function calculateZodiac() {
var birthYearInput = document.getElementById("birthYear");
var year = parseInt(birthYearInput.value);
var animalDisplay = document.getElementById("animalDisplay");
var characteristicsDisplay = document.getElementById("characteristicsDisplay");
if (isNaN(year) || year new Date().getFullYear()) {
animalDisplay.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid birth year (e.g., 1900 – " + new Date().getFullYear() + ").";
characteristicsDisplay.innerHTML = "";
animalDisplay.style.color = '#e74c3c';
return;
}
var zodiacAnimals = [
"Rat", "Ox", "Tiger", "Rabbit", "Dragon", "Snake",
"Horse", "Goat", "Monkey", "Rooster", "Dog", "Pig"
];
var animalCharacteristics = {
"Rat": "Intelligent, quick-witted, charming, and resourceful. Can be cunning and secretive.",
"Ox": "Diligent, dependable, strong, and determined. Can be stubborn and conservative.",
"Tiger": "Brave, confident, competitive, and unpredictable. Can be impulsive and irritable.",
"Rabbit": "Gentle, quiet, elegant, and responsible. Can be timid and overly cautious.",
"Dragon": "Confident, intelligent, enthusiastic, and charismatic. Can be arrogant and impatient.",
"Snake": "Intelligent, wise, enigmatic, and intuitive. Can be cunning and possessive.",
"Horse": "Active, energetic, independent, and enthusiastic. Can be impatient and superficial.",
"Goat": "Calm, gentle, sympathetic, and creative. Can be indecisive and pessimistic.",
"Monkey": "Sharp, clever, curious, and playful. Can be mischievous and restless.",
"Rooster": "Observant, hardworking, courageous, and confident. Can be boastful and critical.",
"Dog": "Loyal, honest, cautious, and responsible. Can be stubborn and pessimistic.",
"Pig": "Compassionate, generous, diligent, and honest. Can be naive and easily fooled."
};
// The Chinese Zodiac cycle starts with the Rat.
// The year 1900 is the year of the Rat.
// (year – 1900) % 12 gives the index relative to 1900.
// If 1900 is Rat (index 0), then (1900 – 1900) % 12 = 0.
// If 1901 is Ox (index 1), then (1901 – 1900) % 12 = 1.
// This formula works directly for the given array order.
var zodiacIndex = (year – 1900) % 12;
if (zodiacIndex < 0) { // Handle years before 1900 correctly for modulo
zodiacIndex += 12;
}
var animal = zodiacAnimals[zodiacIndex];
var characteristics = animalCharacteristics[animal];
animalDisplay.innerHTML = animal;
characteristicsDisplay.innerHTML = "Characteristics: " + characteristics;
animalDisplay.style.color = '#2c3e50'; // Reset color to default
}
Understanding Your Chinese Zodiac Animal
The Chinese Zodiac, known as Sheng Xiao (生肖), is a repeating cycle of 12 years, with each year represented by an animal and its reputed attributes. Originating from ancient Chinese astronomy and astrology, it's a popular system used to determine personality traits, compatibility, and even fortune.
How is Your Zodiac Animal Determined?
Unlike Western astrology, which is based on the month of birth, the Chinese Zodiac is primarily determined by the year of birth. Each of the 12 animals—Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig—governs an entire year. The cycle repeats every 12 years.
It's important to note that the Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year) typically falls between late January and mid-February. If you were born in January or early February, your zodiac animal might be that of the previous Gregorian calendar year. For simplicity, this calculator uses the Gregorian calendar year for its calculation, which is common for general zodiac identification.
Each animal is also associated with one of the five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water), which further refines the personality traits and destiny of individuals born in that year. This elemental cycle repeats every 60 years.
Cultural Significance
The Chinese Zodiac plays a significant role in Chinese culture, influencing everything from marriage compatibility and career choices to daily horoscopes and major life decisions. Understanding your zodiac animal can offer insights into your own personality and how you interact with the world around you.