Chinese Zodiac Print Series

The Chinese lunar calendar is the longest chronological record in history, dating from 2637 BCE when the Emperor Huang Ti introduced the first cycle of this zodiac in the 61st year of his reign. A complete cycle takes 60 years and is made up of five simple cycles of 12 years each. Twelve animals were assigned to each of the 12 years when, according to legend, the Lord Buddha summoned all the animals to come to him before he departed from Earth. Only twelve came [and] as a reward he named a year after each one in the order it arrived. First came the Rat, then the Ox, the Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Boar…. As the Chinese say, 'This is the animal that hides in your heart.'

- Theodora Lau, The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes

The drawings for these prints were made while living in Thailand and traveling with students in China, Hong Kong and Vietnam. Each animal represents a lunar year sign and has a companion drawing that is a visual meditation on the characteristics of people born under that sign in traditional Chinese cosmology. Scroll to the bottom of this page for a chart of the zodiac animals by year.

The drawings were printed on Stonehenge paper by Modern Printers of Faribault, Minnesota. Each print is hand-colored by the artist.

The prints are available for sale. Click an image below for size, mat, and pricing information, and to place an order.

Either everything is a miracle
Year of the Rat: Everything is a Miracle
Was there below
Year of the Ox: Was There Below
Year of the Tiger -- The Great Yu
Year of the Tiger: The Great Yu
Art has a light step
Year of the Rabbit: Art Has a Light Step
Uncertainty
Year of the Dragon: Uncertainty
Categories of the imagination
Year of the Snake: Categories of the Imagination
Many ways of looking
Year of the Horse: Many Ways of Looking
As long as the roots are not severed
Year of the Ram: As Long as the Roots are not Severed
Wonders of the visible
Year of the Monkey: Wonders of the Visible
Decorum of line
Year of the Rooster: Decorum of Line
What you see
Year of the Dog: What You See
Mysteries
Year of the Boar: Mysteries
Rat192419361948196019721984199620082020
Ox192519371949196119731985199720092021
Tiger192619381950196219741986199820102022
Rabbit192719391951196319751987199920112023
Dragon192819401952196419761988200020122024
Snake192919411953196519771989200120132025
Horse193019421954196619781990200220142026
Sheep193119431955196719791991200320152027
Monkey193219441956196819801992200420162028
Rooster193319451957196919811993200520172029
Dog193419461958197019821994200620182030
Boar193519471959197119831995200720192031