My Chinese Zodiac Animal
－12 Chinese Zodiac Signs in Woodcut Prints－
Do you know what your Chinese zodiac animal is? One of 12 animals represents a year and this cycle is repeated over 12 years. The Chinese zodiac is a familiar idea in many Asian and some European countries, but not well known in most of Western countries. Let's discover your Chinese zodiac and find a matched ukiyo-e for you, your friends and family!
What is the Chinese zodiac?
The Chinese zodiac, also known as Shengxiao (“born resembling”), is a repeating cycle of 12 years, and each year is represented by a different animal. In order, the 12 animals are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Boar. Unlike Western astrology, which is governed by the constant planetary movements, Chinese astrology is predetermined by birth year; an Ox is an Ox, and that never changes.
How 12 animals were selected?
The order of the Chinese astrology signs is related to the most commonly accepted legend of the Chinese zodiac: the Jade Emperor’s Race. As the story goes, the Chinese emperor held a race to determine which lucky animals would have the honor of being added to the calendar. The first-place winner—who ended up being the rat—would claim the first year of the 12-year cycle, and so on.
Although these 12 animals can be slightly different depending on the countries, such as the Pig in China is the Boar in Japan as well as the Water buffalo in Vietnam is the Ox in Japan. Also the Cat is in 12 animals in Thailand or Tibet instead of the Rabbit.
Find my Chinese zodiac sign
Each Chinese zodiac year is represented by an animal and your animal is assigned by your birth year. The table of Chinese zodiac years below will help you find your zodiac animal fast. For example, if you were born in 2000, your animal is the Dragon. In this way, the Dog is for birthday in 1970 and so on.
12 Chinese zodiac signs in Ukiyo-e
12 zodiac animals in ukiyo-e and their unique characters
Rat : Smart, Social
Ox : Hard-working, Gentle
Tiger : Courageous, Ambitious
Rabbit : Popular, Honest
Dragon : Charismatic, Lucky
Snake : Charming, Thoughtful
Horse : Independent, Resourceful
Sheep : Creative, Thinker
Monkey : Cheerful, Active
Rooster : Attentive, Well-organized
Dog : Faithful, Strong sense of justice
Boar : Intelligent, Patient
12 Chinese zodiac signs in Contemporary Ukiyo-e
"The Cat" in Ukiyo-e
Even though the Cat is not one of 12 zodiac animals in Japan, it is included in 12 animals instead of rabbit in some Asian countries such as Thailand or Tibet.
