mammoth ivory netsuke Twelve Zodiac Animal Rat N3153.wmv

The Chinese Zodiac is the 12-year cycle formed by these 12 animals. They are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Each year of the 12-year cycle is named after one of the original 12 animals. Each animal has a different personality and different characteristics. Many Chinese believe that the year of a person's birth is the main factor in determining that person's personality, physical and mental attributes and degree of success and happiness throughout his lifetime.
Rat : 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008
Forthright, disciplined, systematic, meticulous, charismatic, hardworking, industrious, charming, eloquent, sociable, shrewd. Can be manipulative, vindictive, mendacious, venal, selfish, obstinate, critical, over-ambitious, ruthless, intolerant, scheming.