What are the twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac

The twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac, also known as the phases of the genus, are the twelve animals in China that match the twelve earthly branches with the year of a person's birth.

The zodiac (animal calendar) is also widely practiced among Asian peoples and certain countries in Eastern Europe and North Africa. Many poets have written poems depicting the zodiac. They have also been used in traditional Chinese medicine, animated cartoons, and in the name of a Jackie Chan movie; see the movie "The Chinese Zodiac" for details.

The Chinese zodiac, also known as the phases of the genus, is a Chinese folk method of calculating age and a very ancient dating method. It has gradually evolved into a Chinese custom today. It is used by some ethnic groups in China and East Asia to represent the year and the year in which a person is born. The cycle of the Chinese zodiac is 12 years.