What is the origin of the Chinese zodiac?

[Scarf-Ace]

I have a vague notion that it might be to do with re-incarnation, but don’t really have the faintest idea if thats right.

[barbitu8]

http://www.c-c-c.org/chineseculture/zodiac/zodiac.html#Sign%20Background

In traditional China, dating methods were cyclical, cyclical meaning something that is repeated time after time according to a pattern. A popular folk method which reflected this cyclical method of recording years are the Twelve Animal Signs.