The Chinese zodiac assigns an animal to each year in a repeating 12-year cycle, and 2026 will be the Year of the Horse. Each animal is associated with specific traits that are said to influence the personalities, relationships, and careers of those born in that year. The Chinese zodiac is used in conjunction with other methods of astrological prediction in China and is believed to indicate when people need to take extra precautions.
What Animal Sign Rules 2026?
The animal that rules 2026 is the Horse. According to the Chinese zodiac, the Year of the Horse occurs every 12 years. The characteristics of the Horse are believed to correspond to traits of those born in its year, influencing various aspects of their lives.
What Are the Animals of the Chinese Zodiac?
The 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, in order, are:
- Rat
- Ox
- Tiger
- Rabbit
- Dragon
- Snake
- Horse
- Sheep
- Monkey
- Rooster
- Dog
- Pig
The Chinese zodiac system is based on the Chinese lunar calendar, where each year in a 12-year cycle is assigned an animal. The cycle changes to a new animal each year at the Chinese New Year, which falls between January 21 and February 20 on the Gregorian calendar.
How Does the Chinese Zodiac Influence People?
The Chinese zodiac is believed to influence various aspects of life, including:
- Personalities: Each animal is associated with specific traits that are said to be reflected in the personalities of those born in that year.
- Relationships: Certain signs are said to be more compatible with others, influencing relationships.
- Careers: The zodiac is also thought to indicate which careers are more suitable for individuals based on their birth year.
- Precautions: The Chinese zodiac system is also believed to indicate when people need to take extra precautions. The return after 12 years of people’s birth year sign (ben ming nian) is thought to be unlucky, so people are extra cautious when their birth year sign cycles around again.
### What is wuxing?
Ancient Chinese cosmology developed the concept of wuxing, the five basic elements of earth, wood, metal, fire, and water. These elements underlie the universe, and their cycles explain change in the cosmos. The cycle of elements intersects with the cycle of 12 zodiac signs, yielding specific combinations and allowing for further predictive specificity for astrological calculations.
### How did the Chinese zodiac come to be?
While some earlier scholars suggested there was Mesopotamian influence on Chinese astrology, 21st-century research suggests that the Chinese astrological system developed independently. The Chinese zodiac possibly can be traced to the Warring States period (475–221 BCE), other sources place its beginning in the Qin dynasty (221–207 BCE), and others during the Han dynasty (206 BCE–220 CE). By the latter half of the Han dynasty, the system was firmly established as part of Chinese cultural life.
### Is the Chinese Zodiac recognized in other countries?
Asian countries neighboring China have adopted the Chinese mythology of the zodiac. The Chinese model is known in North Korea and South Korea, Cambodia, and Singapore. Sometimes variations of the list of animals occurred in the process of translation from China to other regions.
Understanding the animal that rules a particular year can provide insights into various cultural beliefs and traditions. Want to discover more about the cultural nuances of the Chinese Zodiac?