Signs & Meanings of the Chinese Zodiac
There are 12 signs of the Chinese zodiac, with each representing a set of personality traits assigned to individuals born under a particular animal sign.
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History
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Chinese legend says the animals represented by the zodiac were invited to a race to decide their placement on the circular zodiac calendar. The 12 animals each represent one year, signifying the years in the lunar calendar.
Significance
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The Chinese zodiac chart is said to be able to determine an individual's personality traits and future.
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Function
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In China, the animals represented by the zodiac play key roles in Chinese folk tales, and the predictions made are used to determine courses of action in business, home life and love.
Features
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The signs are rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. The rat is clever, while the ox is steadfast. Tigers are leaders, rabbits are family-oriented, and dragons are energetic and lucky. Snakes are analytical, horses are self-reliant, and goats are thinkers. Monkeys love fun, while roosters are practical. Dogs are loyal and individuals born under the sign of the pig are perfectionists.
Misconceptions
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The 12 animals represent an individual's birth year. But for a true reading of the zodiac chart, the "inner" and "secret" animals also should be read, representing the month and hour of the person's birth.
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