The zodiac traditionally begins with the sign of the Rat.
The following are the twelve zodiac signs in order, each with its associated characteristics (Earthly Branch, yin/yang force, Trine, and nature element).

Rat – 鼠, shǔ (子) (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Water)
Ox – 牛, niú (丑) (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Earth)
Tiger – 虎, hǔ (寅) (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Wood)
Rabbit – 兔, tù (卯) (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Wood)
Dragon – 龙/龍, lóng (辰) (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Earth)
Snake – 蛇, shé (巳) (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Fire)
Horse – 马/馬, mǎ (午) (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Fire)
Goat – 羊, yáng (未) (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Earth)
Monkey – 猴, hóu (申) (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Metal)
Rooster – 鸡/雞, jī (酉) (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Metal)
Dog – 狗, gǒu (戌) (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Earth)
Pig – 猪/豬, zhū (亥) (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Water)
In Chinese astrology the animal signs assigned by year represent how others perceive you or how you present yourself.
It is a common misconception that the animals assigned by year are the only signs, and many Western descriptions of Chinese astrology draw solely on this system.
In fact, there are also animal signs assigned by month (called "inner animals"), by day (called "true animals") and hours (called "secret animals").
The Earth is all 12 signs, 5 seasons.

While a person might appear to be a Dragon because they were born in the year of the Dragon, they might also be a Snake internally, an Ox truly, and a Goat secretly.

A conflict between a person's zodiac sign and how they live is known as Tai Sui or kai sui.
The zodiac traditionally begins with the sign of the Rat. The following are the twelve zodiac signs in order, each with its associated characteristics (Earthly Branch, yin/yang force, Trine, and nature element).
Rat – 鼠, shǔ (子) (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Water)
Ox – 牛, niú (丑) (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Earth)
Tiger – 虎, hǔ (寅) (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Wood)
Rabbit – 兔, tù (卯) (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Wood)
Dragon – 龙/龍, lóng (辰) (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Earth)
Snake – 蛇, shé (巳) (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Fire)
Horse – 马/馬, mǎ (午) (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Fire)
Goat – 羊, yáng (未) (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Earth)
Monkey – 猴, hóu (申) (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Metal)
Rooster – 鸡/雞, jī (酉) (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Metal)
Dog – 狗, gǒu (戌) (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Earth)
Pig – 猪/豬, zhū (亥) (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Water)
In Chinese astrology the animal signs assigned by year represent how others perceive you or how you present yourself. It is a common misconception that the animals assigned by year are the only signs, and many Western descriptions of Chinese astrology draw solely on this system. In fact, there are also animal signs assigned by month (called "inner animals"), by day (called "true animals") and hours (called "secret animals"). The Earth is all 12 signs, 5 seasons.
While a person might appear to be a Dragon because they were born in the year of the Dragon, they might also be a Snake internally, an Ox truly, and a Goat secretly.
A conflict between a person's zodiac sign and how they live is known as Tai Sui or kai sui.
Chinese zodiac