Chinese Zodiac Guide: The 12 Animal Signs

Discover your zodiac animal, its element, and how it shapes your destiny

What Is the Chinese Zodiac?

The Chinese zodiac (生肖, Sheng Xiao) is a 12-year cycle where each year is represented by an animal sign. Unlike Western astrology which changes monthly, the Chinese zodiac assigns one animal to an entire lunar year. Each animal sign is also associated with one of the Five Elements (Wood 木, Fire 火, Earth 土, Metal 金, Water 水), creating a 60-year full cycle.

The 12 Zodiac Animals

Zodiac Compatibility

Chinese zodiac compatibility is based on the Three Harmonies (三合) and Six Harmonies (六合) — traditional groupings of signs that naturally support each other:

However, zodiac compatibility is only one layer. A full BaZi compatibility reading (合婚) examines all Four Pillars, Five Element balance, and the Ten Gods — providing a much more nuanced picture of relationship dynamics.

Zodiac vs. BaZi: What's the Difference?

Your Chinese zodiac sign is determined solely by your birth year. BaZi goes much deeper, analyzing your birth year, month, day, and hour — producing eight characters rather than one. Your zodiac animal is simply the Earthly Branch of your Year Pillar.

For example, two people born in the Year of the Dragon (1988) might have completely different BaZi charts if one was born in spring and the other in winter. The Day Master element, Ten Gods, and Five Element balance will differ dramatically — producing different personalities, career paths, and life timelines.