Also known as: 十二生肖, 十二支, 干支, 干支娘, 干支擬人化
The Shēngxiào (Chinese: 生肖), better known in English as the Chinese Zodiac, is a scheme that relates each year to an animal and its reputed attributes, which, combined with the 5 Chinese elements (fire, water, earth, wood, metal), creates a 60-year cycle.
Unlike the Western Zodiac, it has no relation to the constellations on the ecliptic.
Many other Asian countries have adopted the Chinese Zodiac as well, sometimes with slight changes (see below
This tag is automatically applied when the image reference at least one of the Chinese Zodiac, such as various New Year arts.
[table]
[thead]
[tr]
[th colspan="5" align="center"]The Twelve Zodiacs[/th]
[/tr]
[tr align="center"]
[th]Animal[/th]
[th]Romanized (Ch.)[/th]
[th]Chinese (Trad.)[/th]
[th]Chinese (Sim.)[/th]
[th]Earthly Branch[/th]
[/tr]
[/thead]
[tbody]
[tr]
[td align="left"]Rat[/td]
[td align="center"]Shǔ[/td]
[td align="center"]鼠[/td]
[td align="right"][/td]
[td align="center"]子[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td align="left"]Ox[/td]
[td align="center"]Niú[/td]
[td align="center"]牛[/td]
[td align="right"][/td]
[td align="center"]丑[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td align="left"]Tiger[/td]
[td align="center"]Hǔ[/td]
[td align="center"]虎[/td]
[td align="right"][/td]
[td align="center"]寅[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td align="left"]Rabbit[/td]
[td align="center"]Tù[/td]
[td align="center"]兔[/td]
[td align="right"][/td]
[td align="center"]卯 [/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td align="left"]Dragon[/td]
[td align="center"]Lóng[/td]
[td align="center"]龍[/td]
[td align="right"]龙[/td]
[td align="center"]辰[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td align="left"]Snake[/td]
[td align="center"]Shé[/td]
[td align="center"]蛇[/td]
[td align="right"][/td]
[td align="center"]巳[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td align="left"]Horse[/td]
[td align="center"]Mǎ[/td]
[td align="center"]馬[/td]
[td align="right"]马[/td]
[td align="center"]午[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td align="left"]Goat[/td]
[td align="center"]Yáng[/td]
[td align="center"]羊 [/td]
[td align="right"][/td]
[td align="center"]未[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td align="left"]Monkey[/td]
[td align="center"]Hóu[/td]
[td align="center"]猴[/td]
[td align="right"][/td]
[td align="center"]申[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td align="left"]Rooster[/td]
[td align="center"]Jī[/td]
[td align="center"]雞[/td]
[td align="right"]鸡[/td]
[td align="center"]酉[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td align="left"]Dog[/td]
[td align="center"]Gǒu[/td]
[td align="center"]狗[/td]
[td align="right"][/td]
[td align="center"]戌[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td align="left"]Pig[/td]
[td align="center"]Zhū[/td]
[td align="center"]豬[/td]
[td align="right"]猪[/td]
[td align="center"]亥[/td]
[/tr]
[/tbody]
[/table]
Variations
Japan
Pig -> Boar
Goat -> Sheep
Kazakhstan
Dragon -> Snail
Tiger -> Leopard
Malaysia
Rabbit -> Mousedeer
Thailand
Dragon -> Naga (mythological creature)
Tibet
Rooster -> Bird
Vietnam
Rabbit -> Cat
Ox -> Water Buffalo