Chinese Star Signs

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A star sign is one of 12 equal areas into which the zodiac is divided. Unlike the western star signs that are based on a single month in a year, Chinese star signs are based on the Chinese lular calendar and each year is entirely devoted to a single astrological sign. The month of the year does not matter.

Chinese astrological signs are assigned to 12 animals. To find out your Chinese sign, here is a Chinese zodiac chart.

Though the year itself dictates to which sign all individuals born in that year are assigned, the year is in the sense of a Chinese year, not a Gregorian year. For example, babies born in 2011 have rabbit as their signs in general, but for babies born before February 3rd, they would be a Tiger instead of being a Rabbit because Rabbit year starts on February 3rd for 2011 according to the Chinese lunar calendar, and February 3rd is Chinese New Year's Day for this year.

Here are more information about Chinese New Year. If you want to know which days are New Year's days after 2011, here is a Chiense New Year Calendar.

The 12 Chinese zodiac signs with their representive animals are the following. The names are listed according their order:

1. Rat
2. Ox
3. Tiger
4. Rabbit
5. Dragon
6. Snake
7. Horse
8. Goat
9. Monkey
10. Rooster
11. Dog
12. Pig

The Chinese lunar calendar dates back to 2637 B.C. and comprises five cycles of twelve years each, with a complete cycle lasting sixty years. During the sixty year cycle, each animal is combined with five Chinese elements:

• metal
• wood
• water
• Fire
• earth

To determine which sign belongs to you, check out the Chinese zodiac chart to find out your Chinese year animal and which element is associated with your birth year. You'll find the personality traits there too.

While many people treat sharing their personality traits with their Chinese zodiac animal as something fun and entertaining, some others take it seriously.

Chinese Zodiac Symbols

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