Zodiac signs and the Chinese horoscope

After years of continuous requests, here’s an article about the Chinese Zodiac : )

The Chinese Zodiac, or shengxiao (生肖), has twelve symbols, just like the western one (given to us by the ancient Greeks). And, even in this case, each sign is associated with particular character traits. The difference is that while in our Zodiac each symbols corresponds with a certain month, the Chinese Zodiac corresponds with a particular year, For example, 2015 is the year of the Goat!

Why does each sign correspond with an animal?

It is said that Buddha, when he was near to dying, gathered all animals of the earth. However only twelve bothered to come say goodbye. So he – being magnanimous as few others could – decided to reward them by baptizing each lunar phase with the name of one of the animals that came. The first to show up was the mouse (never trust the rats). After that, arriving in order were the buffalo, the tiger, the rabbit, the dragon, the snake, the horse, the goat, the monkey, the rooster, the dog and the pig (the usual latecomer).

Another version of the story says that one say the gods decided that each animal should correspond to a symbol on a  First come, First serve basis. And so the first twelve to show up took all the available symbols.

Personally, being a notoriously practical person, tend to believe the following explanation: six of the symbols correspond to the most common domestic animals in China (buffalo, horse, goat, rooster, pig and dog) while the other six are, historically, beloved animals by the Chinese (mouse, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake and monkey).

Personality and (romantic) compatibility between Chinese Zodiac signs

• The Mouse (鼠) is compatible with the Dragon, the Monkey and the Buffalo; it is incompatible with the Goat, the Horse and the Rabbit. The Mouse is wise, ambitious and persuasive.

• The Buffalo (牛) is compatible with the Mouse, the Snake and the Rooster; it is incompatible with the Horse, the Dog and the Goat. The Buffalo is loyal, trustworthy and determined.

• The Tiger (虎) is compatible with the Horse and the Dog; it is incompatible with the Snake and the Monkey. The tiger is courageous and charismatic. In other words, a leader.

• The Rabbit (兔) is compatible with the Goat, the Pig and the Dog; it is destined to divorce with the Mouse and the Dragon. The Rabbit is modest, sincere and sociable.

• The Dragon (龍) is compatible with the Mouse, the Monkey and the Rooster; it is incompatible with the Buffalo, the Rabbit and the Dog. The Dragon is eccentric and spiritual. An artist.

• The Snake (蛇) is compatible with the Buffalo and the Rooster; it is destined to divorce with the Tiger and the Pig. The Snake is intelligent, intuitive and elegant.

• The Horse (马) is compatible with the Tiger, the Goat and the Dog; it is incompatible with the Mouse, the Buffalo and the Rabbit. The Horse is loyal, ambitious and strong.

• The Goat (羊) is compatible with the Rabbit, Horse and Pig; it is incompatible with the Buffalo and the Dog. The Goat is sensible, calm and given to certain tastes.
  Source: http://www.saporedicina.com/english/zodiac-signs-and-the-chinese-horoscope/