Year of the Sheep / Goat

The Chinese zodiac sign is decided by the birth years which are calculated by the Chinese lunar calendar. Here is a chart for you to find the right zodiac sign of yours, which is the best way to check if you are a Sheep and see your element by the way.

Also, you can input your birthdays to the “Find Your Chinese Zodiac” tool.

There is an interesting legend regarding the sheep's inclusion in the Chinese zodiac. In ancient times, there was no grain on the earth and humanity had to live on vegetables and wild grass, resulting in bony appearances and sallow complexions. One autumn, a divine sheep went down from the Heavenly Palace to the earth and noticed the weak and malnourished state of humanity. Learning that there were no grains on the earth, the divine sheep resolved to bring humanity the seeds of the five grains. Under the cover of night, it stealthily entered the imperial fields in the Heavenly Palace, gathered the seeds of rice, millet, wheat, beans, and sorghum in its mouth, and carried them back to the human world. After giving the seeds to humanity and teaching them how to plant, the divine sheep returned to the Heavenly Palace. Humanity sowed the seeds, and that year, the crops grew. After the harvest, humanity held a grand ceremony to express their gratitude to the divine sheep.

However, when the God of Heaven Jade Emperor learned of this deeds, he felt angry at the divine sheep’s offense to him, and ordered its slaughter on the earth, instructing humans to eat its meat. The following year, where the divine sheep was executed, green grass sprouted first, followed by the appearance of lambs. From then on, sheep multiplied on the earth, feeding on grass and providing humans with meat and milk.

When the Jade Emperor decided to select twelve animals as the Chinese zodiac, humans unanimously recommended the sheep. Although the Jade Emperor was still angry about the sheep's theft of grain seeds, he could not oppose the will of so many humans and had to acquiesce to the sheep's inclusion.

As for why the sheep is ranked eighth in the Chinese zodiac, the explanation lies in the ancient Chinese timekeeping method. There are twelve time slots and the eighth period from 13:00 to 15:00 is called “Wei”. It is the optimal time to feed the sheep, so they chose the sheep to represent the “Wei” period. When coming to the order of the zodiac animals, they then gave the sheep the eighth position.

The distinction of Sheep, Goat, or Ram about the Chinese zodiac year of “Yang” has caused confusion to the English speaking world, as in the Chinese language, the character Yang can refer to all the ruminants. In fact, according to some professional studies, it is more likely to be the Year of the Goat as the goat is more common in Chinese ancient society. However, Chinese people don’t care too much about the choices of words. The images of Ram, Sheep, or Goat can all be found on the Chinese New Year stamps, paintings, and paper-cuts. Thus it has become a personal preference. The lovely and fluffy Sheep is favored by most people while Ram and Goat are choices for those who like strong and tough characteristics. 

Compared to other zodiac signs, people with the Chinese zodiac Sheep sign may not be so strong. Though sometimes suffered small diseases, they don’t need to worry too much about the physical health condition. They should care more about mental health as they often feel sad and frustrated, influenced by negative characteristics. The horrible mood may also affect body health. It is necessary for the Sheep to improve the mood when feeling down and a positive attitude will help to keep healthy. Regular exercise is also recommended to resist small diseases like throat inflammation, headache, and runny nose. 

For people born in the year of Sheep, 2025 can be a relatively smooth year. They are blessed with good fortune in career and relationships. It is likely for them to make a progress in work, receive appreciation from superiors and get promoted. Thanks to good interpersonal relationships, they can get both the latest industry information which is helpful for their career development and prompt help when they are upset from their friends and relatives. By contrast, they are not lucky in wealth and health. Businessmen may have difficulty in financing. Sound investment may be a good choice. To ensure good health condition, they are advised to follow a healthy diet and keep away from bad moods.