The East Asian zodiac calendar is based on a twelve-year cycle with each year represented by an animal. The cycle begins with the year of the rat, and continues with the ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.
These twelve animals each belong either to the yang (heaven) element or yin (earth) element and manifest the five basic elements of fire, wood, water, metal, and soil. Besides these divisions, the animals also correlate to the system of twelve double-hour units, thus measuring the passage of time.
Similar to Western astrology, the animals mark the birth year of every individual, and are traditionally understood to play an important role in determining one’s personality, occupation, and relationships.
Of the twelve animals, the dragon is considered a popular favorite since it symbolizes vitality and good fortune. With the year of the dragon arriving this week, many people in Taiwan are looking toward an auspicious year ahead.