Introduction

Sheng Xiao, also known as the Chinese Zodiac, is the relationship between the year one is born and an animal, based on the Chinese Lunar Calendar. Each cycle-every twelve years, consists of the year of the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. In Chinese superstition, your Ben Ming Nian (Zodiac Year of Birth), determines your luck, fortune, and attitude. Zodiac signs are categorized in many ways to influence and help create one’s perfect life. These categories divide the signs by yin and yang, the twelve earthly branches, the ten celestial stems, and the five elements. The twelve earthly branches, also called Dì Zhī, embodies the hours of the day. The ten celestial stems, also called, Tiān Gān, pair with one one of the earthly branches to create the Gan-Zhi sexagenary cycle. The Gan-Zhi sexagenary cycle has been used for thousands of years to form relationships between ones Dì Zhī and Tiān Gān using hours, days, and months. Every Earthly Branch represents two hours a day, for example, Zi or 子, represents 11 p.m to 1 a.m. All in all, each zodiac is separated in element, celestial/heavenly stem, earthly branch, and yin/yang, all to show ones compatibility or incompatibility.