The Tiger is linked with the first lunar month in traditional Chinese zodiac symbolism.
In traditional Chinese calendrical correspondences, the twelve animals can be connected with lunar months as well as years, hours, and earthly branches. The Tiger is associated with the first lunar month, while Rabbit corresponds to the second and Dragon to the third in the commonly cited sequence.
This month association does not mean that every person born during the first lunar month has the Tiger as a birth-year animal. Birth-year animals are determined by the lunar year, whereas month animals belong to a separate calendrical layer. Confusing those systems can produce an incorrect horoscope answer.
The Tiger’s place in the month cycle also relates to its earthly branch, Yin. Traditional interpretations connect Yin with the beginning of spring and the reawakening of seasonal energy, which helps explain why Tiger occupies the first position in this month correspondence.