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There is an amazing theory regarding the origin of the Chinese Zodiac, presented over 100 years ago by the German historian Franz Boll in his classical work Sphaera. http://www.hellenisticastrology.com/critical%20editions/Boll-Sphaera.pdf (Yeah, I know, it's in German.) In my opinion, Boll's theory deserves much more attention than it seems to have received so far. But actually, "Chinese Zodiac" is somewhat of a misnomer here since, through history, it has spread to countries as diverse as Mongolia, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Tibet, Turkestan, Eastern Turkey, and Persia. Now, Boll calls to attention the ancient Dodekaoros, which was likewise a circle of twelve animals The earliest description we have of it is by Teucer the Babylonian (approximately 1st century AD). The twelve animals of the Babylonians and Egyptians were sections either of the celestial equator or the ecliptic. It is unclear whether they were named after actual star constellations in their vicinity, but in any case, they were considered to be co-rising with the common twelve signs of the Zodiac. They were used to designate the twelve double hours of the day that were widely used in the ancient world. Just like the twelve animals in China historically! It should also be mentioned that in Chinese Astrology, the twelve branches (equivalents to the twelve animals) are indeed thought of as divisions of the ecliptic. Boll gives the following correspondences between the familiar Occidental Zodiac, the Dodekaoros, and the Chinese Zodiac, including some alternative names depending on the country: Aries Cat Dog Taurus Dog Rooster (Bird) Gemini Snake Monkey Cancer Beetle Sheep (Goat) Leo Donkey Horse Virgo Lion Snake Libra Buck Dragon (Crocodile) Scorpio Bull Rabbit Sagittarius Hawk Tiger (Panther) Capricorn Monkey Ox Aquarius Ibis Mouse Pisces Crocodile Pig What is remarkable is the number of same or similar animals (despite their different order): Monkey - Monkey Crocodile - Dragon (Crocodile in Persia) Dog - Dog Snake - Snake Buck - Sheep (Goat in Thailand) Bull - Ox Lion - Tiger (Panther in Mongolia) Donkey - Horse Ibis - Rooster (Bird in Persia) That's nine out of twelve - coincidence? Franz Boll didn't think so. And neither does... Michael