Year of the Pig: The Twelfth Animal of the Chinese Zodiac

The Pig is the twelfth and last animal of the Chinese zodiac. People born in a Year of the Pig are said to share its traits, and the most recent Pig year began in 2019; the next begins in early 2031.

How the Chinese zodiac works

The Chinese zodiac assigns one of twelve animals to each year in a repeating cycle: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. Each year is also paired with one of five elements, wood, fire, earth, metal and water, so a full cycle of animal and element takes sixty years. 2019 was an Earth Pig year; 2031 will be a Metal Pig year. The zodiac year begins at Chinese New Year, in late January or February, not on 1 January.

Why is the Pig last?

A popular folk story tells of a great race called by the Jade Emperor to decide the order of the animals. The Pig, stopping to eat and nap along the way, arrived last. It is a legend rather than history, but it is the explanation most children in China learn.

The pig in Chinese life

Pigs have been raised in China since the Neolithic period, and the animal sits at the heart of Chinese domestic life. The character for "home", 家, is traditionally explained as a pig beneath a roof. As a result, the pig came to stand for plenty, comfort and a well-provided household.

Pig-year traits

Popular zodiac lore describes people born in the Year of the Pig as generous, honest, sociable and fond of life's pleasures. Those descriptions are traditional personality lore and a source of enjoyment, not predictions.

The Year of the Pig in jewellery

A Pig design is a natural gift for someone born in a Pig year, or a playful sign of good living. You can see the AURYN Chinese zodiac Pig pendant, or read our guide to Chinese auspicious symbols.