Sarah Brennan is the author of the Chinese Calendar Tales series. She writes…
People are always asking me “Which Chinese calendar animal am I?” So here’s a handy reference so you can work out what animal you are in the Chinese zodiac! Beside each animal is the name of the animal in beautiful Chinese calligraphy, given to me by Scotch College Melbourne student Adam Pai, and written by his calligraphy teacher Jason Huang. Thank you Adam and Jason!
You have to be a bit careful if your birth date falls in the last two weeks of January or first two weeks of February, since the Chinese Calendar year runs from the first day of Chinese New Year, NOT from the 1st of January! Chinese New Year starts on a different date every year between mid-January and mid-February, depending on the phases of the moon. So if you’re not sure, you can visit http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/social_customs/zodiac where you can enter your date of birth in a Chinese Zodiac calculator to find out!
For everyone else, and as a general rule, if you were born in:
1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997 or 2009: you are an Ox – just like Oswald.
Like Oswald, people born in the Year of the Ox are patient, honest and hard-working, and tend to be creatures of habit. They are very intelligent, but often quiet and reserved. They don’t care what other people think and will restore calm in times of trouble. Their best friends are Snakes, Roosters and Rats.
1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998 or 2010: you are a Tiger – just like Temujin.
If you were born in the Year of the Tiger you are very hard to resist! You are charismatic, courageous and brave, with natural authority, but you are often unpredictable and like Temujin, can be very bad-tempered when trapped in a corner! Tigers make sensitive and considerate friends, but you also love adventure and challenges, so life with a tiger can a be a real roller-coaster ride! Your best friends are Horses, Dragons and Dogs.
1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999 or 2011: you are a Rabbit. I should warn you that Rhonda Rabbit is a rebel from north of the border and is NOT your typical refined and well-behaved rabbit…
People born in the Year of the Rabbit are talented and ambitious. They are very good citizens who are much admired and trusted, often becoming diplomats and politicians. They also have excellent taste, being very artistic and creative. Their best friends are Sheep, Pigs and Dogs.
1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000 or 2012: you are a Dragon, just like Chester Choi.
Like Chester, dragon people are full of fun and energy, but often a little short-tempered and stubborn! They’re also sensitive and brave, and make wonderful friends. They can also be very soft-hearted, provided they’re not hungry! Their best friends are Rats, Snakes, Monkeys and Roosters.
1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001 or 2013: you are a Snake, just like Sybil Snake.
People born in the Year of the Snake don’t say much, but underneath their calm exterior lurks a passionate and determined person who usually gets what he or she wants! They can be a bit vain (and are usually quite good-looking!) but they are also very sympathetic to people who are less fortunate than they are. Their best friends are Oxen and Roosters.
1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002 or 2014: you are a Horse.
Horse people are happy, popular and often talk too much! They are wise and talented, but also quite impatient and very independent, rarely listening to the advice of others. They love entertainment and big crowds. Their best friends are Tigers, Dogs and Sheep.
1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003 or 2015: you are a Ram (or a Sheep or a Goat!)
If you were born in the Year of the Sheep, you are wise, gentle and kind. You are passionate about your beliefs and may be deeply religious. But while you are often very artistic and elegant, you may also be shy and quite puzzled about life. Your best friends are Rabbits, Pigs and Horses.
1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004 or 2016: you are a Monkey.
Monkey people are inventive and original and are great problem-solvers. They are successful at everything they do but if they can’t get started on a project right away, they get discouraged and tend to walk away. They have excellent memories, and while they are often short-tempered, their anger cools quickly. Their best friends are Dragons and Rats.
1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005 or 2017: you are a Rooster.
Roosters are talkative, noisy and active, and love being in the spotlight! They’re hard-working, courageous and proud of their looks and talents, though they can also be very boastful! But they are intensely loyal, and always keep their promises, making them devoted friends. Their best friends are Oxen, Snakes and Dragons.
1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006 or 2018: you are a Dog.
If you were born in the Year of the Dog, you are honest, trustworthy and loyal. You don’t care about money but you’re seldom without it. You can be a bit selfish and stubborn, but you make a wonderful leader. Your best friends are Horses, Tigers and Rabbits.
1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007 or 2019: You are a Pig.
Pig people are chivalrous, brave and impulsive. Whatever they do, they do with all their might and they never back down. They are honest, strong and extremely loyal and while they make few friends, the ones they have are friends for life. While they don’t talk much they have a great thirst for knowledge and are very well-informed. Their best friends are Rabbits and Sheep.
1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008 or 2020: you are a Rat – just like Run Run and just like me!
People born in the Year of the Rat, just like Run Run, are clever, quick-witted and full of curiosity. They make charming and generous friends, although their keen sense of ambition can lead them astray and they’re no fun at all when they’re bored! Their best friends are Monkeys, Dragons and Oxen.
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