The Chinese Zodiac

Chinese zodiac is a scheme, and a systematic plan of future action, that is based on the year which in a person born.
Each year is represented by an animal in a 12-year cycle. 

The animal's cycle:
1. Rat. 2. Ox. 3. Tiger. 4. Rabbit. 5. Dragon. 6. Snake. 7. Horse. 8. Goat 9. Monkey. 10. Rooster. 11. Dog. 12. Pig.

After 12 years the cycle begins from the start (the first year that is represented by the rat), and repeats itself. 
The belief in the Chinese Zodiac remains popular in several East Asian countries, such as China, Vietnam, Korea, Taiwan and Japan.

Identifying this scheme using the term "zodiac" reflects time cycles divided into 12 parts, 
and is widely associated with a culture of attributing influence of a person's relationship to the cycle upon their personality and/or events in their life. 
The greatest difference from western astrology is that the animals of the Chinese zodiac are not associated with constellations.

In Chinese astrology the animal signs assigned by year represent what others perceive you as being or how you present yourself. 
Did you know? 
The Chinese Zodiac animals assigned by year are not the only signs. 
Actually, there are also animal signs assigned by month (called inner animals), by day (called true animals) and hours (called secret animals).