The dragon is one of 12 Chinese zodiacs. About the year of the Dragon, when the year of the AD is divided by 12, the remainder of the result is 8, then it is the year of the Dragon. The formula is that the number of the year÷12=a quotient, and the remainder is 8. For example: 2012÷12=167······8, then the year of 2012 is the Year of the Dragon. The corresponding years of the Dragon are: 1892, 1904, 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1977, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024, 2036, 2048, 2060, 2072, 2084, 2096, etc.
The dragon ranks fifth in the Chinese zodiac. It is also called “Dragon Time” from 7:00 to 9:00 in the morning. The zodiac dragon is regarded as being noble and holy and ambitious and understanding, with a high degree of interest. It has the auspicious meaning of punishing evils and may the country be prosperous and the people at peace.
Although the dragon is the only fictional animal in the zodiac, the Chinese people are respectful and fearful of it. There is a special feeling with dragon. The dragon’s status is high and no animal can compare with it. In the Chinese mind, it is a kind of energy and it is a powerful animal. The emperor claimed to be the rightful king, and the people themselves were descendants of the dragon. People use their infinite imagination to make the dragon magical and great. They gather the images of various animals in the dragon, the wildness of the beast, the understanding of human beings, the spirituality of God, and have created many legends of dragons. These legends after the folk processing and the literati’s touches, are even more fascinating. People’s psychology of respecting dragons and loving dragons is more sublimated into a kind of worship. Perhaps this is also the cultural factor for the dragon to become a zodiac.
For the character and temper of people who were born during the years of the Dragon: they are the pioneering role who are optimistic and positive, and have a strong and enterprising spirit, have a noble belief, and they are serious and responsible, honest, decisive, enthusiastic, outgoing, etc.