The aura of the Chinese New Year festivities, with a glorious image of the associated animal of the Chinese zodiac, is ceremoniously brought to our minds during the first weeks of every calendar year. In addition to the colour and splendour of the Chinese new year, each year’s unique animal mascot also instils significant enthusiasm and curiosity in the minds of everyone to take part in celebrations. What do these Chinese New Year animals represent, and how did such an iconic affection towards animalia originate in the Chinese culture?

Historically, the Chinese zodiac and the usage of the animal mascots were in use since the 5th century BC. This system was formalised during the Han dynasty, which makes it a system that is more than 2000 years old.

In this article, we are attempting to summarise the origin and meaning of Chinese New Year animals. The Chinese Zodiac, which is based on the classical lunar calendar, follows a 12-year cycle of years, and each year of such repeating cycle is linked to one from a cluster of 12 different animals. Starting with the rat, and ending with a pig, the cycle of 12 animals repeats in this order incessantly. Year 2021 was associated to the Ox, 2022 is the year of Tiger, whereas 2023 will be known as the Year of the Rabbit.

The 12 Chinese Zodiac Animals

The 12 Chinese zodiac animals are listed below in their respective ranks:

  1. Rat
  2. Ox
  3. Tiger
  4. Rabbit
  5. Dragon
  6. Snake
  7. Horse
  8. Goat
  9. Monkey
  10. Rooster
  11. Dog
  12. Pig

There is a curious legend behind the origin of Chinese zodiac animals which is linked to a Chinese heavenly figure called Jade emperor.

Legend of the Chinese New Year Animals and Their Respective Ranks

The origin of the Chinese zodiac and the ranking of the animals in the zodiac are better explained with the help of a folklore that is linked to a very prominent Chinese mythical figure called Jade Emperor, who is considered to be the first god.

The Jade Emperor wished to conduct a race for the creatures on the earth to pick animals to act as guards for the Chinese zodiac. Originally, 13 species of animals came forward to take part in the race, while each of them secretly wishing to be the first one to arrive the garden gate. The initial line-up of animals also included the cat, who was the best friend of the rat at that time. The race starts the next morning, so the cat requested the rat to wake him up in the morning, while the rat smilingly nodding to his friend’s wish.

The rat didn’t wake the cat up. Some tales say the rat purposefully did so to avoid a competition, while some other interpretations suggest that he actually forgot the case of his sleep-loving friend. Nonetheless, the cat was dropped out from the race even before it started, and there began a never-ending tale of rivalry between the two species.

In the meantime, the rest twelve vigorously raced towards the Jade emperor. They were almost in an equal speed until they arrive at a very wide flowing river that separated the earth from the heavenly gate. The ox, who was one of the most adept swimmers among the dozen, jumped into the river zealously aiming the opposite end in full spirit. Unbeknownst to the ox, the ambitious rat secretly sneaked into one of its giant ears. Although, the ox came to know about the rat’s free ride at the middle of the river, the former’s benevolence saved the latter from danger. Once the ox crossed the river, the rat darted into the gate of the heaven, becoming the first animal to meet the Jade emperor, and thereby becoming the first one in the zodiac.

The ox came second, followed by tiger, and rabbit in the order, the quickest ones in the crew. The fifth one was the mythical dragon. Some legends say the dragon could have been the first, had his attention not diverted into assisting a firefighting incident in a nearby village. It is also said that the benevolent dragon helped the rabbit to cross the river in the last lap of the swim which was exhausting for a small animal like rabbit.

The horse thought it was the next, but the snake had already hidden into the horse’s hoof, and it uncoiled right before they arrived the finishing line. Seeing the sudden slithering movement of the snake, the horse was momentarily taken aback, and in the meantime, the snake quickly slid into the finishing line, pushing the horse to the seventh position.

Being great team players, the goat, the monkey and the rooster rafted on a boat with collective effort finally arriving at the gate, a task which they initially thought was impossible for them. The eleventh was the dog and the last one was the pig. It is said that both wasted some time totally forgetting the race. The dog found playing in the water was more rewarding for him, while the pig took extreme pleasure in lavish food found on the way and many occasional naps during the course of the journey. 

Adding great misery to the tragic tale of the cat, there is an alternate version is in circulation, the rat actually brought cat also along with him on the race. And they both were on top of the ox. But towards the end of crossing the river, the rat pushed the cat to the water, and thereby causing its death. An oil in the flame to fire up the legendary rivalry between the two.

The Characteristics of Chinese New Year Animals and Their Fortunes

A person born in a particular animal year as well as the year itself are believed to absorb the characteristics and fortune of the particular animal. Let’s now see each animal in detail, their respective characteristics, and what do they symbolise etc.

Year of the Rat

Rat is a yang animal as per the Chinese yin and yang classification. Traditionally the Chinese word ‘shu’ is used to denote the rat. The last year of the rat was during 2020, more accurately from Jan 25 2020 to Feb 11th 2021. The next rat year is in 2032. People born in the year of the rat, are predicted to be very popular, intelligent and very outgoing persons. Talking about food, people born in a rat year tend to love bananas, so you may treat a rat person with a delicious banana pudding recipe.

Year of the Ox

In Chinese traditional concepts the year of the ox is denoted by a ‘niu’ sound. The ox is a ‘yin’ animal, and it has a good reputation among the Chinese farming communities as a ‘great helper’. Chinese fortune tellers have interpreted the people born the year of the Ox tend to be leaders, with very calm and composed demeanour. They are thinkers and are hard workers, and are very proud to show their achievements. Year 2021 is an Ox year, and so the next ox year will be 2033. Eggplants and mushrooms are considered to be some of the lucky foods for the people born in an ox year. Perhaps, they are likely to enjoy receiving a packet of dried shiitake mushrooms as a treat.

Year of the Tiger

Confident, courageous and competitive are the people born in a tiger year. Year 2022 is a tiger year, and the next tiger year will be in 2034. The tiger is a yang animal. Dragon, horse and pig year people are the best compatible signs for a tiger-year born person. Our corn flour products may be the best choice for a tiger year born person, as corn is one of their lucky foods.

Year of the Rabbit

Year 2011 was the last year of rabbit, and the next is going to be in 2023. Rabbit is the fourth in the line of the Chinese zodiac animals, and is considered to be a Yin animal. The Chinese pinyin character ‘tu’ is associated with the zodiac rabbit. People born during a rabbit year are considered to be extremely popular owing to their artistic talents. These compassionate rabbits are virtuous, peace-lovers and good team players. Also, rabbits are considered to be the luckiest as per the Chinese zodiac. As beef is one of the lucky food for the people born in a rabbit year, best choice to treat them would be with a Korean beef bibimbap recipe.

Year of the Dragon

Although, the dragon is an imaginary animal frequently found in the Chinese mythology, it often represents China and Chinese culture vividly elsewhere. Dragon is the fifth beast in the line of Chinese zodiac. Academicians often link the origin of dragon concepts to scorpions. Dragon is usually called ‘Loong’ in Chinese traditions. Dragon’s lucky food is anything from our category of tofu products.

In general, fortune, royalty, power and strength are the basic traits of dragon people. Although, the dragons are smart people, with hardworking and ambitious characteristics, they could also be unpredictable, introverted, and easy-going. Our closest dragon years are during 2012 and 2024.

Year of the Snake

Snakes are intelligent creatures as per traditional understandings, and the snake actions are interpreted to be cunning and lacking ethical motivations. Snake is the 6th animal in the Chinese lunar zodiac, and it is a ‘yin’ animal. The last snake year was from 10th February 2013 to 30th January 2014, as per the Gregorian calendar. Likewise, the major periods of the next Chinese snake year will take place in 2025. The snake people are enigmatic persons, they are hard to be understood. Snakes are thinkers and often their actions are motivated by their own intuitions. The traditional pinyin sound to represent a snake year is ‘she’.

Snake year people might require occasional replenishment of their health, and thus a healthy Chinese herbal soup would be a lucky food for them. Find the ingredients for a Chinese herbal soup here.

Year of the Horse

The yang animal horse is the 7th in line of the Chinese zodiac, and the pinyin sound to represent a horse is ‘ma’. We had a horse year during 2014, and the next horse year is going to be in 2026. Horses are very socially outgoing persons, as they love to be in the middle of the crowd. They have huge energy to become actively involved in anything they love. Although they are slightly self-centred, they also love to be engaged in others’ problems to solve them. Among the lucky food of a horse person are sweet potato and lotus root are included. So, a Sweet potato and lotus seed soup would be ideal for a horse zodiac.

Year of the Goat

The Goat people (born in the year of goats), are surprisingly the unluckiest persons as per the art of Chinese fortune-telling. But this tragic flaw doesn’t make them any less than having positive qualities like gentleness, sympathy, stability, friendliness, kindness, and an affinity towards justice. At times, they may appear a little shy, but are also creative. Although, goats are represented by the Chinese pinyin sound ‘yang’, they are yin animals. The last got year was in 2015, and the next one will be in 2027. Chicken is one among the lucky food of a Goat person, so why don’t we treat them with an Indian butter chicken recipe?

Year of the Monkey

2016 and 2028 are the recent years of the monkey. Monkeys are extremely smart and sharp, but at times they become a little naughty too. Monkeys are known for their ability to learn anything very quick, and often tend to play a prankster role amidst a group, although without any bad intentions. Monkey is a yang animal, and is represented by the Chinese pinyin sound ‘hou’. Peach is considered to be the lucky food for them, so a bottle of KSF peach drink would be ideal for a monkey year-born person.

Year of the Rooster

The 10th one in the Chinese zodiac animals list, rooster is a yin animal. As per legends, rooster people were traditionally thought to have had skills to prevent evil spirits. Roosters are considered to be very complex in nature. They may appear strong, but they always need affirmation from well-wishers to initiate an action. They love their work, and are perfectionists. The ‘ji’ sound symbolises a rooster. We will have a rooster year coming up in 2029, whereas the last one was in 2017. Rooster’s lucky food is rice, so pick one of your choice from our rice section.

Year of the Dog

The dog, transcribed as ‘gou’ in Mandarin pinyin, is the second last in the 12-animal cycle of the Chinese zodiac. Dog is a yang animal, and the people born in a dog year are notable for their loyalty, honesty, kindness, and friendliness. They are very choosy in selecting friends because of their cautious and careful nature. The last dog year was during 2018, and the next one will be in 2030. Plum is one of the lucky foods for a Dog zodiac person, perhaps Meechun plum sauce is a good choice.

Year of the Pig

2007, 2019, 2031 and 2043 are some of the pig years. Pig is ‘yin’ and is known as ‘zhu’ in Chinese. People born in a pig year tend to be honest, genuine and sincere. They are also kind, generous and careful. Eggplant, also called aubergine is a pig’s lucky ingredient, and a bottle of aubergine pickle is likely to be a good choice for them.

As we have learned quite a lot about the Chinese New Year animals and their linking characteristics and fortunes, now it is time to deduce the animals among ourselves. Analyse your friends, their characteristics and achievements, and see how accurately you can find a Dagon or a Monkey within your friend circle. Or see how many of them are Tigers as 2022 is a tiger year, and surprise them with a gift that would be pleasing for a tiger.