Zodiac animals

十二支 jūnishi

The twelve animals of the East Asian zodiac; the coming year's animal is a favourite New Year gift motif.

Ancient China; used in Japan for time, direction and years

The twelve earthly branches originated in ancient China to mark time and space and were later matched with twelve animals. In Japan they named hours, compass directions, months and, combined with the ten stems, a 60-year cycle of years and days. Medieval scrolls such as the Jūnirui kassen emaki show the zodiac animals as characters.

Each year's animal (eto) appears on New Year cards, ornaments and gift wraps.