The
Shengxiào literally "birth likeness", is also known in English as the
Chinese zodiac. Zodiac derives from the similar concept in western
astrology and means "circle of animals". It is a scheme and systematic plan of future action that relates each year to an animal and its reputed attributes according to a 12-year mathematical cycle. It remains popular in several
East Asian countries including China, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Philippines, Thailand and Mongolia.