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How to Find a Birth Sign in Chinese Astrology

According to one Chinese legend, the Buddha asked 12 animals to compete in a race. The animals had to swim across a river, and the order that they finished would determine their place in the Chinese zodiac. The rat, being the cleverest, snuck on top of the fastest swimmer, the ox. Just before the ox reached the far side of the river, the rat jumped ashore earning first place. The ox came in second, the tiger's strong swimming skills placed it third, and so it continued with the rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey and rooster next in order. At the very end, came the dog in eleventh place because it stopped to take a bath, and the pig's laziness earned it last place. These animals came to symbolize the 12 years in the Chinese astrological cycle, and they pass on their traits to people born in the years they represent.

Instructions

- 1
  Identify the year of your birth. The Chinese zodiac follows a cycle of 12 years, each represented by one of 12 animals: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. All people born within the same Chinese year share the same birth sign, making your birth year the most critical detail needed to find your birth sign.
- 2
  Find the day and month you were born. The Chinese calendar is a lunar calendar, based on the phases of the moon. Because of this, it is shorter than a solar calendar, and the Chinese New Year falls on a new moon sometime between mid-January and late February. Most people born in a particular year will share the same birth sign, but those born in January and February need to check the Chinese calendar to see which Chinese year includes their birthday.
- 3
  Enter your birth date information into a Chinese birth sign calculator (see Resources). Click on the "Find" button to generate your birth sign.
- 4
  Review the description of your animal birth sign included with the calculator's results. Check whether this brief introduction to the central characteristics of your birth sign accurately portrays you.

Astrology