The Pig (豬) or sometimes translated as the Boar is the twelfth of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in Chinese zodiac, in relation to the Chinese calendar and system of horology, and paralleling the system of ten Heavenly Stems and twelve Earthly Branches.

For example, in the year 2019, the Earthly Branch is the twelfth, hài, and the Heavenly Stem is the sixth, jǐ 己.

[5] According to the myths, the Pig was the last to arrive when the Jade Emperor called for the great meeting.

Yet another legend has it that The Emperor organized a race to ascertain the order of the animals in the Zodiac.

The pig not having arrived long after all of the other animals, he was about to call it a day when an oink and squeal were heard.

The pig finally completed the race, however, and was accordingly named the 12th and last animal of the zodiac cycle.

[6] Other sources say that given his very stout form, he was just too slow a swimmer, and thus he could not do anything against the other animals (or conversely that he was so fast he went up the wrong side of the river first).

Similarly to the usage of the traditional Japanese clock, each day-night period was divided into 12 double-hours, each of which corresponding with one of the twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac, with similar symbolic motif and astrological significance.

Increasing numbers of countries and regions now issue lunar new year stamps.