The Origins of Chinese Astrology According to Legend The myth and mystery that surround Chinese astrology make it difficult to appreciate its wisdom. But myth is part of its tradition. The fanciful legend of the Buddha and the 12 animals, for example, describes how Chinese astrology began: The Buddha invited every creature on earth to take part in a festival celebrating the new year, but only 12 arrived.

History | Chinese Lunar Calendar The Chinese zodiac consists of twelve animals that first appeared in the Zhan Guo period [5th century B.C.]. No one knows the exact date as of when the zodiac was essentially created, but they were officially identified during the Han Dynasty [206 B.C.-9 A.D.], which was over 2000 years ago.