Chinese Zodiac Animals十二生肖 shí'èr shēngxiào · the 12 signs in order

The best-known explanation is the story of the Great Race. The Jade Emperor announced that the first twelve animals to cross a river would each have a year named after them. The Rat won by riding on the Ox and jumping ahead at the finish; the Pig stopped to eat and sleep and came last. Each animal's page tells its part of the story.

The zodiac is also tied to the twelve Earthly Branches (地支, dìzhī), an old counting system used for years, months and the twelve two-hour periods of the day. That is why each animal has its own hours.