rooster has the important task of announcing the dawn. A story from the Eastern Jin Dynasty tells about Zu Ti and Liu Kun, two good friends who often exhorted each other to rise at cockcrow to practice their sword dancing. The phrase "Getting up to dance at cockcrow" later came to describe people of high ideals who do not delay in striving for self-improvement. The saying "A crane among chickens" describes people who stand out in the crowd due to their exceptional talent or appearance.

In the past, when a letter had to be delivered at top speed, it was customary to attach up to three chicken feathers to the envelope. The more feathers were attached, the more important the message. As a result, urgent missives came to be known as "chicken feather letters."

. Characteristics of Rooster

People born in the Year of the Rooster enjoy dressing up, especially in unusual styles, and have a unique sense of color. They are excellent debaters, and are extremely persuasive. They say what they think without holding anything back, and are very good at communicating. People born in the Year of the Rooster are highly disciplined and responsible, and dislike slackers. Rooster corresponds to Taurus in the Western zodiac.

People born in the Year of the Rooster are rather anxious by nature. The moment they are dissatisfied about something, they blurt it out, often disregarding the impact on others. This lack of discretion is their greatest social failing. They also need to guard against a tendency to be conceited.

. Perpetual Calendar for the Year of the Rooster

People whose birthdays fall during the following periods are born in the Year of the Rooster:

February 08, 1921 - January 27, 1922
January 26, 1933 - February 13, 1934
February 13, 1945 - February 01, 1946
January 31, 1957 - February 17, 1958
February 17, 1969 - February 05, 1970
February 05, 1981 - January 24, 1982
January 23, 1993 - February 09, 1994
February 09, 2005 - January 28, 2006
January 28, 2017 - February 15, 2018

The first date indicates Lunar New Year's Day. The second date indicates the last day of the lunar year.

. Sayings About Dog

Dog follows Rooster as eleventh in the twelve Animal Years of the Chinese zodiac. Many Chinese sayings and proverbs link Rooster and Dog together. "Chickens fly and dogs flee" and "Neither fowl nor canine left in peace" both describe great turmoil and confusion. Dogs' loyalty and courage have made them humankind's best friend. The saying "To serve like a dog or horse" describes one person's great devotion to another. Of course, dogs can also have negative connotations. People who insist on consorting with evildoers are denounced as "dogs' legs" (lackies) or "friends of fox and dog" (a pack of rogues).

In ancient times, an eclipse of the moon was thought to occur when Celestial Dog, a demon who lived on the moon, swallowed the moon. People would turn out to bang gongs and beat drums to intimidate Celestial Dog into spitting out the moon.

. Characteristics of Dog

The characteristics attributed to Dog are identical to those of Aries in the Western zodiac. Dogs are humankind's most faithful friend. People born in the Year of the Dog are very strong-willed, and will stick to their guns as long as they believe they are right. They are extremely loyal in friendship and love, and would rather suffer themselves than hurt others. They will not engage in dishonorable actions for their own benefit.

People born in the Year of the Dog tend to emotional highs and lows, and are easily upset. They also can be overly critical of others.

. Perpetual Calendar for the Year of the Dog

People whose birthdays fall during the following periods are born in the Year of the Dog:

January 28, 1922 - February 15, 1923
February 14, 1934 - February 03, 1935
February 02, 1946 - January 21, 1947
February 18, 1958 - February 07, 1959
February 06, 1970 - January 26, 1971
January 25, 1982 - February 12, 1983
February 10, 1994 - January 30, 1995
January 29, 2006 - February 17, 2007

The first date indicates Lunar New Year's Day. The second date indicates the last day of the lunar year.

. Sayings About Pig

Pig, although the last of the twelve Animal Years of the Chinese zodiac, is often a symbol of good luck. This is because in the past, people considered the pig, with its fat head and big ears, to exemplify abundance. Plump and rotund, the pig has a simple and honest appearance. The Chinese folk saying "A fat pig at the door" equates the pig with the arrival of good luck and happiness. Interestingly, the Chinese character "家" jia (home) is made up of the components "宀" (roof) and "豕 " (pig), indicating that in ancient times, a house was not considered a home without a pig in it. A pig is slaughtered as soon as it is fattened up. This gave rise to the saying "People fear getting famous, pigs fear getting fat," indicating that fame and success can bring more trouble than they're worth.

China's most famous pig is Zhu Bajie, a supernatural character in the classical novel Journey to the West. Zhu Bajie, along with the monkey spirit Sun Wukong and their other companions, is a member of the company that escorts the monk Tang Seng on his journey to India to retrieve the Buddhist scriptures. Although he appears to be gluttonous, lazy, and lecherous, in reality Zhu Bajie is extremely kindhearted and honest, and is greatly loved by the Chinese people.

 . Characteristics of Pig

People born in the Year of the Pig are optimists by nature. They have good luck with money, and can make a living relatively effortlessly. People born in the Year of the Pig are honest and upright. They are extremely generous with their friends, and don't haggle over pennies. Women born in the Year of the Pig are ideal domestic partners, and are very good at managing their households. Pig corresponds to Pisces in the Western zodiac.

People born in the Year of the Pig are very kindhearted, but due to their overly trusting nature they can easily be deceived. They love ease and pleasure, and can be lazy and unmotivated.

.  Perpetual Calendar for the Year of the Pig

People whose birthdays fall during the following periods are born in the Year of the Pig:

February 16, 1923 - February 04, 1924
February 04, 1935 - January 23, 1936
January 22, 1947 - February 09, 1948
February 08, 1959 - January 27, 1960
January 27, 1971 - February 14, 1972
February 13, 1983 - February 01, 1984
January 31, 1995 - February 18, 1996
January 18, 2007 - February 06, 2008

The first date indicates Lunar New Year's Day. The second date indicates the last day of the lunar year.

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