January 23, 2012 begins 龙年 lóngnián, year of the dragon. (The previous year was rabbit.)
龙年 is the fifth year in the 12-year cycle. It corresponds to 辰 chén, the fifth of the 12 地支 dìzhī earthly branches (子丑寅卯辰巳午未申酉戌亥).
Chinese dragons are mythical creatures with many awesome and admirable powers (unlike European dragons, which are evil monsters). They control the weather, and like to play with pearls.
Here is the whole 12-year cycle (鼠牛虎兔龙蛇马羊猴鸡狗猪):
2020, 2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960, 1948, 1936, 1924, 1912, 1900
2021, 2009, 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961, 1949, 1937, 1925, 1913, 1901
2022, 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962, 1950, 1938, 1926, 1914, 1902
2023, 2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963, 1951, 1939, 1927, 1915, 1903
2024, 2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964, 1952, 1940, 1928, 1916, 1904
2025, 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965, 1953, 1941, 1929, 1917, 1905
2026, 2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966, 1954, 1942, 1930, 1918, 1906
2027, 2015, 2003, 1991, 1979, 1967, 1955, 1943, 1931, 1919, 1907
2028, 2016, 2004, 1992, 1980, 1968, 1956, 1944, 1932, 1920, 1908
2029, 2017, 2005, 1993, 1981, 1969, 1957, 1945, 1933, 1921, 1909
2030, 2018, 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970, 1958, 1946, 1934, 1922, 1910
2031, 2019, 2007, 1995, 1983, 1971, 1959, 1947, 1935, 1923, 1911
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