The Chinese Zodiac

When I came to learn about the Chinese Zodiac signs, it seemed that it was more believable than the Western Zodiac, except for some observations difficult for me believe in. The Chinese Zodiac signs are as follows with the corresponding years they would fall or fall into:

1. Rat - Born in 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008
2. Ox - Born in 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009
3. Tiger - Born in 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010
4. Rabbit - Born in 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011
5. Dragon - Born in 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012
6. Snake - Born in 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013
7. Horse - Born in 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954,1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014
8. Sheep - Born in 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015
9. Monkey - Born in 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016
10. Rooster - Born in 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017
11. Dog - Born in 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018
12. Pig - Born in 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019

Then the numbers ending for each year has a corresponding element, and it would be as follows for the last digit of each year:
For years ending 0 to 1: Metal; 2 to 3: Water; 4 to 5: Wood; 6 to 7: Fire and 8 to 9: Earth (reference: http://www.chinatownconnection.com/chinese_zodiac.htm)

What I have observed is all the 12 zodiac signs are animals, except for one where I have doubts, if it is or were a real animal, the Dragon. Some say there is the Komodo Dragon but I am not convinced that it is the kind of dragon most people have in mind. Many people who would see a Komodo dragon might still refer to it as a large lizard.
Another thing that aroused my curiosity is that a Chinese Zodiac birth year sign comes only every 12 years. Also for the element corresponding to the years ending digit comes on two consecutive years every 10 years! So if a person does not live until 9 years old, he or she does not get to the first anniversary of the element. The same thing with the Chinese Zodiac sign if a person does not live to the age of 12.

It is very amusing to read the legend about the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac sign and why the Rat is the first in the 12 year cycle with the Ox coming in second.

Asking a person's Chinese zodiac, if you know the years they fall on, would give a good idea on their age because of the 12 year cycle.

Your Chinese Zodiac