The Chinese word refers to goats and sheep, while the words shānyáng (山 羊) and miányáng (绵 羊; 綿 羊) refer exclusively to goats and sheep. In English, the sign can be called either. The sheep In Japan on the other hand, the sign is hitsuji, while in Korea and Mongolia, the sign is ram and sheep. Within China, there may be regional differences with the zodiac being more likely to be thought of as a goat in the south, while tending is thought of as a sheep in the north.
Characteristics The Chinese generally regard sheep as an auspicious animal and therefore herald a year of promise and prosperity. "Yáng" (羊) is a part of another written Chinese word "xiang" (祥), which means auspiciousness, and the two were interchangeable in ancient Chinese, according to one source. It is part of the character "shan" (善), which counts goodness and kindness among its meanings.
People born within these dates can be said to be born in the "Year of the Goat", while carrying the following elemental sign.
| Start date |
End date |
Heavenly branch
|
|---|
| 13 February 1907 |
1 February 1908 |
Fire Goat
|
| 1 February 1919 |
19 February 1920 |
Earth Goat
|
| 17 February 1931 |
5 February 1932 |
Metal Goat
|
| 5 February 1943 |
24 January 1944 |
Water Goat
|
| 24 January 1955 |
11 February 1956 |
Wood Goat
|
| 9 February 1967 |
29 January 1968 |
Fire Goat
|
| 28 January 1979 |
15 February 1980 |
Earth Goat
|
| 15 February 1991 |
3 February 1992 |
Metal Goat
|
| 1 February 2003 |
21 January 2004 |
Water Goat
|
| 19 February 2015 |
7 February 2016 |
Wood Goat
|
| 6 February 2027 |
25 January 2028 |
Fire Goat
|
| 24 January 2039 |
11 February 2040 |
Earth Goat
|
| 11 February 2051 |
31 January 2052 |
Metal Goat
|
| 29 January 2063 |
16 February 2064 |
Water Goat
|
| 15 February 2075 |
4 February 2076 |
Wood Goat
|
| 3 February 2087 |
23 January 2088 |
Fire Goat
|
| 21 January 2099 |
08 February 2100 |
Earth Goat
|
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