In a multi-nationality country as China, the Zodiac signs exist not only in Han nationality, but also in many ethnic groups as a way of counting the years.
The Yi Ethnic Group in the West Guilin
The Twelve Chinese Zodiac Signs:
Dragon\ phoenix\ horse\ ant\ man\ rooster\ dog\ pig\ peacock\ ox\ tiger\ snake
The Yi Ethnic Group in Ailao Mountain
The Twelve Chinese Zodiac Signs:
Tiger\ rabbit\ pangolin\ snake\ horse\ goat\ monkey\ rooster\ dog\ pig\ rat\ ox
The Yi Ethnic Group in Sichuan\Yunnan\Guizhou
The Twelve Chinese Zodiac Signs:
Rat\ ox\ tiger\ rabbit\ dragon\ snake\ horse\ goat\ monkey\ rooster\ dog\ pig
The Li Ethnic Group in Hainan
The Twelve Chinese Zodiac Signs:
Rooster\ dog\ pig\ rat\ ox\ insect\ rabbit\ dragon\ snake\ horse\ goat\ monkey
The Dai Ethnic Group in Yunnan
The Twelve Chinese Zodiac Signs:
Rat\ cattle\ tiger\ rabbit\ dragon\ snake\ horse\ goat\ monkey\ rooster\ dog\ elephant
The Zhuang Ethnic Group in Guangxi
The Twelve Chinese Zodiac Signs:
Rat\ ox\ tiger\ rabbit\ dragon\ snake\ horse\ goat\ monkey\ rooster\ dog\ pig
The Mongolian Ethnic Group
The Twelve Chinese Zodiac Signs:
Tiger\ rabbit\ dragon\ snake\ horse\ goat\ monkey\ rooster\ dog\ pig\ rat\ ox
The Uygur Ethnic Group
The Twelve Chinese Zodiac Signs:
Rat\ ox\ tiger\ rabbit\ fish\ snake\ horse\ goat\ monkey\ rooster\ dog\ pig
The Kirgiz Ethnic Group
The Twelve Chinese Zodiac Signs:
Rat\ ox\ tiger\ rabbit\ fish\ snake\ horse\ goat\ fox\ rooster\ dog\ pig
It is evident that the twelve Chinese zodiac signs of many ethnic groups such as Mongolian, Zhuang and part of the Yi ethnic groups are greatly influenced by that of the Han nationality, for they are basically the same. But some ethnic groups change them to some extent during the process of assimilating Han culture of Zodiac signs. Thanks to their different environment and species around them, they choose their most familiar animals as their zodiac signs, thus bringing certain variety among them.
