The Shēngxiào (Chinese: 生肖), better known in English as the Chinese Zodiac, is a scheme that relates each year to an animal and its reputed attributes, which, combined with the 5 Chinese elements (fire, water, earth, wood, metal), creates a 60-year cycle. 

Unlike the Western [[zodiac]], it has no relation to the constellations on the ecliptic.

Many other Asian countries have adopted the Chinese Zodiac as well, sometimes with slight changes ("see below":#dtext-variants).


[table]
  [thead]
    [tr]
      [th colspan="5" align="center"]The Twelve Zodiacs[/th]
    [/tr]
    [tr align="center"]
      [th]Animal[/th]
      [th]Romanized (Ch.)[/th]
      [th]Chinese (Trad.)[/th]
      [th]Chinese (Sim.)[/th]
      [th]Earthly Branch[/th]
    [/tr]
  [/thead]
  [tbody]
    [tr]
      [td align="left"][[year of the rat|Rat]][/td]
      [td align="center"]Zi[/td]
      [td align="center"]鼠[/td]
      [td align="right"][/td]
      [td align="center"]午[/td]
    [/tr]
    [tr]
      [td align="left"][[year of the ox|Ox]][/td]
      [td align="center"]Niu[/td]
      [td align="center"]牛[/td]
      [td align="right"][/td]
      [td align="center"]丑[/td]
    [/tr]
    [tr]
      [td align="left"][[year of the tiger|Tiger]][/td]
      [td align="center"]Hǔ[/td]
      [td align="center"]虎[/td]
      [td align="right"][/td]
      [td align="center"]寅[/td]
    [/tr]
    [tr]
      [td align="left"][[year of the Rabbit|Rabbit]][/td]
      [td align="center"]Tù[/td]
      [td align="center"]兔[/td]
      [td align="right"][/td]
      [td align="center"]卯 [/td]
    [/tr]
    [tr]
      [td align="left"][[year of the Dragon|Dragon]][/td]
      [td align="center"]Long[/td]
      [td align="center"]龍[/td]
      [td align="right"]龙[/td]
      [td align="center"]辰[/td]
    [/tr]
    [tr]
      [td align="left"][[year of the snake|Snake]][/td]
      [td align="center"]Shé[/td]
      [td align="center"]蛇[/td]
      [td align="right"][/td]
      [td align="center"]巳[/td]
    [/tr]
    [tr]
      [td align="left"][[year of the horse|Horse]][/td]
      [td align="center"]Ma[/td]
      [td align="center"]馬[/td]
      [td align="right"]马[/td]
      [td align="center"]午[/td]
    [/tr]
    [tr]
      [td align="left"][[year of the goat|Goat]][/td]
      [td align="center"]Yang[/td]
      [td align="center"]羊 [/td]
      [td align="right"][/td]
      [td align="center"]未[/td]
    [/tr]
    [tr]
      [td align="left"][[year of the monkey|Monkey]][/td]
      [td align="center"]Hou[/td]
      [td align="center"]猴[/td]
      [td align="right"][/td]
      [td align="center"]申[/td]
    [/tr]
    [tr]
      [td align="left"][[year of the Rooster|Rooster]][/td]
      [td align="center"]Jī[/td]
      [td align="center"]雞[/td]
      [td align="right"]鸡[/td]
      [td align="center"]酉[/td]
    [/tr]
    [tr]
      [td align="left"][[year of the dog|Dog]][/td]
      [td align="center"]Gǒu[/td]
      [td align="center"]狗[/td]
      [td align="right"][/td]
      [td align="center"]戌[/td]
    [/tr]
    [tr]
      [td align="left"][[year of the Pig|Pig]][/td]
      [td align="center"]Zhū[/td]
      [td align="center"]豬[/td]
      [td align="right"]猪[/td]
      [td align="center"]亥[/td]
    [/tr]
  [/tbody]
[/table]

h4#variants. Variations
[expand=Noteable variants in other countries]

[b]Japan[/b]
[i]Pig[/i] -> Boar

[b]Kazakhstan[/b]
[i]Dragon[/i] -> Snail
[i]Tiger[/i] -> Leopard

[b]Malaysia[/b]
[i]Rabbit[/i] -> Mousedeer

[b]Thailand[/b]
[i]Dragon[/i] -> Naga [tn](mythological creature)[/tn]

[b]Tibet[/b]
[i]Rooster[/i] -> Bird

[b]Vietnam[/b]
[i]Rabbit[/i] -> Cat
[i]Ox[/i] -> Water Buffalo

[/expand]

h4. Sources
Wikipedia: Chinese Zodiac:"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_zodiac"
Wikipedia: Earthly Branches:"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthly_Branches"

h4. See also
* [[Chinese New year]]
十二生肖 十二支 干支 干支娘 干支擬人化