A brief summary of Chinese astrology
In China, the first traces of astrology appeared around 2600 BC. The Chinese calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, not the sun. Because New Year’s Day depends on the lunar cycle, the celebrations fall on a different date every year, either in January or February.
Chinese astrology is completely different to Western astrology: aside from the fact that the sign and element are linked to the year of birth, the horoscope is based on the Moon’s position and its conjunction with the planets and stars, as well as the Sun’s position. These indications provide a wealth of information that's both psychological and related to the future.
See our guide to Chinese astrology.
The Chinese astrological signs and their main traits
The rat (1900 and every 12 years up to 2008):
Charming, imaginative, resourceful, opportunistic and passionate, the rat prefers night to day, loves deserted places, knows how to make a tidy profit and hates being bored with the unimportant, uninteresting things in life.
The ox (1901, 1913...2009):
Hardworking, patient, honest, slow, stubborn, perseverant and honest, the ox has a big sense of responsibility and long-term projects, and is also very loyal in friendships and romantic relationships.
The tiger (1902, 1914.... 2010):
Brave, enthusiastic, generous, chivalrous and impulsive, the tiger loves the unexpected and adventure. Female tigers are real adventurers and temptresses!
The rabbit (1903, 1915...2011):
Discreet, prudent and sensitive, the rabbit is really attached to home and friends. Diplomatic and accommodating, the rabbit hates having to make categorical decisions, and appreciates art and beauty.
The dragon (1904, 1916... 2012):
Active, dynamic, demanding, individual and impatient, the dragon is a visionary and an anticipator who likes crisis situations, is often jealous and possessive in love, and likes luxury.
The snake (1905, 1917...2013):
Reflective, insightful, organised and determined, headstrong and philosophical, the snake excels in terms of common sense and efficiency, likes to learn, is naturally drawn to astrology and destiny, and hates tiresome people.
The horse (1906, 1918...2014):
Enthusiastic and enterprising, an excellent speaker, the horse is ambitious and doesn’t cope well with failure, is passionate in love, loves travelling and novelty.
The sheep (1907, 1919... 2015):
A gentle character, but often unpredictable and capricious, the sheep loves all of life’s pleasures, social niceties and sophistication, worries a lot about what other people think of him/her, and is often wayward and dreamy.
The monkey (1907, 1919... 2016):
Intelligent, clear-minded, crafty and ambitious, the monkey loves discussions and exchanges of all sorts, has a gift for communication and commerce, and very flexible morals, especially where loyalty is concerned.
The rooster (1909, 1921... 2017):
Very anxious about his appearance, the rooster loves to seduce and attract attention, is full of flair and has a dramatic side. Female roosters are a touch vain and struggle to live without a man in their lives to admire them.
The dog (1910, 1922... 2018):
Faithful, selfless and a touch pessimistic, the dog needs tenderness and understanding more than any other sign, is romantic and tortured, and often gets involved in humanitarian or care-related activities.
The pig (1911, 1923... 2019):
The pig’s wellbeing goes before everything else. The pig is both generous and selfish, sensual and a connoisseur, does everything to excess, and has a lot of luck in life, especially in financial affairs and games.
