China
The Chinese Zodiac — Twelve Animals of the Years
Twelve animals take turns ruling the years, shaping personality and compatibility across East Asia.
The Chinese zodiac assigns each lunar year to one of twelve animals — rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. Your birth-year animal is said to color your temperament, your fortune in a given year, and your compatibility with others.
Combined with the five elements, the cycle repeats every sixty years, which is why a sixtieth birthday is celebrated across East Asia as the completion of a full cosmic circle.