The story is widespread (and widely varying) among Chinese. Though it is made up, it might be interesting for you to tell your children and friends. The Heavenly Gate Race Story - Reasons for Zodiac Rankings. Long, long ago, there was no Chinese zodiac. The Jade Emperor wanted to select 12 animals to be his guards. He sent an immortal being This is the most widespread Chinese zodiac legend. The Jade Emperor (The Emperor in Heaven in Chinese folklore) ordered that animals would be designated as calendar signs and the twelve that arrived first would be selected. On that day, the rat got up very early and very early and rushed to the gathering site. Read more: Every Chinese zodiac year from 1900–2031 (full chart and by zodiac sign) Ben Ming Nian (Zodiac Birth Year) Maybe you think your zodiac year, or ben ming nian (本命年), will be lucky. It’s your year after all. However, it’s the total opposite. It’s seen as a hurdle you have jump over. Chinese New Year and the Zodiacs. Each of these zodiac animals governs a whole year, which starts at Chinese New Year according to the lunar calendar. This usually corresponds to January or February in the western calendar. When the current year has the same zodiac animal as the year you were born, you are said to be in Ben Ming Nian. Most of us are familiar with the Chinese Zodiac and how it differs from the Western Zodiac. The Chinese system is based on the lunar calendar and assigns an animal to each year within a 12-year cycle. It is said that people born each year receive some of that year’s animal’s reputed attributes. But where does this belief come from? Each Chinese lunar year has a Chinese zodiac sign animal. The Chinese zodiac year's stsarting date is a little different from the Gregorian year. It starts from Chinese New Year. The Chinese zodiac years chart below is provided to help you find out the exact starting and ending dates of the Chinese zodiac years. (This is especially useful for Most famously, each Chinese New Year brings in a new Chinese animal zodiac as the focus for that year. Moreover, the imagery of the Chinese zodiac is prevalent in various aspects of art, design, and popular culture, serving as a unique motif in paintings, fashion, literature, and entertainment. Beyond its traditional history, the Chinese zodiac Chinese zodiac is represented by 11 animals which are quite familiar to us in daily life and the legendary creature Dragon. Cat is also very common in our daily life, but why is it excluded in the 12 Chinese zodiac signs? The folktales about why no cat in Chinese zodiac are too numerous to mention. Chinese zodiac, annual classification system in Chinese culture following the Chinese lunar calendar yingyang li (literally, “heaven-earth”) in which each year in a 12-year cycle is assigned an animal and each animal is associated with a personality that typifies the year and those born during that year. The cycle changes to a new animal Chinese Zodiac. As you may already know, the Chinese calendar is based on the phases of the moon. and when a new year begins, it brings with it one of the 12 Chinese zodiac. Every 12 years, the sequence begins again. This year (2018) for example, is the Year of the Dog which will not come around again until 2030. The Chinese Zodiac is based on the lunar calendar, which differs from the Gregorian calendar. Each Zodiac year begins on Chinese New Year, which falls between late January and mid-February. This is why someone born in January 1984 might belong to the Year of the Pig (1983) instead of the Year of the Rat (1984). The 12-Year Cycle Chinese New Year is a perfect time to introduce children to the fascinating traditions and stories of the Chinese Zodiac. The 12 animals each carry unique characteristics, making them an exciting topic for young Chinese learners. Here are some fun activities to help your kids learn more about thes The stories date back thousands of years. Read on to learn of a few popular and interesting Chinese New Year myths. The Monster and New Year’s Eve. In ancient times, there was a monster named Nián (年). It usually lived at the bottom of the sea and would come up once a year to feast on animals and humans. Stories of Chinese New Year including the legend of Nian, the legend of why Spring Couplets and Door Gods are pasted, the Legend of why Chinese people paste upside down Fu and the legend of red envelopes. The Chinese zodiac, known as Sheng Xiao or Shu Xiang, features 12 animal signs in this order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. 2025 is the Year of the Snake according to Chinese zodiac, starting from the 2025 Chinese New Year on Jan. 29th and lasting to 2026 Lunar New Year's Eve on Feb. 16. 2026 is the Year of the Horse. Let's come together to celebrate the Year of the Dragon in grand style with "The Legend of the Twelve Chinese Zodiac Signs" — a magical book crafted just for kids! Join the lively zodiac animals as they engage in an enchanting race, each showcasing unique strengths and qualities. 1. Introduction to the Year of the Snake. The Chinese Zodiac, a twelve-year cycle where each year is represented by an animal, holds significant cultural importance in Chinese society. Each animal embodies unique traits and characteristics that influence the personality and fortunes of those born in its year. The 12 Chinese zodiac animals in a cycle are not only used to represent years in China but are also believed to influence people's personalities, careers, compatibility, marriages, and fortunes. [7] For the starting date of a zodiac year, there are two schools of thought in Chinese astrology: Chinese New Year or the start of spring. Each year is associated with one of these zodiac animals, creating a twelve-year cycle. 4. The Red Envelope: The Legend of Hongbao. The tradition of giving and receiving red envelopes, known as “hongbao,” during Chinese New Year has its roots in a legend about a demon named Sui.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |