The Chinese animal-year cycle has twelve animals, associated with the twelve earthly branches.
Animals in order#
Rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.
Read the calendar convention#
The Hong Kong Observatory explains the correspondence between animals and earthly branches. Use a dated calendar and check the convention before assigning an animal to a birth near a year boundary; a bare Gregorian year is not a complete date.
Symbolism and evidence#
A calendrical label does not establish a person’s character or predict a relationship. This introduction describes the cycle without claiming that an animal sign determines health, income or compatibility.