The Chinese zodiac, also known as the Chinese calendar, is a repeating cycle of 12 years, with each year being represented by an animal. The animals in the zodiac are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. The year 2025 will be the Year of the Snake.
The Chinese zodiac is thought to have originated during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE). It is believed that the Buddha summoned all the animals to his palace, but only 12 animals showed up. As a reward, the Buddha named a year after each of the 12 animals, in the order in which they arrived.
