Chinese zodiac (生肖，Shēngxiào)，literally means "birth likeness". It is also called animal signs. It is part of Chinese folk culture. The Twelve Earthly Branches (十二地支) respond to the Twelve Animals（十二生肖. Earthly Branches and the Twelve Animal signs are brainchild of Chinese ancestors. Generally, the former are used in calculating hours while the latter numbering years.
Signs: The order of 12 animals begin with the sign of Rat, are followed by Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. The 12 Earthly Branches have two types branches: Yin and Yang
Yang branch(阳支):子、寅、辰、午、申、戌；
Yin branch(阴支):丑、卯、巳、未、酉、亥.
Twelve Animal is a scheme and systematic plan of future action that relates each year to an animal and its reputed attributes according to a 12-year mathematical cycle.