In the standard Chinese zodiac sequence, the third animal after Rat and Ox is the Tiger.
The twelve-animal cycle begins with Rat, followed by Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Each animal is paired with one of twelve earthly branches, creating a repeating sequence used in calendrical traditions.
Tiger is traditionally associated with courage, strength, and authority in Chinese culture. It is also one of the four directional guardians in Chinese mythology, representing the west in some systems. The zodiac animal is determined by the lunar-year cycle, although the exact start date of a zodiac year follows the Chinese lunisolar calendar rather than January 1.
A common mistake is to assume that every Lunar New Year begins on the same Gregorian date. In reality, the date varies annually, usually falling between late January and mid-February.