The Chinese calendar has, for more than two centuries, told the fortune of people everywhere. Using a "Stem-Branch" system that takes 12 legendary animals in Chinese history and places them into the iconic calendar, individuals look to their zodiac symbol for direction in their lives, benefitting from a better understanding of who these ancient zodiacs are and – thusly – who they are as people. For now, let’s analyze the animal holding the ninth spot on the calendar, a clever and lively zodiac representative of those born every 12 years from 1920 to 2052: the monkey.

Monkeys are – unsurprisingly – among the most flexible of the 12 animals on the calendar. Those born under the monkey are considered fairly athletic, career-oriented, and creative when presented with the opportunity to let their skills shine. Sometimes mischievous and never afraid to turn a bad situation into a good joke, these people mean well but sometimes leave a sour taste in the mouths of others. (Though monkeys themselves are known to be emotionally sensitive as well.) Monkeys are constantly on-the-go and benefit from a fast-paced, urban based lifestyle that allows them to roam freely but, admittedly, sometimes creates distractions that impedes their progress. With relationships, monkeys are eager to find love, but only on their own terms. In the process of finding "the one," they may use sex as a romantic diversion, but ultimately still seek one person to find long-term commitment with.

Favorable Matches with Monkeys:

• Rats. The adaptability and goal-driven lives of rats and monkeys make them perfect companions as they journey through life.

• Dragons. As beings that seek perfection and demand a person patient enough to handle arrogance, monkeys are ideal people that are able to mold their personalities to draw out the positive qualities of dragons.

Unfavorable Matches with Monkeys:

• Tigers. The "lordly" nature of a tiger repels the side of the monkey that is repulsed by authoritative figures that may overpower them. Monkeys are repulsed by the idea of being controlled

• Snakes. Trust barriers exist between these two competing animals that are clever and cunning in their own distinctive ways.

• Pigs. As unsociable and straightforward individuals, pigs are unlikely to attract monkeys that draw romantic energy from successful and more intellectually complex people.