Shēngxiào is the Chinese Zodiac.

Observed in China, Vietnam, Korea, and Japan, it shows respect for 12 particular animals. Each year is represented by an animal which gets repeated every 12 years.

Distinct animal characteristics are imparted during the year governed by the animals and elements:

Lunar Months in each year are also governed by animals:

Serving as a guide for over 3,000 years, the Chinese zodiac continues to shape cultural traditions in China and East Asia today, from festivities to daily decisions.

Each zodiac animal repeats a 12-year cycle, and it’s believed that every person inherits the animal's personality trait for the year they were born. As the famed Chinese proverb goes, this is the animal that hides in your heart, so discover your zodiac animal and explore your shared character traits. The Year of the Snake, which began on 29 January, 2025, and ends on 16 February, 2025, is believed to bring wisdom, reflecting the trait of snakes.

We need to respect the positive characteristics of the animals and not exploit or kill them. After all, as per the Chinese zodiac, humans are emulating animal qualities.

The Tibetan lunar calendar uses the same 12 animals for each year too, but there are other differences between it and the Chinese lunar-solar calendar.