Chinese Zodiac

Twelve zodiac animals in a Chinese-inspired temple and mountain landscape: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.

The Chinese zodiac

The Chinese zodiac consists of twelve animals that take turns in a repeating twelve-year cycle. One widespread explanation is that these familiar animal images made the abstract calendar cycle vivid and easy to remember, including for people who could not read.

The Chinese calendar

The Chinese zodiac year does not automatically begin on January 1. The traditional Chinese calendar is lunisolar, combining lunar cycles with the solar year. Chinese New Year falls between January 21 and February 20, depending on the year. For births in January or February, the exact date of Chinese New Year is therefore essential.

The five elements

Alongside the twelve animal signs, Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water belong to the traditional system. The animal sign alone does not determine a person's element. Animal signs and elements are combined in a sixty-year cycle. People with the same animal sign can therefore be associated with different elements depending on their specific birth year.

Wood
Fire
Earth
Metal
Water

The Jade Emperor and the great race

According to legend, the Jade Emperor called the animals to a great race. The first twelve would receive a place in the zodiac. The Rat rode across the river on the Ox's back and jumped down just before the finish, arriving first. The Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig followed. Different traditions tell some details of the race differently.

Buddha and the farewell feast

According to another tradition, Buddha called all the animals to a farewell feast before leaving the earthly world. Only twelve answered his call. In gratitude, he dedicated a year to each in the order of their arrival: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. This story is also passed down in several versions.

Years & elements

People born under the Monkey sign are traditionally described as curious, quick-witted, and mentally agile. This symbolic portrait puts enjoyment of learning and experimentation in the foreground; it is not a fixed statement about individuals.

Strengths

Inventiveness, humor, and skill in approaching unfamiliar tasks shape the traditional image of the Monkey. Its symbolic strength lies in shifting perspectives and finding playful approaches to intricate questions.

As a talisman, the Monkey represents curious learning and original solutions. It is meant to recall the value of asking questions, changing perspectives, and giving personal ideas a useful form.

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