Astrological sign operate on cycles of years, lunar months, and two-hour periods of the day (also known as "shichen"). A particular feature of the Chinese zodiac is its operation in a 60-year cycle in combination with the Five Phases of Chinese astrology (Wood, Fire, Metal, Water and Earth). Nevertheless, some researches say that there is an obvious relationship between the Chinese 12-year cycle and zodiac constellations: each year of the cycle corresponds to a certain disposal of Jupiter. For example, in the year of Snake Jupiter is in the Sign of Gemini, in the year of Horse Jupiter is in the Sign
Chinese zodiac normally refers specifically to a sheep in the Korean language (where a native Korean word 염소 "yeomso" is used to mean "Goat"), although the Chinese source of the loanword "yang" may refer to any goat-antelope. The Japanese zodiac includes the "Sheep" ("hitsuji") instead of the "Goat" (which would be "yagi"), and the "Wild boar" ("inoshishi", "i") instead of the "Pig" ("buta"). The Japanese have, since 1873, celebrated the beginning of the new year on January 1 as per the Gregorian calendar. The Vietnamese zodiac is almost identical to the Chinese zodiac except the second animal is the "Water Buffalo" instead