The Chinese Zodiac is thousands of years old and easily predates its Western counterpart. Even today, millions of believers across the globe consult the Chinese Zodiac regularly. At the same time, Western Astrology is based on the months of the year, and the Chinese Zodiac is represented based on the year on Chinese lunar calendar years in a cycle. Your sign is determined by the year you were born (to be accurate, you must use a Chinese calendar). Each symbol and those born under it represented one of the 12 animals and ascribed a set of attributes the Chinese believe comprise the nature of each particular animal.

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Legend says that Buddha chose the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac. He invited those animals to visit him. Only 12 came to him; the first 12 will be selected with a year named after each one. Buddha used those animal signs to describe the human personality and named a year after each one in the order based on their arrival: the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and the Pig. Buddha honored each by using them to represent the phases of the Zodiac. "This is the animal that hides in our heart."