The Circle of Life

Interesting Facts About the Chinese Zodiac

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As we welcome and celebrate the Chinese New Year, many discussions inevitably turn to the fortunes of the various animal signs of the Chinese zodiac in the coming year. There may be people asking: would the Dragons soar in the coming year, or would the Pigs stagnate? And how should the Snakes avoid suffering in their Natal Year?

If all of these questions sound alien to you, there are probably a lot more things you may not know about the ancient Chinese zodiac. This is not unusual. Some folks may struggle to name the order in which the zodiac animals are arranged. In fact, there may even be people who struggle to name the twelve animals in the zodiac. So, during this traditional time of celebration with our family and friends, let us get reacquainted with the Chinese zodiac - a quintessential part of Chinese culture and heritage.

BASIC FACTS

The Chinese zodiac is called Sheng Xiao in Chinese. The earliest records of this ancient system date back to the Qin Dynasty, circa 221-206 BC, but it is believed that the system was invented way before then. There are 12 signs in the zodiac, each represented by an animal. In order, they are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. It is a 12-year recurring cycle, wherein each year is represented by one of these 12 animals in the above running order. For instance, 2024 was the Year of the Dragon, while 2025 is the Year of the Snake. One peculiar fact many may not know about the Chinese zodiac is that in Vietnam, the Cat takes the place of the Rabbit.