What is Chinese zodiac?
[[File:20100720 Fukuoka Kushida 3614 M.jpg|thumb|right|12 animals of the Chinese zodiac]] The '''Chinese zodiac''' is a [[mathematics|mathematical]] cycle of 12 [[animal]]s. Each animal represents one year. People are associated with the [[zodiac]] animal for the year that they are born. The 12 animals in order are: [[Rat]], [[Ox]], [[Tiger]], [[Rabbit]], [[Dragon]], [[Snake]], [[Horse]], [[Goat]], [[Monkey]], [[Rooster]], [[Dog]], and [[Pig]]. Although it is called the Chinese zodiac, this system is also used in several other countries in Asia such as [[Korea]], [[Japan]], and [[Vietnam]]. The animals in the zodiac vary in different cultures. In Vietnam, the cat replaces the rabbit and the buffalo replaces the ox. Some countries replace the pig with the boar, and in Thailand, there is a naga instead of a dragon. ==Personality== Some Chinese people believe that each zodiac animal has a [[personality]], and people born in the same year may have similar personalities.<ref>Theodora Lau, ''The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes'', pp. 2–8, 30–5, 60–4, 88–94, 118–24, 148–53, 178–84, 208–13, 238–44, 270–78, 306–12, 338–44, Souvenir Press, New York, 2005</ref> '''[[Rat (zodiac)|Rat]]'''<br /> years: 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020<br /> Honest, freedom, hard working, charming. Can be selfish, ruthless, controlling, scheming. '''[[Ox (zodiac)|Ox]]'''<br /> years: 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021<br /> Smart, calm, patient, inspiring, modest. Can be stubborn, narrow-minded, demanding, rigid. '''[[Tiger (zodiac)|Tiger]]'''<br /> years: 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022<br /> Aggressive, rebellious, strong, daring, generous. Can be restless, clumsy, hot-temper, impatient. '''[[Rabbit (zodiac)|Rabbit]]'''<br /> years: 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023<br /> Kind, sensitive, elegant, artistic, cautious. Can be moody, shy, lazy, opportunistic. '''[[Dragon (zodiac)|Dragon]]'''<br /> years: 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024<br />