Chinese Zodiac-Year of the Sheep / Goat / Ram

The Year of the Sheep (羊年) is the eighth animal year in the Chinese zodiac and corresponds with the Earthly Branch "Wei" (未). The Sheep is associated with the element of Earth, specifically Yin Earth. Other Earthly animals include the Ox (牛), Dragon (龙), Sheep (羊), and Dog (狗).

Year of the Sheep: Example Years

The recent Years of the Sheep include 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, and 2015.

How to Calculate the Year of the Sheep

To determine if a year is the Year of the Sheep, divide the lunar year by 12, and check if the remainder is 11. If the remainder is 11, that year is a Year of the Sheep.

Origin of the Sheep in Chinese Zodiac

The Legend of the Sheep

In ancient times, there were no grains or crops, and humanity survived on vegetables and wild herbs, leading to malnutrition. One autumn, a divine sheep descended from the heavenly palace to the human world and noticed that people were weak and unhealthy. Upon learning that humans didn’t plant grains and didn’t even know what grains were, the divine sheep took pity and promised to bring them seeds in the future. At that time, only the heavenly palace had nutritious grains. The stingy Jade Emperor was reluctant to share the grains with humans.

One night, while the gods in the heavenly palace were asleep, the divine sheep sneaked into the imperial fields and secretly picked grains (such as rice, millet, wheat, beans, and hemp), keeping them in its mouth. Before dawn, the sheep went down to the human world and gave the seeds to the people, teaching them how to plant them. The people were excited to receive the grains and planted them. That year, the crops grew well, and during harvest, the grains looked like sheep heads and tails. The grains tasted sweet and fragrant, and the clothes made from the hemp were light and warm. After harvesting and storing the crops for the winter, the people held a grand ceremony to thank the divine sheep.

This ceremonial harvest and winter storage ritual is still observed in some rural areas today as part of ancestral worship.

When the Jade Emperor learned of the harvest and the gifts of the divine sheep, he became angry, thinking the sheep had stolen the grains from the heavenly palace. He ordered the sheep to be punished, and the people were instructed to eat its meat.

The next year, something miraculous happened. Where the divine sheep had been executed, grass first grew, followed by lambs. The sheep began to multiply on Earth, living off grass and selflessly providing their meat and milk to humans. Out of gratitude for the sheep’s sacrifice, humans began to hold a sacrificial ceremony each year to honor the sheep.

When the Jade Emperor decided to select twelve animals as symbols for the zodiac, the people unanimously chose the sheep as one of them. Although the Jade Emperor was still upset over the sheep’s actions, he reluctantly agreed, and the sheep became one of the twelve zodiac animals.

Lunar Year of the Sheep

The Lunar Years of the Sheep include the following years:

• 1907, 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027, 2039, 2051, 2063, 2075, 2087, and 2099.

How to Determine the Year of the Sheep

To determine if a year is the Year of the Sheep, divide the lunar year by 12 and check if the remainder is 11.

Formula:

• Lunar Year ÷ 12 = quotient, with a remainder of 11.

For example:

• 2003 ÷ 12 = quotient 166, remainder 11, so 2003 is the Year of the Sheep.

In Chinese tradition, the Year of the Sheep begins on Lunar New Year's Day (正月初一) and ends on New Year's Eve (除夕). However, in Bazi astrology, the year calculation begins with Li Chun (立春), which typically occurs around February 3rd or 4th.

Fun Facts and Folklore about the Sheep

"Ten Sheep, Nine Full Blessings" – A Folklore Saying

In some regions, a popular saying goes: "Ten sheep bring nine full blessings" (十羊九福全). This refers to the belief that the Year of the Sheep brings blessings and prosperity, with the majority of people born in this year enjoying good fortune.

The Symbolism of the Sheep

The Sheep symbolizes gentleness, kindness, and compassion in Chinese culture. People born in the Year of the Sheep are often seen as nurturing, gentle, and compassionate individuals who possess a deep sense of empathy for others.