Unlike the International Calendar (the Gregorian Calendar), which is based on the months, the Chinese calendar is based strictly on astronomical observations of the Lunar cycle (the phases of the moon). The new Chinese year begins the second new moon after the Winter Solstice; meaning January or February of the Gregorian calender. Thus, those born in either of these months may actually be born in the Chinese year of the previous animal.
Examples: My daughter was born February 6, 1972. 1972 is the year of the rat. However, it did not become the year of the rat until February 16, 1972. So my daughter was born in the Chinese year of the pig/boar; 1971.
My niece was born January 13, 1971. 1971, as already stated, is the year of the pig/boar. Though the year of the pig/boar did not begin until January 27, 1971. So my niece was born in the Chinese year of the dog; 1970.
If you were born in January or February; not to worry. This program is accurate enough to pick up the correct animal sign for you. If you would like to confirm your animal sign refer to the
Chinese Lunar Years chart.
The Chinese years are grouped under 12 animal designations and are based on a legend regarding Lord Buddha. As he was getting ready to depart Earth he summoned all the animals to bid him farewell. Only 12 arrived and he honored them by naming a year after each animal in the order of their arrival:
Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.
The animal ruling the year of your birth has a major influence on all aspects of your life. It is said "this animal hides in your heart". The time of day and the season of birth also have some influence.
To discover what the Chinese animal says about you, select month, day, year and hours (optional, but beneficial to learn the animal of your birth hour) of your birth, and click submit button.
NOTE: It seems we have been having problems with the accuracy of this script with the years before 1960. The script seems to still be accurate for those born in January or February (based on before the new year has begun. To make sure of your date check my Chinese Lunar Years page.)
For those of you born after the new year has begun and before 1960 when you are using this script, after you hit submit, look at your date of birth right above the animal graphic (left side of the table above the animal graphic). It may possibly be a year later. If that is the case go back to where you submitted your year and put a year earlier. Example: I was born in 1946, but in doing this it came up with me being born in 1947. So I redid it using 1945 and it came up correct. Note, there is no problem month, day, or time or from 1960 on. They are correct.
We have gone over the script again and again and can not find the problem. It worked fine and then something happened, but no change ever happened in the script. So we are baffled. But fortunately we did find a solution to rectify the matter by for those born before 1960; just use the year before you were born. I do apologize for the inconvenience and no this does not make you a year older. 
