The Chinese Astrological Zodiac

The Chinese zodiac is a traditional classification scheme based on the Chinese calendar that assigns an animal (Boar, Dog, Dragon, Goat, Horse, Monkey, Ox, Rabbit, Rat, Rooster, Snake, Tiger) and its reputed attributes to each year in a repeating twelve-year cycle. In traditional Chinese culture, the Chinese zodiac is very important and exists as a reflection of Chinese philosophy and culture. Chinese folkways held that one’s personality is related to the attributes of their zodiac animal. Originating from China, the zodiac and its variations remain popular in many East Asian and Southeast Asian countries, such as Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Nepal, Bhutan, Cambodia, and Thailand. 

The animals of the Chinese zodiac are not associated with constellations spanned by the ecliptic plane.  The Chinese twelve-part cycle corresponds to years, rather than months. The Chinese zodiac is calculated from the lunar calendar, which is based on astronomical observations of the longitude of the sun and the circularity of the moon. The Chinese zodiac is represented by twelve animals, whereas some of the signs in the Western zodiac are not animals, despite the implication of the etymology of the English word zodiac, which derives from zōdiacus, the Latinized form of the Ancient Greek zōdiakòs kýklos (ζῳδιακός κύκλος), meaning "cycle of animals".