Year of the Rat

Year of the Rat Infographic

Individuals born in the Year of the Rat are charming, social, and outgoing. They are popular individuals and highly skilled in business. Rats have an exceptional grasp of information and ideas, with vivid imaginations and unique intellectual abilities. Thus, they can spot potential in people and opportunities in life that others may miss. They are dedicated to causes they believe in and work hard when part of a team. While not romantic by nature, they are very caring and loving and value their relationships. Rats make faithful partners as long as their partner can provide safety, assurance, and the love they seek. Rats make great leaders and enjoy being in authoritative positions. They are energetic and great organizers; so if you want something done, call in a Rat.

The Story of the Rat-the legend of the great race

Once upon a time, the mighty Jade Emperor called for a great animal race to decide the years on the calendar. Each year would be named in the order the animal finished the race and the race was to be a short run through a forest and then a swim across a raging river.

Naturally, the Cat and the Rat weren’t too excited about a swim, as they were the worst swimmers in the animal kingdom. However, they smartly came up with the idea to ask the friendly Ox for a ride on his back who agreed and off they went. Midway across the river, the Rat pushed the Cat into the water and, unable to swim, the Cat floated downstream far away from the finish line. Then as the Ox neared the other side, the Rat jumped ahead of him crossing the finish line by a nose and thereby claiming first place for himself.

As for the poor Cat, he made it out of the river eventually but didn’t cross the finish line in time to grab a place on the calendar. Because the Rat made the Cat lose, it’s said that this is why cats always chase rats, as revenge for the race.

Years and types

There are five elements that give the Rat specific characteristics and personality traits beyond its symbol of wealth. The most recent years of the Rat include 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996 and 2008. After 2019, the next two years we will be 2020 and 2032.

Famous people born in the year of the Rat

In Western Countries

World-renowned English playwright and poet, William Shakespeare (born April 26, 1564) and the 41st US President George Bush (born June 12, 1924) were born during the year of the Rat.
Other celebrities born in the year of the Rat include Charles Prince of Wales (born Nov 14, 1948), Diego Maradonna (born Oct 30, 1960), Zinedine Zidane (born Jun 23, 1972), Prince Harry (born Sept 15, 1984), and Scarlett Johansson (born Nov 22, 1984).

In China

Du Fu (born 721) was a prominent Chinese poet of the Tang dynasty. Along with Li Bai (Li Po), he is frequently called the greatest Chinese poet. His work is very diverse, but his most characteristic poems are autobiographical and historical, recording the effects of war on his own life. These works came to be hugely influential in both Chinese and Japanese literary culture. Of his poetic writing, nearly fifteen hundred poems have been preserved over the ages.

Li Qingzhao

Li Qingzhao (born Mar 13, 1084) was China’s most revered female poet. She was a highly educated woman for her time, studying literature, writing poetry, and amassing an immense collection of Chinese antiquities with her husband. She was a master of the tz'u, or ci, form of lyrical poetry that was set to music, writing with emotional intensity and unconventional language.

Zheng Chenggong (born Aug 26, 1624) better known internationally by his Hokkien honorific Koxinga or Coxinga, was a Chinese Ming loyalist who resisted the Qing conquest of China in the 17th century, fighting them on China's southeastern coast.

Qi Baishi (born Jan 1, 1864) was one of the most well-known contemporary Chinese painters. Born into a peasant family from Xiangtan (湘潭), Hunan, Qi Baishi became a carpenter at fourteen, and it was largely through his own efforts that he became adept at the arts of poetry, calligraphy, painting, and seal-carving. Shrimp, fish, crabs, frogs, insects, and peaches were his favorite subjects.

Deng Jiaxian (born Jun 25, 1924) was a physicist educated in the United Sates who was instrumental in developing China's atomic and hydrogen bomb. He returned to China in 1950 and was a pioneer in China's nuclear theoretical research.

Xie Wanying (born Oct 5, 1900), better known by her pen name Bing Xin or Xie Bingxin, was one of the most prolific Chinese writers of the 20th Century. Many of her works were written for young readers. She was the chairperson of the “China Federation of Literary and Art Circles”.

Louis Cha (born Mar 10, 1924), better known by his pen name Jin Yong (金庸), was a Chinese wuxia (martial arts and chivalry) novelist and essayist who co-founded the Hong Kong daily newspaper “Ming Pao” in 1959 and served as its first editor-in-chief. He became Hong Kong's most famous writer. His Wuxia novels have a widespread following in Chinese communities worldwide.

Wang Qishan (born July 19, 1948) is a Chinese politician and the current Vice President of the People's Republic of China. Wang is one China's leading men in foreign affairs, along with Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang.

Personality Traits and Character

1. Positive personality traits

Intelligent, witty, charming, ambitious, practical, alert, outgoing, adaptable, imaginative, resourceful, versatile, kind, cautious, positive, and cheerful.
Thanks to their strong intuition, Rats can easily adapt to new environments and because of their adaptability, quick learning, and problem-solving skills, they can be successful at almost anything they try. They are perfectionists who will work hard to achieve their goals and are popular with plenty of admirers. They are usually frugal but can be generous with loved ones. The Rat survives in ways no other signs does – he finds solutions to problems with his quick thinking and above-average intellectual ability for making critical decisions.

2. Negative personality traits

Stubborn, timid, greedy, unstable, picky, secretive, unstable, stubborn, gossipy, grouchy, and picky Rats are very mindful, aware, and measured, but under that calm surface, hostility may be lurking. Sometimes they may lack vision and courage and can impede success due to being greedy and overly cautious. Rats can be unpredictable -- so don’t let their charm fool you. As the Rat is a perfectionist, it can be hard to stay friends with a Rat for very long. Although usually popular, Rats may be lonely because they never completely trust anyone and can become paranoid and suspicious. Some Rats like complaining and criticizing and can be quite stubborn. They don’t often take advice from others and some frequently change jobs due to their lack of stability.

Exclusive Travel Destinations for the Rat

For your perfect getaway, head to Chongqing where you can experience one of the five largest cities in all of China, a verdant and colorful city. Shanghai also is a good choice for the Rat people and you can experience numerous lifestyles in one day. If you are interested, please check the Exclusive Travel Destinations for Chinese 12 Zodiac to know more details.

Love and Compatibility

When it comes to love and relationships, Rats can be affectionate, easy-going, and considerate. They usually treat their partners with tolerance and generosity and try to compromise when possible. Rats are not usually very romantic, but they're loving, protective, and loyal to their partners and their families.

For Men
A Rat man loves to be surrounded by friends, meeting new people, and enjoying the finer things in life. Rat men may enjoy dating different people for an extended amount of time and waiting to settle down. Eventually, he will want to get married and will use experience in matters of love to find the perfect partner.
For Women
A Rat woman also loves to meet new people and can fall in love many times before finally deciding on who she wants to settle down with. She can also be very jealous and highly values loyalty in her partners. Her long-term partner has to be strong, charming, and full of undying love.

Best Matches: Ox, Dragon, Monkey

1. Rat and Ox

The Rat is very compatible with the Ox – both signs are very kind, loyal, and devoted, and will appreciate each other's qualities. The Ox is a good provider, while the Rat is very responsible and who will keep their home neat and clean. The Ox is quiet but strong, and the Rat is outgoing and sociable, and these traits often complement each other.

2. Rat and Dragon

Both are devoted people who are determined to make their relationships work. The Dragon will be attracted to the Rat's positive, cheerful attitude and will appreciate his/her support and loyalty. Even though the Rat is highly outgoing, he/she will generally allow the Dragon to take on the dominant role in the relationship.

3. Rat and Monkey

The Monkey is a great thinker, while the Rat is a very responsible, hardworking, cheerful and is able to give the Monkey direction. Both signs enjoy spending time together and having fun. This relationship will rarely be dull. The Monkey will respect and admire the Rats intelligence as the Monkey is highly intelligent too, so they will be able to understand each other on a deeper level. The Rat will enjoy the outgoing and adventurous side of the Monkey.

Worst Matches: Horse, Sheep, Rabbit

1. Rat and Horse

The Rat and the Horse usually do not agree with each other's views and may not be willing to work hard enough to overcome their differences. The Horse might be annoyed by the Rat's perfectionism and the resulting arguments over seemingly small things, while the Rat may not like the Horse's restlessness and lack of direction.

2. Rat and Rabbit

Even though they are both charming individuals, they may not put enough effort into their relationship to be a successful couple. The Rat is sociable and active by nature, while the Rabbit is quite reserved and doesn't enjoy socializing much. The Rabbit may find the Rat to be to overbearing and meticulous, while the Rat often finds the Rabbit too indifferent due to it’s more easy going personality.

3. Rat and Sheep

Even though both signs are warm-hearted and kind, they have too many differences. The Rat will not be sure about starting a relationship or a family with the highly sensitive Sheep. The Rat is very hardworking, clever, and resourceful, while the Sheep has an easygoing attitude to life and likes to be pampered. The Rat is usually frugal, while the Sheep doesn’t like having to worry about finances.

Lucky and Unlucky Things

Career and Health Outlook

Career

The Rat has one goal: to be very successful. Rats will look their whole life for their due recognition. They can make huge investments of time and money into something worthwhile, but then not be successful because they get too detail oriented and lose sight of the big picture. The smallest thing can distract a Rat. However, their charm may help get them through life’s rough moments. They have good instincts so they're able to spot valuable opportunities in business. Rats are extremely perceptive, wise, and have good problem-solving and observation skills, but they're not always persistent enough to see projects through until the end. Routine kills their creativity, so Rats can benefit from flexible jobs that involve creative skills.

Good career choices: Any work related to creativity, critical thinking, and invention. Artist, writer, editor, musician, lawyer, stand-up comedian, broadcaster, entrepreneur, researcher, inventor, banker, sales person, politician, software specialist, stock analyst.

Health

Rats are usually in good health because they're active and energetic which keeps them fit and healthy. Some Rats rarely get sick, but when they do, they're usually able to recover quickly. Rats can tend to be aggressive or nervous at times, which can easily lead to high levels of stress; hence, regular physical exercise can help them overcome this.

2024 Rat Horoscope

2024 Overall: 5/5 stars

2024 is a very positive year for rat people. They will have the opportunity to achieve their goals and improve their lives in all aspects.

Career: 5/5 stars

In their careers, rats can expect abundant opportunities for growth, including promotions, new roles, or even entrepreneurship. Fueled by their intelligence and ambition, rats in the Year of the Dragon are well-positioned for success, whether making strategic decisions for advancement in their current roles or finding new job opportunities.

Finance: 5/5 stars

In 2024, rats can anticipate continued financial good luck, potentially receiving raises or bonuses at work and making profitable investments, though caution is advised against overspending.

Love: 4/5 stars

Rats are social creatures who enjoy being around others, and they will have many opportunities to meet new people in 2024. They may start a new relationship, or they may deepen an existing one. Rats who are single will have many opportunities to meet new people, and they should be open to new experiences.

Health: 4/5 stars

Rats are generally healthy, and they will continue to be so in 2024. However, they should be mindful of their stress levels and make sure to get enough sleep. Rats who are feeling stressed should find healthy ways to manage their stress, such as exercise, meditation, or spending time with loved ones.

Here are some specific tips for rat people:

1. Focus on your goals and ambitions. This is a year where you can achieve great things.

2. Be open to new opportunities. Don't be afraid to try new things.

3. Take care of your finances. It's easy to overspend when you're doing well, but it's important to stay on track.

4. Enjoy your new successes. This is a time to celebrate your accomplishments.

• Chinese Zodiac
• Year of the Rat
• Year of the Ox
• Year of the Tiger
• Year of the Rabbit
• Year of the Dragon - Zodiac Sign 2024
• Year of the Snake
• Year of the Horse
• Year of the Sheep | Goat
• Year of the Monkey
• Year of the Rooster
• Year of the Dog
• Year of the Pig
• Exclusive Travel Destinations for Chinese 12 Zodiac