1979 Chinese Horoscope Sign Revealed: the Calendar Chart That Settles the Goat Debate

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English translations of the eighth earthly branch cause needless confusion. Western horoscope columns switch unpredictably between the Year of the Sheep, the Year of the Ram, and the Year of the Goat.

All three labels refer to the single Chinese character Yáng (羊). Classical Chinese does not differentiate between sheep (Miányáng), goats (Shānyáng), or wild horned rams (Gōngyáng) unless specific modifiers are attached. In traditional Chinese art and dynastic bronzes, the animal is frequently depicted with backward-curving horns and a beard, reflecting the mountain goat.

Practitioners across East Asia lean toward the term "Goat" or "Sheep" interchangeably. The biological distinction matters far less than the symbolic temperament: peace-seeking, cooperative, resilient, and deeply attached to family security. Whether your family calls it the Year of the Sheep or the Year of the Ram, your celestial sign remains Wei (未), the eighth branch of the twelve-year sequence.