The Chinese zodiac system is based on a ten-year Sun-Moon cycle that falls in with the ancient Chinese agricultural calendar. The cycle is divided into five elements: Water, Wood, Fire, Earth and Metal as well as the twelve animals that represent each year. The system is influenced by the Yin and Yang cosmic force, which is an interpretation of universal harmony and balance.

The Choice of animals in the Chinese zodiac can seem a little random but if you look back to around the time the Chinese zodiac was created, these animals were just familiar rural animals that had distinguished characteristics to represent the years with similar tones.

However there are many different tales of how each animal came to be chosen for the zodiac.

Year - Year Begins - Year Ends - Sign - Element

1984 2 Feb 1984 19 Feb 1985 Rat Wood

1985 20 Feb 1985 8 Feb 1986 Ox Wood

1986 9 Feb 1986 28 Jan 1987 Tiger Fire

1987 29 Jan 1987 16 Feb 1988 Rabbit Fire

1988 17 Feb 1988 5 Feb 1989 Dragon Earth

1989 6 Feb 1989 26 Jan 1990 Snake Earth

1990 27 Jan 1990 14 Feb 1991 Horse Metal

1991 15 Feb 1991 3 Feb 1992 Sheep Metal

1992 4 Feb 1992 22 Jan 1993 Monkey Water

1993 23 Jan 1993 9 Feb 1994 Rooster Water

1994 10 Feb 1994 30 Jan 1995 Dog Wood

1995 31 Jan 1995 18 Feb 1996 Pig Wood