What is the name of the 12-animal cycle used in Chinese astrology?

The 12-animal cycle used in Chinese astrology is called the Chinese zodiac.

It consists of Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Each animal corresponds to one of the 12 earthly branches, a traditional calendrical system used alongside the 10 heavenly stems.

The animals are commonly used to label years, but the system also traditionally associates them with months, days, and two-hour periods. This wider framework means the Chinese zodiac is more than a simple list of birth-year symbols.

The popular animal cycle is often linked in English with astrology, although its historical use is also calendrical and divinatory. The cycle does not reset on January 1: its annual change is tied to the traditional lunisolar calendar and Lunar New Year. Animal signs alone also do not identify the year completely, because elements create a repeating 60-year cycle.