Chinese Zodiac Signs: History, Meaning, 12 Animals, Five Elements, Check Compatibility, Predictions for 2021

Jenny Barry January 10, 2021 | 21:18

What is Chinese Zodiac Signs: 2021 is the Year of the Ox according to Chinese zodiac. This is a Year of Metal Ox, starting from the 2021 Chinese New Year on Feb. 12 and lasting to 2022 Lunar New Year's Eve on Jan. 31.

Chinese Zodiac Signs: History, Meaning, 12 Animals, Five Elements, Check Compatibility, Predictions for 2021

Chinese Zodiac Signs: 12 Animals, Five Elements, Predictions for 2021 - Year of the Ox

What is Chinese Zodiac Signs

The Chinese zodiac, known as Sheng Xiao or Shu Xiang, features 12 animal signs in this order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. Originated from ancient zoolatry and boasting a history of more than 2,000 years, it plays an essential role in Chinese culture. The 12 Chinese zodiac animals in a cycle are not only used to represent years in China, but also believed to influence people’s personalities, career, compatibility, marriage, and fortune.

According to Oprahmag, there wasn’t really a line between what we consider astrology and the scientific study that we know as astronomy. Back then, “astrology was only used in the divination of collective fortunes—those of the community, the state, or the agricultural year.” According to Thompson (authors Gerry Maguire Thompson and Shuen-Lian Hsaio write in The Guide to Chinese Horoscopes), personal horoscopes only became an idea in the years following the arrival of Buddhism in China during the Han Dynasty (ca. 150 CE), "which brought with it the idea that there are greater forces at work in the mapping of individual destiny.”

The massive popularity of Western astrology’s horoscopes has nurtured major public interest in what any zodiac sign means for people on an individual level.

History of Chinese Zodiac

The practice of Chinese astrology dates back thousands of years.

The records from the excavated ancient bamboo books have proved the existance of Chinese zodiac before the Qin Dyansty (221 – 207BC), and the complete 12 animals’ cycle had been set before or during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 – 220AD). What’s the origin of this mysterious theory with more than 2,000 years’ history? There is actually no conclusion, but the various guesses and legends make it more intriguing, Travelchinaguide reported.

Some people believe that the 12 Chinese zodiac animals are simplified from the 28 animals which represent 28 constellations in ancient Chinese astronomy, while some insist the zodiac’s relationship with Jupiter’s revolution period just about 12 years. The most popular is the totem saying of the origin related to animal worship.

There is an interesting legend about the origin of Chinese zodiac. The Jade Emperor wanted to select 12 animals to be his palace guards. He prefered the Ox to be the first for its honesty and deligence, but out of everyone’s expectation, the smart Rat covertly hided on the Ox back and occupied the first place at the essential moment. The Tiger was crowned as the King of the Forest while the Dragon was titled the Lord of the Sea, and they ranked behind the Ox. The Rabbit won a race with the Dragon and gained No. 4. The Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, and Rooster followed. The Dog was punished to be the last one for biting the Rabbit in a pet. Actually the Dog was the 11th, because there is one being late for the interview – the Pig finally took the last place.

*Read More: 2021 Chinese Horoscope - all 12 Zodiac Signs in Year of Ox for Love, Health, Career, Money

Meanings of 12 Chinese zodiac animals

People’s birth years determine their Chinese zodiac signs, but not easy! Each animal is associated with particular personality traits, making it fun to look up what your sign is according to the year of your birth date.

There is an animal representing each year, but the “year” is defined by Chinese lunar calendar, not the Gregorian year you are familiar with from Jan. 1st to Dec. 31st.

The dates of Chinese Lunar New Year vary every year, but will fall on a day in January or February. If you were born on a day during March to December, it won’t be difficult to figure out your zodiac animal sign, but for people with birthdays in January or February, there are bigger chances of mistaking their signs.

You can use our zodiac calculator to search for your animal sign. Select your Gregorian date of birth in the widget, and it will reveal your date of birth according to the lunar calendar, together with your sign.

The 12 zodiac animals are shown below, with recent years for you to directly find out your own birth year and animal sign, meaning.

Rat

Birth years: 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020

Personality traits:Ambitious, charming, talkative, resourceful, private, frugal, critical

Ox

Birth years: 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021

Personality traits:Diligent, gentle, hardworking, reliable, patient, materialistic, stubborn

Tiger

Birth years: 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010

Personality traits: Confident, brave, magnetic, idealistic, thrill-seeking, arrogant, selfis

Rabbit

Birth years: 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023

Personality traits: Kind, sensitive, artistic, romantic, judgmental, timid, refined

Dragon

Birth years: 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024

Personality traits: Outspoken, energetic, generous, intelligent, perfectionistic, egocentric, impatient

Snake

Birth years: 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025

Personality traits: Clever, curious, alluring, wise, anxious, calculating, jealous

Horse

Birth years: 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026

Personality traits: Amusing, enthusiastic, independent, persuasive, irresponsible, moody, opportunistic

Goat/Sheep

Birth years: 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027

Personality traits: Easygoing, empathetic, creative, cheerful, disorganized, impulsive lazy

Monkey

Birth years: 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028

Personality traits: Entertaining, intelligent, optimistic, sociable, fickle, secretive, unpredictable

Rooster

Birth years: 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029

Personality traits: Adventurous, charitable, funny, loyal, argumentative, boastful, self-involved

Dog

Birth years: 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030

Personality traits: Helpful, honest, trustworthy, unselfish, pessimistic, anxious, timid

Pig

Birth years: 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031

Personality traits: Caring, generous, smart, outgoing, fearful, impatient, materialistic

The Five Elements

The animal corresponding to the year you were born is only one part of your Chinese zodiac profile; the philosophy of the Five Elements is another.

The traditional Chinese astrology indicates that the Five Elements are in a balanced generating cycle: Fire burns things to ash and Earth; Earth bears Metal inside; Metal turns into liquid (Water) in high temperature; Water nourishes Wood; Wood feeds Fire. Therefore some zodiac animals with agreeable elements can perfectly support and promote each other when they stay together, while some would stay in peace and tacit agreement; however some restrict or even harm each other when they meet.

While Western astrology incorporates beliefs about the four elements of earth, air, fire, and water, the Five Elements of the Chinese zodiac are metal, water, wood, fire, and earth, Oprahmag reportes.

The Five Elements impact the Chinese zodiac in several ways. After you've located your Chinese zodiac animal, finding the element for your birth year will tell you more. Each zodiac animal also has a “fixed,” or permanently rooted, element that they’re governed by no matter what the year. For example, while 2021 is the Year of the Metal Ox because it’s affected by the “mutable,” or varying, element of Metal, the Ox’s fixed element is always Earth.

Chinese Zodiac Signs: History, Meaning, 12 Animals, Five Elements, Predictions for 2021

An illustration of how the Five Elements interconnect with each other. THOTH_ADANGETTY IMAGES

Here are the Five Elements’ basic meanings:

Metal

Birth years: Last number of your birth is 0 or 1

Associated with: “solidity and willpower"

Water

Birth years: Last number of your birth is 2 or 3

Associated with: “responsiveness and persuasion”

Wood

Birth years: Last number of your birth is 4 or 5

Associated with: “imagination and creativity”

Fire

Birth years: Last number of your birth is 6 or 7

Associated with: “passion, and bursts of dynamic energy”

Earth

Birth years: Last number of your birth is 6 or 7

Associated with: “down-to-earth qualities that encourage focus and commitment to achieving goals.”

*Read More: 2021 Horoscopes and Predictions for all 12 Zodiac Signs - Our expert astrologers are here to make your life simpler by suggesting detailed remedies for your problems along with your 2021 astrology forecasts.