As legend would have it, it was Buddha himself who gave each animal its place in the Asian zodiac. When he called all the animals together following the creation, only twelve felt it necessary to attend the meeting. As a reward for their effort in making the long journey, Buddha offered each of them their own year, which would from then on bear the name of that animal. In addition, each animal was also given the opportunity to directly influence history during that time - and thus, in turn, the fate of those humans born in that year. Analogous to the characteristics of the respective animal symbol, and by means of your date of birth, you too can read those characteristic traits that may - or may not - apply to you. 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000---People born in the Year of the Dragon are healthy, energetic, excitable, short-tempered, and stubborn. They are also honest, sensitive, brave, and they inspire confidence and trust. Dragon people are the most eccentric of any in the eastern zodiac. They neither borrow money nor make flowery speeches, but they tend to be soft-hearted which sometimes gives others an advantage over them. They are compatible with Rats, Snakes, Monkeys, and Roosters.