2022 虎年到啦！The Year of Tiger in China

十二生肖，又叫属相，是中国与十二地支相配以人出生年份的十二种动物，包括鼠、牛、虎、兔、龙、蛇、马、羊、猴、鸡、狗、猪。 

The 12 Chinese zodiac, also known as the Chinese zodiac, are the 12 animals in China that match the birth year of human beings with the 12 earthly branches, including rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.  

十二生肖的起源与动物崇拜有关。据考古证实，先秦时期即有比较完整的生肖系统存在。最早记载与现代相同的十二生肖的传世文献是东汉王充的《论衡》。 

The origin of the Chinese zodiac is related to animal worship. According to archaeological evidence, there was a relatively complete zodiac system in the pre-Qin period. The earliest document to record the 12 zodiac signs that are the same as those in modern times is Lun Heng by Wang Chong in the Eastern Han Dynasty. 

传说轩辕黄帝要选十二动物担任宫廷卫士，猫托老鼠报名，结果老鼠忘了，从此猫见老鼠就寻仇；原本推牛为首，老鼠偷偷爬上牛背占先机。

Legend regulus yellow Emperor to choose twelve animals as court guards, the cat to mouse registration, the results of the mouse forgot, from the cat to see the mouse to seek revenge;  Originally pushed the ox head, the rat secretly climbed on the back of the ox to take the lead.  

十二生肖是十二地支的形象化代表，即子（鼠）、丑（牛）、寅（虎）、卯（兔）、辰（龙）、巳（蛇）、午（马）、未（羊）、申（猴）、酉（鸡）、戌（狗）、亥（猪），随着历史的发展逐渐融合到相生相克的民间信仰观念，反映在婚姻、人生、年运等，每一种生肖都有丰富的传说，并以此形成一种观念阐释系统，成为民间文化中的形象哲学，如婚配上的属相、庙会祈祷、本命年等。现代，更多人把生肖作为春节的吉祥物，成为娱乐文化活动的象征。

Chinese zodiac is the visualization on behalf of the twelve earthly branches, namely  Zǐ (rat), Chǒu (cows), Yǐn (tiger), Mǎo (rabbit), Chén (dragon)，Sì (snake), Wǔ (horse), Wèi (sheep), Shēn (monkey), Yǒu (chicken), Shù (dog), Hài (pig). With the development of history gradually integrated into based on concept of folk beliefs, reflected in the marriage, life, years, etc.,  Each zodiac has a rich legend, which forms a conceptual interpretation system and becomes the image philosophy in folk culture, such as the zodiac sign on marriage, temple fair prayer, the year of the birth sign and so on.  In modern times, more and more people take the zodiac as the mascot of the Spring Festival, which has become a symbol of entertainment and cultural activities. 

生肖作为悠久的民俗文化符号，历代留下了大量描绘生肖形象和象征意义的诗歌、春联、绘画、书画和民间工艺作品。除中国外，世界多国在春节期间发行生肖邮票，以此来表达对中国新年的祝福。

As a symbol of long folk culture, the zodiac has left a large number of poems, Spring Festival couplets, paintings, calligraphy and painting and folk art works depicting the images and symbolic meanings of the zodiac.  In addition to China, many countries around the world issue zodiac stamps during the Spring Festival to express their best wishes for the Chinese New Year.  

2022年是中国的虎年，祝福大家万事如意，虎虎生威！

2022 is the year of Tiger in China. Best wishes to all of you!