Explanation of the 12 Zodiacs and their elements

1. Tiger- The King of Spring

All things start again in Spring and this Zodiac represents the Beginning of the year. It carries within it the beginning of Wood, yang wood is its main element, hence King, and it is the birth of Summer's warmth. The Tiger month is mostly in February to early March. This is why the Chinese New Year is celebrated in February. Yang Earth energies are represented here as the major state of Yang, warm seasons, is now officially reborn.

            Main Energy- Yang Wood

            Cycle Energy- Yang Fire

            Base Energy- Yang Earth

2. Rabbit- The Queen of Spring

This represents the height of Spring and is also the prime time of Wood energies. Its main energy is yin wood, hence Queen. The Spring equinox always happens in the middle of the Rabbit month, which is mostly in March to early April. This carries a balance of yin and yang wood energies. Yang Earth energies are represented here as the major state of Yang, warm seasons, is alive and well.

            Main Energy- Yin Wood

            Royal Energy- Yang Wood

            Base Energy- Yang Earth

3. Dragon- The Grave of Water

This represents the death of Winter's frost and Spring's transitional period into Summer, which is mostly in April to early May. Since this is the end of Spring it carries within it yin wood energies, as yin represents endings. The main energy of the Dragon is yang Earth.

            Main Energy- Yang Earth

            End Energy- Yin Wood

            Death Energy- Yin Water

4. Snake- The Empress of Summer

This represents the beginning of Summer, a power season with strong heat energies. Because this is a power season, this zodiac has a balance of both yin and yang Fire energies, though with an emphasis on yin fire, hence Empress. It also carries within it the birth of Fall's harvest energies. This is mostly in May to early June. Yang Earth energies are implied as the major state of Yang is still alive.

            Main Energy- Yin Fire

            Major Energy- Yang Fire

            Cycle Energy- Yang Metal

            Base Energy- Yang Earth

5. Horse- The Emperor of Summer

This represents the height of the powerfully hot season of Summer, so it carries yin and yang Fire energies as well, with an emphasis on yang Fire, hence Emperor. The summer solstice is always in the middle of the Horse month which is mostly in June to early July. Yin Earth energies are implied here as the Summer Solstice marks when the state of Yang has ended, warm seasons, and the state of Yin has begun, bringing on the cold seasons and ending the warm seasons, days will start to get shorter from here as the major energies of Yin are reborn.

            Main Energy- Yang Fire

            Royal Energy- Yin Fire

            Base Energy- Yin Earth

6. Sheep- The Grave of Wood

This represents the death of Spring's growth, and harks the transition from Summer to Fall. Since this is the end of summer it carries with it yin Fire energies, as yin symbolizes death. The Sheep month is mostly in July to early August, and its main energy is yin Earth.

            Main Energy- Yin Earth

            End Energy- Yin Fire

            Death Energy- Yin Wood

7. Monkey- The King of Fall

This represents the beginning of autumn, so yang metal energies are implied as yang represents the start of things, yang Metal is also its main element, hence King. This also brings in the birth of Winter's cold, so yang Water energies are also implied here. The month of the Monkey is mostly in August to early September. Yang Earth energies are implied here as the major state of Yin, cold seasons, has just begun and is now alive and well.

            Main Energy- Yang Metal

            Cycle Energy- Yang Water

            Base Energy- Yang Earth

8. Rooster- The Queen of Fall

This represents when the balanced energies of Metal are at their prime state. The balanced energies of Metal are represented here as yin and yang Metal, with an emphasis on yin Metal, hence Queen. The month of the Rooster is mostly in September to early October. The Autumn equinox is always in the middle of this month. Yang Earth energies are implied as the state of Yin, cold seasons, is still alive.

            Main Energy- Yin Metal

            Royal Energy- Yang Metal

            Base Energy- Yang Earth

9. Dog- The Grave of Fire

The Dog month marks the death of Summer's warmth, so yin fire is implied here. It is also the end of Fall so yin metal is implied, as yin represents the end. This month is mostly in October to early November and marks the transitional period from Fall to Winter. The main element of the Dog is yang Earth.

            Main Energy- Yang Earth

            End Energy- Yin Metal

            Death Energy- Yin Fire

10. Pig- The Empress of Winter

Being part of one of the two major elements, namely Fire and Water, the Pig month represents a strong force of balanced Water, in its yin and yang state. The Pig's main element is yin Water, hence Empress. It also plants the seeds for the beginning of the growth of Spring, so yang wood is represented here as the birth of Wood energies manifesting. The Pig month is mainly from November to early December. The state of Yin is still strong so yang Earth energies are implied.

            Main Energy- Yin Water

            Major Energy- Yang Water

            Cycle Energy- Yang Wood

            Base Energy- Yang Earth

11. Rat- The Emperor of Winter

Its main energy is Yang Water, hence Emperor, but it carries inside it a balance of yin water as well. This marks the prime time of Water energies. The Winter solstice always is in the middle of this month, which is mostly in December to early January. This month marks the end of Yin energies, things will start to warm up, and days will start to become longer after the Winter solstice, this implies a change of major state, getting out of the cold seasons, so yin Earth is implied here as the end of the Yin state.

            Main Energy- Yang Water

            Royal Energy- Yin Water

            Base Energy- Yin Earth

12. Ox- The Grave of Metal

The Ox represents the end of Winter, bringing yin Water and the end of Fall's harvesting energies, bringing yin Metal, and the official end to the major Yin energies, cold seasons. Its main element is yin Earth. The month of the Ox is mostly in January to early February. This is a transitional period from Winter to Spring.

            Main Energy- Yin Earth

            End Energy- Yin Water

            Death Energy- Yin Metal