By the sixth century, Japan had adopted the Chinese zodiac, a set of 12 calendar symbols that correspond to times of the day, points on a compass, and years (but not months, as in the Western zodiac) in a repeating cycle. Each of the 12 years is associated with an animal, beginning with the rat and followed by the ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat or sheep, monkey, rooster or chicken, dog, and wild boar.

Auspicious meanings assigned to zodiac animals make them symbols of good fortune and popular subjects for works of art. Images of the fertile rabbit, for example, are used in prayers for healthy children, while the white rat, messenger of the god of wealth, signaled a good harvest. Throughout the exhibition Every Living Thing: Animals in Japanese Art, zodiac animals are portrayed in various roles—sometimes taking on human form in playful parodies, but also as protectors of the home, and as companions of Buddhist deities.

Do you know your zodiac animal? Share with family and friends to see how your personalities compare to each animals’ characteristic traits!

Seiyōdō Gansui, Rats on Boar Tusk, 1830, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Raymond and Frances Bushell Collection, photo © Museum Associates/LACMA

Rat

1924 ● 1936 ● 1948 ● 1960 ● 1972 ● 1984 ● 1996 ● 2008

Charming, ambitious, hard-working, easily angered, honest, strategic, financially successful

Toyomasa II, Resting Ox, mid-19th century, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Raymond and Frances Bushell Collection, photo © Museum Associates/LACMA

Ox

1925 ● 1937 ● 1949 ● 1961 ● 1973 ● 1985 ● 1997 ● 2009

Patient, steady, mentally alert, skilled speaker, inspires others, successful, keeps moving slowly but surely

Matsushita Otomitsu (or Otoman), Tiger, early to mid-19th century, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Raymond and Frances Bushell Collection, photo © Museum Associates/LACMA

Tiger

1926 ● 1938 ● 1950 ● 1962 ● 1974 ● 1986 ● 1998 ● 2010

Sensitive, stubborn, short-tempered, courageous, sympathetic

Tomokazu (school of), Rabbit, early 19th century, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Raymond and Frances Bushell Collection, photo © Museum Associates/LACMA

Rabbit

1927 ● 1939 ● 1951 ● 1963 ● 1975 ● 1987 ● 1999 ● 2011

Talented, reserved, admired, trustworthy, lucky, creative, wants to accomplish many things

Yoshimura Shūzan (after), Dragon Standing on Clouds, 19th century, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Raymond and Frances Bushell Collection, photo © Museum Associates/LACMA

Dragon

1928 ● 1940 ● 1952 ● 1964 ● 1976 ● 1988 ● 2000 ● 2012

Powerful, energetic, excitable, stubborn, sensitive, self-disciplined

Matsuda Sukenaga, Snake, mid-19th century, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Raymond and Frances Bushell Collection, photo © Museum Associates/LACMA

Snake

1929 ● 1941 ● 1953 ● 1965 ● 1977 ● 1989 ● 2001 ● 2013

Deep thinker, soft-spoken, wise, determined, hates to fail

Grazing Horse, Japan, early 19th century, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Raymond and Frances Bushell Collection, photo © Museum Associates/LACMA

Horse

1930 ● 1942 ● 1954 ● 1966 ● 1978 ● 1990 ● 2002 ● 2014

Talkative, quick thinker, wise, easily angered, successful

Sukenao, Goat Pair, early to mid-19th century, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Raymond and Frances Bushell Collection, photo © Museum Associates/LACMA

Sheep (or Goat)

1931 ● 1943 ● 1955 ● 1967 ● 1979 ● 1991 ● 2003 ● 2015

Elegant, passionate, nature-lover, quiet, artistic, kind

Kanō Tomokazu, Monkey with Young and Loquat, early 19th century, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Raymond and Frances Bushell Collection, photo © Museum Associates/LACMA

Monkey

1932 ● 1944 ● 1956 ● 1968 ● 1980 ● 1992 ● 2004 ● 2016

Skilled, clever, inventive, individualistic, financially savvy

Rooster, Japan, early 19th century, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Raymond and Frances Bushell Collection, photo © Museum Associates/LACMA

Rooster (or Chicken)

1933 ● 1945 ● 1957 ● 1969 ● 1981 ● 1993 ● 2005 ● 2017

Vocal, ambitious, busy, focused, takes pride in their work, fashion-conscious

Attributed to Garaku School, Dog Sitting in Padded Basket, late 18th–early 19th century, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Raymond and Frances Bushell Collection, photo © Museum Associate/LACMA

Dog

1934 ● 1946 ● 1958 ● 1970 ● 1982 ● 1994 ● 2006 ● 2018

Loyal, stubborn, good at keeping secrets, easygoing, humble, honest

Kaigyokusai Masatsugu, Wild Boar, mid- to late 19th century, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Raymond and Frances Bushell Collection, photo © Museum Associates/LACMA

Boar

1935 ● 1947 ● 1959 ● 1971 ● 1983 ● 1995 ● 2007 ● 2019

Brave, affectionate, strong, short-tempered, never gives up, focused on goals

Every Living Thing: Animals in Japanese Art is on view in the Resnick Pavilion through December 8, 2019.