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Legend says that the Emperor Huangdi held a competition and said the order in which the zodiac animals arrived at his palace would decide the order of the 12-cycle. The Rat climbed up the Ox’s head and became the first of the animal signs. 
Facts of Chinese Zodiac Rat
Chinese: 鼠 (Shǔ)
Earthly Branches: Zi (子)
Energy: Yang
Five Elements: Water (Shui 水)
Year of Rat is the first in the 12-year cycle of animal years of the Chinese Zodiac. Rat years are …1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020… If you were born in one of the years, you are a Rat.

Years of Rat
Years sharing the same animal sign and element repeat every 60 years. The five elements are Fire, Earth, Metal (Gold), Water and Wood. It is said that birth animal signs and elements decide people's characteristics.

Rat's Personality
Occupying the 1st and most prominent position on the Chinese Zodiac, the Rat symbolizes such character traits as wit, imagination and curiosity. Rats have keen observation skills and with those skills they’re able to deduce much about other people and other situations. Overall, Rats are full of energy, talkative and charming but they have a tendency to become aggressive.
Rats are full of good advice but they will never share their troubles with others. They are honest individuals and they enjoy living for the moment. They’re also capable of surviving any situation.

Health
Overall Rats enjoy good health. They’re very active which helps keep them in shape and able to fight off sickness. They can at times be tense, aggressive, and full of nervous energy, conditions which can lead to stress. Regular exercise designed to calm will benefit Rats.

Career
Extremely perceptive and wise, Rats can focus on the big picture. That ability along with their good judgment enables Rats to solve problems before they arise. Rats focus on titles because titles translate into status and money; two motivating forces. Rats make excellent bosses. Routine halts their creativity so Rats need flexible positions that allow creativity. Good career choices include: administrator, director, manager, entrepreneur, broadcaster, writer, musician, stand-up comedian, politician, lawyer, researcher, and race car driver.

Relationships
Rats are very charming. They enjoy social activities and because they’re out a lot, they’re always meeting new people. They aren’t good at breaking off relationships however, and this presents problems going forward with new relationships. Anyone hoping to partner with a Rat must be able to keep up with the Rat’s active nature.

Compatibility
Rats are compatible with a Dragon and Monkey and incompatible with a Horse and Rabbit.

Worst Match: Rabbit, Horse, Sheep, Rooster

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12 Zodiac Signs
There has been a relationship between human and the 12 zodiacal animals. It is believed that the years represented by the animals affect the characters of people in the same way like the western astrology signs. 

Rat	Ox	Tiger	Rabbit
Dragon	Snake	Horse	Sheep
Monkey	Rooster	Dog	Pig