The Twelve Animals of the Chinese Zodiac
One repeating order, twelve earthly branches, and many layers of cultural meaning. Use this page as a reference—not as a ranking or a personality test.
Reviewed
Looking for a year? Browse 1901–2100 with exact Lunar New Year boundaries.
Read the sequence before the symbolism
Each animal corresponds to one earthly branch and returns every twelve years. The branch is the calendrical sign; the animal is its familiar cultural counterpart. The order runs from Rat to Pig, then begins again.
The associations below summarize common popular traditions. They can vary between sources, places, and families. They are popular cultural associations, not personality facts about everyone born in a given year.
- 01
Rat
鼠 · Shǔ
- Earthly branch
- 子 Zǐ
- Popular association
- Adaptability and resourcefulness
- 02
Ox
牛 · Niú
- Earthly branch
- 丑 Chǒu
- Popular association
- Steadiness and diligence
- 03
Tiger
虎 · Hǔ
- Earthly branch
- 寅 Yín
- Popular association
- Courage and initiative
- 04
Rabbit
兔 · Tù
- Earthly branch
- 卯 Mǎo
- Popular association
- Sensitivity and diplomacy
- 05
Dragon
龙 · Lóng
- Earthly branch
- 辰 Chén
- Popular association
- Vitality and ambition
- 06
Snake
蛇 · Shé
- Earthly branch
- 巳 Sì
- Popular association
- Reflection and intuition
- 07
Horse
马 · Mǎ
- Earthly branch
- 午 Wǔ
- Popular association
- Energy and independence
- 08
Goat
羊 · Yáng
- Earthly branch
- 未 Wèi
- Popular association
- Gentleness and creativity
- 09
Monkey
猴 · Hóu
- Earthly branch
- 申 Shēn
- Popular association
- Curiosity and ingenuity
- 10
Rooster
鸡 · Jī
- Earthly branch
- 酉 Yǒu
- Popular association
- Candor and attentiveness
- 11
Dog
狗 · Gǒu
- Earthly branch
- 戌 Xū
- Popular association
- Loyalty and fairness
- 12
Pig
猪 · Zhū
- Earthly branch
- 亥 Hài
- Popular association
- Generosity and sincerity
Why Goat, Sheep, or Ram?
The eighth animal is 羊 (yáng), a Chinese word that can refer broadly to sheep and goats. English publications therefore use Goat, Sheep, or Ram. The translation changes; its eighth position and earthly branch 未 (Wèi) do not.
A different English label does not create a different zodiac sign.
A useful distinction
The zodiac can locate a year and carry traditional associations, but it cannot establish a person’s character, compatibility, ability, health, or future. Those claims go beyond what a calendar reference can tell us.
Sources & further reading
- The 12-Year Animal CycleHong Kong ObservatoryAccessed Find an archived copy
- Set of twelve zodiac animalsThe Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Celebrating the Year of the Rooster: the twelve-animal sequenceThe Metropolitan Museum of Art