The Twelve Zodiac Animals and Earthly Branches
The Chinese zodiac (shengxiao), also known as the "animal signs," pairs twelve animals with the
twelve Earthly Branches to form a cyclical calendar in which each year is associated with an animal sign.
The system was fully established no later than the Eastern Han dynasty. The Han-dynasty scholar Wang Chong,
in his work Lunheng ("Discourses Weighed in the Balance"), chapter "Wu Shi" (The Nature of Things),
recorded the complete twelve-animal roster — identical to today's version:
"寅，木也，其禽虎也。戌，土也，其禽犬也。午，马也。子，鼠也。卯，兔也。亥，猪也。
已，蛇也。辰，龙也。酉，鸡也。申，猴也。丑，牛也。"
"Yin, of the wood element, its animal is the tiger. Xu, of the earth element, its animal is the dog. Wu is the horse. Zi is the rat. Mao is the rabbit. Hai is the pig. Si is the snake. Chen is the dragon. You is the rooster. Shen is the monkey. Chou is the ox." — Wang Chong, Lunheng, "Wu Shi" (Eastern Han, c. 1st century CE)
| Earthly Branch | Zodiac Animal | Time Period | Element |
|---|
| 子 | Rat (鼠) | 23:00–01:00 | Water (水) |
| 丑 | Ox (牛) | 01:00–03:00 | Earth (土) |
| 寅 | Tiger (虎) | 03:00–05:00 | Wood (木) |
| 卯 | Rabbit (兔) | 05:00–07:00 | Wood (木) |
| 辰 | Dragon (龙) | 07:00–09:00 | Earth (土) |
| 巳 | Snake (蛇) | 09:00–11:00 | Fire (火) |
| 午 | Horse (马) | 11:00–13:00 | Fire (火) |
| 未 | Goat (羊) | 13:00–15:00 | Earth (土) |
| 申 | Monkey (猴) | 15:00–17:00 | Metal (金) |
| 酉 | Rooster (鸡) | 17:00–19:00 | Metal (金) |
| 戌 | Dog (狗) | 19:00–21:00 | Earth (土) |
| 亥 | Pig (猪) | 21:00–23:00 | Water (水) |
Zodiac Naming: Auspicious and Inauspicious Radicals
Folk naming tradition assigns auspicious and inauspicious character radicals based on each zodiac animal's
natural habits. The logic: characters with radicals that align with an animal's nature are considered fortunate,
while those associated with its natural enemies or conflicts are avoided. These practices belong to regional folk
tradition rather than classical canon. The most common beliefs for each animal are listed below:
Rat (鼠) — Auspicious radicals: 米, 豆, 禾
The rat feeds on grain, so radicals such as 米 (rice), 豆 (bean), 禾 (grain), 麦 (wheat), and 粱 (millet) are favored,
symbolizing abundance. Radicals 宀 (roof) and 广 (shelter) are also auspicious, since rats dwell in burrows.
Inauspicious: radicals related to 午/马 (horse), since 子 (Rat) and 午 (Horse) clash (zi-wu chong).
Also avoid 日 (sun), as rats shun daylight.
Ox (牛) — Auspicious radicals: 艹, 禾
The ox grazes on grass and toils in the fields, so radicals 艹 (grass), 禾 (grain), 田 (field), and 水 (water)
are favorable, suggesting ample pasture and water.
Inauspicious: radicals related to 羊 (goat) and 马 (horse), since 丑 (Ox) clashes with 未 (Goat) and harms
午 (Horse). Also avoid 心/忄 (heart), as oxen are herbivores by nature.
Tiger (虎) — Auspicious radicals: 山, 林, 王
The tiger is the king of the mountains, so radicals 山 (mountain), 林 (forest), 木 (wood), 王 (king),
and 大 (great) are auspicious, befitting its majesty.
Inauspicious: radicals related to 申/猴 (monkey), since 寅 (Tiger) and 申 (Monkey) clash.
Also avoid 门 (gate) and 口 (mouth), suggesting a tiger trapped in a cage.
Rabbit (兔) — Auspicious radicals: 艹, 禾, 月
The rabbit feeds on plants and is associated with the Moon Palace (the legendary Jade Rabbit),
so radicals 艹 (grass), 禾 (grain), 月 (moon), and 宀 (roof) are favorable.
Inauspicious: radicals related to 酉/鸡 (rooster), since 卯 (Rabbit) and 酉 (Rooster) clash.
Also avoid 辰/龙 (dragon), since 卯 and 辰 harm each other.
Dragon (龙) — Auspicious radicals: 水, 日, 月, 王
The dragon commands clouds and rain and is chief among the Four Divine Creatures. Radicals 水 (water),
雨 (rain), 日 (sun), 月 (moon), 王 (king), and 大 (great) are auspicious.
Inauspicious: radicals related to 戌/狗 (dog), since 辰 (Dragon) and 戌 (Dog) clash.
Also avoid 虫 (insect) and 小 (small), evoking a dragon stranded in shallow waters.
Snake (蛇) — Auspicious radicals: 口, 宀, 木
The snake dwells in burrows and climbs trees, so radicals 口 (opening), 宀 (roof), 木 (wood), and 艹 (grass)
are favorable. (The snake is also called the "little dragon," so 小 (small) and 辰 (dragon) are sometimes used.)
Inauspicious: radicals related to 亥/猪 (pig), since 巳 (Snake) and 亥 (Pig) clash.
Also avoid 虎 (tiger), since 寅 and 巳 harm each other.
Horse (马) — Auspicious radicals: 艹, 禾, 木
The horse grazes on grass and gallops across open plains, so radicals 艹 (grass), 禾 (grain), 木 (wood),
and 衣 (clothing) are auspicious.
Inauspicious: radicals related to 子/鼠 (rat), since 子 (Rat) and 午 (Horse) clash.
Also avoid 牛 (ox), since 丑 and 午 harm each other.
Goat (羊) — Auspicious radicals: 艹, 禾, 木
The goat feeds on grass, so radicals 艹 (grass), 禾 (grain), 木 (wood), and 米 (rice) are favorable,
symbolizing abundant food and clothing.
Inauspicious: radicals related to 丑/牛 (ox), since 丑 (Ox) and 未 (Goat) clash.
Also avoid 犬/狗 (dog), since 未 and 戌 are mutually obstructive.
Monkey (猴) — Auspicious radicals: 木, 禾, 人
The monkey dwells in forests and is close to humans, so radicals 木 (wood), 禾 (grain), 人 (person),
and 口 (mouth) are auspicious.
Inauspicious: radicals related to 寅/虎 (tiger), since 寅 (Tiger) and 申 (Monkey) clash.
Also avoid 巳/蛇 (snake) — 巳 and 申 both punish and unite, with interpretations varying by tradition.
Rooster (鸡) — Auspicious radicals: 禾, 米, 豆, 山
The rooster eats grain and roosts on hills, so radicals 禾 (grain), 米 (rice), 豆 (bean), 山 (mountain),
and 宀 (roof) are auspicious.
Inauspicious: radicals related to 卯/兔 (rabbit), since 卯 (Rabbit) and 酉 (Rooster) clash.
Also avoid 犬/狗 (dog), since 酉 and 戌 harm each other.
Dog (狗) — Auspicious radicals: 人, 入, 宀
The dog guards the home and stays close to people, so radicals 人 (person), 入 (enter), 宀 (roof),
and 小 (small) are auspicious.
Inauspicious: radicals related to 辰/龙 (dragon), since 辰 (Dragon) and 戌 (Dog) clash.
Also avoid 酉/鸡 (rooster), since 酉 and 戌 harm each other.
Pig (猪) — Auspicious radicals: 豆, 米, 艹, 宀
The pig feeds on grain and is kept in a sty, so radicals 豆 (bean), 米 (rice), 艹 (grass), 宀 (roof),
and 口 (mouth) are auspicious, signifying ample food and secure shelter.
Inauspicious: radicals related to 巳/蛇 (snake), since 巳 (Snake) and 亥 (Pig) clash.
Also avoid 申/猴 (monkey), since 申 and 亥 harm each other.
A Rational Perspective
Zodiac-based naming advice is a body of folk custom accumulated over generations, reflecting the traditional
Chinese habit of drawing parallels between animal nature and human affairs. However, no single canonical text
codifies these rules, and different schools of thought sometimes give contradictory guidance. These traditions
belong to the realm of folk culture rather than empirical science. For modern naming, understanding the cultural
background is enough — there is no need to be bound by it. A name that sounds pleasing and carries sincere
meaning is what truly matters.
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