Eastern Astrology Signs: The 12 Chinese Zodiac Animals, Plus the Eastern Astrology Language Reading
Eastern astrology signs explained: the 12 animals in order, how to find yours, and how the Eastern Astrology Language Reading turns your sign into a chart.
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- Strong Health Tips Editorial Team
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- 9 min read
Affiliate disclosure: this review contains links to the official Eastern Astrology Language Reading website. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change our assessment. Details.
The Eastern astrology signs are the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. Each animal stands for one year in a repeating 12-year cycle, and the animal for the year you were born is your sign. This guide gives the order, shows how to work out your own animal (including the January and February catch) and lists the traits tradition attaches to each one. If you want to go deeper than one animal, it also shows how the Eastern Astrology Language Reading builds a personal chart from your birth date, starting with a free quiz.
Beyond your animal
Start your free Eastern Astrology Language Reading and see your first chart in about a minute.
Nine quick questions, a first reading on screen, and an optional full chart by email.
Start your free readingThe 12 animals and their order
The order is fixed. Counting from the Rat, the animals run Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig, and then the Rat comes round again. The Goat is also called the Sheep, and some regions use Ram, so you will see all three names.
A popular folk story explains the order as a race. The Jade Emperor invited the animals to a race across a river, and the first twelve to arrive gave their names to the years. In the usual telling the clever Rat rode on the Ox’s back and jumped ahead at the finish, which is why the Rat leads. It is a tale told to children, and it is a big part of why people love the order.
Each animal is also assigned yin or yang, alternating along the cycle. Rat, Tiger, Dragon, Horse, Monkey and Dog are yang. Ox, Rabbit, Snake, Goat, Rooster and Pig are yin. Yin and yang are the traditional pair of complementary qualities: yin is linked with the quiet and receptive side, yang with the active and outward side.
How to find your year sign
Because the cycle repeats every 12 years, you can work out any animal with simple arithmetic. Take the year of birth, subtract 4, divide by 12 and look at the remainder:
| Remainder | Sign | Birth years in this sequence |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Rat | 1996, 2008, 2020 |
| 1 | Ox | 1997, 2009, 2021 |
| 2 | Tiger | 1998, 2010, 2022 |
| 3 | Rabbit | 1999, 2011, 2023 |
| 4 | Dragon | 2000, 2012, 2024 |
| 5 | Snake | 2001, 2013, 2025 |
| 6 | Horse | 2002, 2014, 2026 |
| 7 | Goat | 2003, 2015, 2027 |
| 8 | Monkey | 2004, 2016, 2028 |
| 9 | Rooster | 2005, 2017, 2029 |
| 10 | Dog | 2006, 2018, 2030 |
| 11 | Pig | 2007, 2019, 2031 |
Try it with 2020. Subtract 4 to get 2016, divide by 12 to get exactly 168, so the remainder is 0 and the animal is the Rat. Try 2026: 2022 divided by 12 leaves a remainder of 6, which is the Horse.
The Lunar New Year catch
The table works for the calendar year, but the Chinese year does not start on 1 January. It starts at Lunar New Year, which moves from year to year and falls between about 21 January and 20 February. If you were born in January or February, the rule above can give the wrong animal.
Here is an example. Lunar New Year in 2000 fell on 5 February. Someone born on 20 January 2000 belongs to the previous animal, the Rabbit of 1999. Someone born on 10 February 2000 is a Dragon. Look up the Lunar New Year date for your birth year and compare it with your birthday.
There is a second wrinkle. Many practitioners of BaZi, the “four pillars” method, change the year at the Start of Spring, around 4 February, instead of at Lunar New Year. So a person born in early February can get two different answers from two sources. Neither is a mistake. They are two conventions, and it is worth knowing which one a chart or reading is using.
What tradition says about each sign
The traits below are the ones commonly given in popular Chinese zodiac lore. Plenty of people find the picture of their own animal amusing, flattering or spot on, and comparing notes with friends is half the fun.
| Sign | Traits tradition gives it |
|---|---|
| Rat | Quick-witted, resourceful, adaptable |
| Ox | Diligent, steady, dependable |
| Tiger | Brave, competitive, energetic |
| Rabbit | Gentle, careful, diplomatic |
| Dragon | Confident, ambitious, charismatic |
| Snake | Thoughtful, private, analytical |
| Horse | Lively, independent, sociable |
| Goat | Gentle, creative, easygoing |
| Monkey | Clever, playful, inventive |
| Rooster | Observant, hardworking, punctual |
| Dog | Loyal, honest, protective |
| Pig | Generous, relaxed, warm-hearted |
The element and the 60-year cycle
The animal is only half of a year’s label. Each year also carries one of five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal or Water. Twelve animals and five elements, paired with yin and yang, repeat every 60 years. You can read the element from the last digit of the year:
- Ending in 0 or 1: Metal
- Ending in 2 or 3: Water
- Ending in 4 or 5: Wood
- Ending in 6 or 7: Fire
- Ending in 8 or 9: Earth
So 2020 was a Metal Rat year and 2026 is a Fire Horse year. If you want to see how the elements fit into a full chart, our guide to the four pillars and the elements goes further.
Customs that make the zodiac fun
The zodiac does real cultural work. It gives families a shared way to talk about age, since asking someone’s animal is a polite way to place them in a generation. It decorates Lunar New Year, when each year’s animal appears on cards, lanterns and stamps. And the year of your own animal, the benmingnian, comes round every 12 years. Tradition treats it as a year for extra care, and many people wear something red during it.
You can enjoy all of that as culture, stories and conversation, and plenty of people also use their animal as a gentle prompt to think about their own strengths and goals.
Take your sign further with the Eastern Astrology Language Reading
Your animal is a lovely starting point, and it is only one piece of an Eastern chart. The Eastern Astrology Language Reading is a personal reading built from your birth date and your quiz answers. The seller describes it as drawing on your zodiac animal and element, the BaZi “four pillars” idea and named “stars” such as the Wealth Star and the Peach Blossom Star, and it is designed for people who enjoy exploring their own chart.
Here is how it works:
- Take the free quiz. Nine short questions, with your first name, email and birth date.
- See your first reading. It appears on the page, with your animal, your element and a few themes.
- Choose Essential or VIP if you want the full chart.
- Receive it by email. The seller describes a 50+ page chart.
| Essential | VIP | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $19 | $47 (the seller’s regular price is $97) |
| Delivery | Email, 48 to 72 hours | Email, 12 hours |
| Extras | Two optional add-ons | Three bonuses, priority support, personal review per the seller |
The VIP bonuses are The Bad Energy Clearing Kit ($67), Your Soulmate Compatibility Map ($47) and Morning Energy Activation Audio ($33), at the values the seller states. Tax or local currency is added at checkout.
The fuller version
Claim the VIP Eastern Astrology Language Reading for $47, against the seller’s regular $97.
Three bonuses, 12-hour delivery and priority support.
Claim the VIP readingTry it with 60 days behind you
The strongest reason to give it a go is the guarantee. The Eastern Astrology Language Reading is sold through ClickBank with a 60-day money-back guarantee under the seller’s Terms and the ClickBank checkout. Read your chart, see whether it speaks to you, and if it is not for you, ask for a refund at [email protected] or through ClickBank. Order only through the official route, keep your receipt and avoid copycat sites. For general tips on buying online, the FTC has a short plain-English guide.
Who will enjoy it
The Eastern Astrology Language Reading suits you if you:
- Enjoy astrology and are curious about your Chinese zodiac animal and element.
- Like a personal, reflective read on love, money, timing or purpose.
- Want a thoughtful gift or a conversation starter for Lunar New Year.
- Prefer a low price of entry, from $19, with a free quiz to try first and a guarantee behind it.
Your animal, your element
Get your Eastern Astrology Language Reading and see what your chart says.
Essential $19. VIP $47. 60-day money-back guarantee through ClickBank.
Get your Eastern chartThe short version
The Chinese zodiac has 12 animals in a fixed order, and you can find yours with one line of arithmetic once you have checked the Lunar New Year date. Enjoy the traits, share them at Lunar New Year, and if you would like a personal chart to go with your animal, the free quiz is an easy first step. We are independent, we are not the seller, and we may earn a commission if you use our links.
Good to know
- It is a digital reading delivered by email. The seller says readings are created from your details using astrological calculations and software, for entertainment and personal reflection.
- Results and experiences vary. Astrology is not a substitute for professional, medical or financial advice.
- The quiz asks for your name, email and birth date and needs the email box ticked to continue; you can unsubscribe from the emails at any time.
Ready when you are
Start the Eastern Astrology Language Reading with the free quiz, then choose what suits you.
$19 or $47 one-time, plus tax. 60-day money-back guarantee.
Related reading
Questions people ask
How can I go beyond my animal with the Eastern Astrology Language Reading?
The Eastern Astrology Language Reading starts with a free 9-question quiz and shows your first reading on screen. If you want more, Essential ($19) and VIP ($47, against the seller's regular $97) deliver a 50+ page chart by email, with a 60-day money-back guarantee through ClickBank.
How many signs are there in the Chinese zodiac?
There are 12 animal signs, one for each year of a 12-year cycle: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat (also called Sheep), Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. The order never changes.
How do I find my Chinese zodiac animal?
Subtract 4 from your birth year, divide by 12 and look at the remainder: 0 is Rat, 1 Ox, 2 Tiger, 3 Rabbit, 4 Dragon, 5 Snake, 6 Horse, 7 Goat, 8 Monkey, 9 Rooster, 10 Dog and 11 Pig. If you were born in January or February, check the Lunar New Year date for your birth year first.
Why is my sign different from what I expected?
Most likely you were born in January or early February. The Chinese year starts at Lunar New Year, which falls between about 21 January and 20 February, so someone born before that date belongs to the previous animal.
What does the element next to my animal mean?
Each year also carries one of five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal or Water) and a yin or yang quality. Together with the animal they repeat every 60 years, so 2026 is a Fire Horse year.
What is a benmingnian?
It is the Chinese name for the year of your own zodiac animal, which comes round every 12 years. Tradition treats it as a year needing extra care, and many people wear something red during it as a custom.
Do I need to pay to know my sign?
No. Your animal comes from your birth year and the rule above, with no payment or personal details. A personal reading is a separate, optional extra for people who want to go deeper.
Sources
Not medical advice. This guide is general information and does not replace a consultation with a qualified healthcare professional who knows your history. Full disclaimer.
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Strong Health Tips Editorial Team
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