Chinese astrology began 5000 years ago, originally known as 5 house Chinese astrology, or 5 planet Chinese astrology based on the 5 major planets in our Solar system namely Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and Mars, later the Sun and Moon were added to make 7 stars. Therefore two new Chinese astrology systems were derived one based on the Solar calendar called Ba Zi or 4 Pillars and the other based on the Lunar calendar and called Zi Wei Dou Shu or Purple Emperor.

Chinese Astrology uses the theory of balancing the Yin-Yang Five Elements to help people find their lucky time and place and choose the best (luckiest) environment for the rest of their life. In Chinese Astrology, the Five Elements are Metal, Water, Wood, Fire and Earth. Chi, sometimes spelt Qi, is a definition of energy that flows around the universe and eminates from living things. The presence of Chi is usually a sign of health, and the Chinese have developed numerous skills to manipulate Chi on a personal level like Ba Kua mirror.

Yin and Yang is known as the concept of Duality. Where there is light, there must be dark in order for us to see that there is light. Without two ends of a spectrum, the human mind cannot discern what a thing is. The Chinese divide everything in the universe into Yin and Yang. Yin is the female particle, Yang the male. It must be stressed that both are, at all times, inherently equal and both contain a little of the other. It's like the saying, "Within every bad there is a little good and in every good there is a little bad". Thus Yin and Yang are equal, opposite and interdependent.

The Five Elements of classical Chinese thought are Water, Earth, Metal, Wood and Fire. The Five Elements interact with each other in logical ways. Water feeds plants to give rise to Wood. Wood in turn can create Fire. The by-product of Fire is ash, in this case the Earth element. From the Earth comes Metal, which in turn can help collect Water, thus going full circle. This is called The Cycle of Birth.
Conversely, Water puts out Fire, Fire melts Metal, Metal axes fell Wood, the Wood tree roots hold down Earth and Earth absorbs Water. This is called The Cycle of Destruction or Conquering.

The Chinese Zodiac consists of a 12-year cycle, each year of which is named after a different animal that imparts distinct characteristics to its year. Many Chinese believe that the year of a person's birth is the primary factor in deciding that person's personality traits, physical and mental attributes and degree of success and happiness throughout his/her lifetime.

According to Chinese legend, the order of the twelve signs was determined by Buddha, upon celebration of the Chinese New Year (which falls on different dates, from mid-January to mid-February.) The Buddha invited all of the animals in the kingdom together for a meeting, but only 12 creatures attended. The first animal to arrive was the talkative Rat (who was aggressive enough to jump off the back of the Ox in order to be the FIRST arrival) next in place SECOND, came the serious, enduring and hard-working Ox with the honorable Tiger, and cautious Cat. The outspoken Dragon joined the others, along with the philosophical Snake. The physically active Horse arrived with the artistic Goat. The spirited Monkey and the showy Rooster came as well. The last to join the others was the watchful Dog and the meticulous, resigned Pig. Buddha gave each animal a year of its own, bestowing the nature and characteristics of each to those born in that animals year. As the Chinese say, 'This is the animal that hides in your heart'

The Chinese New Year begins with the second new moon after the winter solstice, which occurs between Jan 21 and Feb 19. To learn about your Animal Sign, find the year of your birth among the 12 signs listed below. If you were born before 1936, add 12 to the year you were born to find your year.

To choose your Chinese sign select your year of birth and the sign corresponding to the year is your Chinese sign