February 7, 2008 begins 鼠年 shǔnián, year of the rat (or mouse or rodent). (The previous year was pig.)
鼠年 is the first year in the 12-year cycle. It corresponds to 子 zǐ, the first of the 12 地支 dìzhī earthly branches (子丑寅卯辰巳午未申酉戌亥).
In the 60-year cycle, 2008 is 戊子 wùzǐ, the 25th year. (The current cycle started in 1984, 甲子 jiǎzǐ.) 戊 wù is the fifth of the 10 天干 tiāngān heavenly stems (甲乙丙丁戊己庚辛壬癸), and is associated with earth (土 tǔ). Therefore 2008 can be called the year of the earth rat.
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
