3）So to speak, the function of shengxiao expresses the Chinese people's expectations for love, life, health and career, and shengxiao signs themselves have become the symbols of totem culture for reunion, harmony, peace, health, happiness and successes.

2）The shengxiao culture has a long history in China. People not only number years with the 12 signs of shengxiao, but also endow them with different significations. For example, the dragon signifies sageness, the ox diligence, the horse ambitiousness, the rat alertness, the dog loyalty, the rabbit kindness, the pig honesty, the sheep docility, the tiger prowess, the monkey wisdom, the rooster nobility, and the snake auspiciousness.

1）It is a folk tradition in China to use one animal to symbolize the year of birth of a person. Shuxiang , also called shengxiao (any of the 12 animals representing the Earthly Branches), is a traditional way in China to number the years and to record a person's age.