Rat

The Rat is the first of the 12-year cycle of animals in the Chinese zodiac. People born in the Year of the Rat are known for being quick-witted, resourceful, versatile, and kind. They have strong intuition and quick response, and can adapt to any environment. Of course, personality is shaped by far more than birth year -- the full Bazi (Four Pillars) system considers the month, day, and hour of birth for a much more detailed profile.

Check the "Compatibility" section above for the Rat's best and least compatible matches. These pairings come from the traditional Six Harmonies and Six Clashes rules of the Earthly Branch system. Best matches share complementary energy, while clashing signs sit opposite each other on the zodiac wheel.

The Rat's lucky numbers are 2, 3, and its lucky colors are Blue, Gold, Green. Lucky flowers include Lily, African Violet. These associations are drawn from the Five Elements system and the traditional correspondences between each animal sign and various natural elements.

The zodiac repeats on a 12-year cycle, so the next Year of the Rat will come 12 years after the most recent one. Check the years listed at the top of this page and add 12 to the latest year shown. Remember that the zodiac year starts at Chinese New Year, not on January 1.

Your zodiac year (Ben Ming Nian) comes every 12 years and is traditionally seen as a year of ups and downs. The belief is that you "offend" Tai Sui, the presiding deity of the year. Common precautions include wearing red -- underwear, socks, bracelets, or waist bands -- throughout the year, as red is thought to deflect misfortune. Some people also visit temples to pray to Tai Sui at the start of the year. Whether you take it seriously or treat it as a cultural tradition, it's a good reminder to be a bit more cautious and thoughtful in a Ben Ming Nian year.