Animal Symbolisms
Ideas, customs and social behaviour of a particular people or society
THE CHINESE CALENDAR
It is believed that the 12 animals on the Chinese Zodiac calendar were the animals that appeared in response to an invitation to a celebration from Buddha or the Jade Emperor. Another legend says that the animals fought over their place on the calendar. In order to fairly resolve the conflict, the gods had them race across a river. The order of the animals on the calendar reflects their completion of the race—the rat placing first and the pig finishing last.

Each year of the Chinese Zodiac is represented by a different animal: 
  • The 12 animals are: the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.

There are also five elements assigned to the 12 animals (years), giving different characteristics to each animal (year). Assigning each of the five elements to the 12 years creates 60 different combinations that results in a 60-year cycle.
  • The five elements are:  metal, water, wood, fire, and earth.

Read more: The Chinese Zodiac | Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/calendar/chinese-zodiac.html#ixzz2s9sKUbWG
Each sign has personality traits:
  • Rat:           quick-witted, smart, charming, and persuasive
  • Ox:            patient, kind, stubborn, and conservative
  • Tiger:        authoritative, emotional, courageous, and intense
  • Rabbit:     popular, compassionate, and sincere
  • Dragon:    energetic, fearless, warm-hearted, and charismatic
  • Snake:      charming, gregarious, introverted, generous, and smart
  • Horse:      energetic, independent, impatient, and enjoy traveling
  • Sheep:      mild-mannered, shy, kind, and peace-loving
  • Monkey:   fun, energetic, and active
  • Rooster:   independent, practical, hard-working, and observant
  • Dog:         patient, diligent, generous, faithful, and kind
  • Pig:           loving, tolerant, honest, and appreciative of luxury

Visit:   The Chinese Zodiac | Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/calendar/chinese-zodiac.html#ixzz2s9tQdB00

Animal Symbolism in Decoration and Feng Shui
Badger   - Great happiness 
Bat         -  Longevity, happiness, good luck,  a pair of bats = double good fortune; five bats = blessings (a long life,
                   riches, health, love of virtue and a natural death)
Bee          - Industry, industrious
Birds        - Associated with the sun 
Bixie        - Mythological winged lion with two horns, that keeps evil at bay (
Butterfly - Long life, beauty and elegance;  
  • A pair of butterflies = love, specifically young love, happy social life for the young, undying bond between lovers, represents yang energy of yin - yang, embroidered on clothing it strengthens the energy of love 
  • Butterfly and cat - wish for long live up to old age
  • Butterfly, on hand - live to happy old age
  • Butterfly, sipping nectar from peony - lover tasting joys of passion
  • Butterfly with plum blossoms - long life, beauty
Cat          - Disperses evil spirits (due to eye sight, also at night)
Crab        - Advantage/ benefit in business, prosperity, social status
Cicada    - Eternal youth and happiness, immortality, life after death 
Cock       - Reliability, epitome of fidelity and punctuality, the rooster is also a symbol of advancement. 
  • Cock, red - protecting ones house from fire
  • Cock, white - protecting ones house from fire and chasing away demons
  • Cock, five - reminding parents to educate their sons (and hopefully daughters as well) 
Crane - Longevity (four colours: black, blue, white, yellow), next to the phoenix the second most important winged animal (note: spirits can ride on a crane)
  • Crane, among clouds - wisdom, nobility 
  • Crane, black - longest longevity
  • Crane, pair of - long marriage, ultimate longevity
  • Crane, pine trees - determination, power, wealth
Cricket    -  Fighting spirit
Crow      - Three legged - it is often thought to inhabit and represent the sun, the sun is sometimes depicted by the three legged bird (crow) on a red disc. 
Deer        - Wealth, long life (as the animal has, if not hunted down)
Dog       -  Auspicious animal, upcoming fortune, understanding human spirit, obeying the superior poodle (especially black)- more fortune
Dove       - Fidelity
Dragon   - Male vigour, fertility, ultimate abundance, prosperity, good fortune also the symbol for the Emperor, divine mystical creature, symbol of the natural world, adaptability, transformation 
  • Dragon - pair of, placed together and turned away - eternity, yin - yang
  • Dragon and phoenix - husband and wife, also symbol for Emperor and Empress,
  • The (Azure) Dragon is one of the four spiritual creatures, it is guarding the East.
  • Five clawed dragons are a symbol of the Emperor, the Son of Heaven, and imperial family, dragons with fewer claws can adorn hanging fabrics, decorative textiles etc. 
Duck    - Married bliss 
  • Duck in reed - wishing for positive examination results
Eagle    - Strength 
  • Eagle, on a rock in the sea - hero
Elephant - Strength, astuteness 
  • Elephant, being ridden - happiness 
Fish   - Abundance, wealth 
  • Fish, pair of golden carp - love, domestic felicity, partnership, tenacity, fertility, renewal, abundance
  • Eel - fertility, illusiveness 
  • Koi fish, red or black - success, wealth
Goose              - Delivery of matrimonial messages, married bliss, resourcefulness
Grasshopper  - Nobility and wisdom 
Heron with lotus flowers - wishing for positive future, success in ones doing 
Horse             - Speed and perseverance
Kingfisher     - Peace, prosperity 
Leopard        - Bravery and martial ferocity 
Lion               - Holy being: strength, protection, valour and energy
Lobster         - Regeneration, resoluteness (similar to crab) 
Magpie/ bird - Attract joy connected with unity of people, stability, celebrations, happy occasions and great happiness
Mantis          - Mystery
Monkey        - Driving away evil spirit 
Ox                - Springtime is near 
Panda          - Symbol of Man
Parrot           - Warning to stay faithful in relationship
Peacock       - Dignity, beauty, activate luck and fame
Pheasant    - A common emblem for beauty and good fortune
Pig               - Tolerance and optimism
Rabbit         - Representing hope
Quail           - CourageRat (鼠 - shǔ) - the rat is one of the animals of the Chinese Zodiac.
Shrimp        - Long life 
Snake          - Woman, supernatural power, cunning
Tiger            - Courage, bravery, and strength
Tortoise / Turtle  - Longevity, immortality 
Water Buffalo    - Spring is near