Astrology Signs of the Chinese Zodiac

The twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac dominate Western understanding of Chinese Astrology. While there are many different components to the divination process in Chinese astrology, it is the signs of the zodiac that we are most familiar. It is important to consider, however, the influence that yin-yang and the five elements of the major planets in the universe have over these animal signs.

Each sign is represented by an animal and is associated with a set of attributes that the Chinese believe makes up the nature of that animal. According to Chinese legend, the 12 animals were chosen by Buddha when he was on his death bed. He called them all in to visit him, but only 12 came: the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig, in that order. The Buddha honored those who came by immortalizing them in the 12 phases of the Zodiac.

The Chinese divide the 12 year cycle in two - a balance of yin and yang, such that each of the zodiac signs only occur in either yin or yang: those that represent years ending in an even number are yang; those ending in an odd number, yin. It is important to note that yin and yang are aspects in dynamic equilibrium; they are neither "good" nor "bad", rather terms used to express the dualism in the totality of our lives.

Yin qualities are characterized as soft, slow, tranquil, gentle, and conserving. Yin corresponds to the night and is represented by water and cold. Yang, on the other hand, is characterized as hot, fire, restless, hard, dry, and speed. It corresponds to the day and is represented by earth and heat. The yin animals in the Chinese zodiac are rat, tiger, dragon, horse, monkey, and dog; the yang animals then, are ox, rabbit, snake, goat, rooster, and pig.

The yin and yang aspects are also categorized into five elements including wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. In English we call them "elements", but in Chinese, a more accurate translation would be something like "changing states of being". This difference in translation is important because the fact that the elements are evolving entities is a significant aspect of the understanding of the astrological signs. These elements, or changing states of being, along with their yin-yang qualities, are like modifiers that affect the characteristics of the 12 animal signs.

Following is a list of the Chinese zodiac animals along with their yin-yang correlation and the element associated with one.

Rat: yang; water
Ox: yin; water
Tiger: yang; wood
Rabbit: yin, wood
Dragon: yang; wood
Snake: yin; fire
Horse: yang; fire
Sheep: yin; fire
Monkey: yang; metal
Rooster: yin; metal
Dog: yang; metal
Pig: yin; water

When Westerners visit a Chinese restaurant and look for their zodiac sign on the paper place mat, they may not be aware of the influence that yin-yang and the five elements of the major planets have over these animal signs. Chinese astrology incorporates many phenomena into the process of divination.