An ancient legend explains the origin of the Eastern horoscope. According to the story, Buddha invited all the animals to celebrate the New Year, but only twelve came: the Mouse, Bull, Tiger, Hare, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. As a token of gratitude, Buddha granted each of them a year of their own.
The Eastern horoscope is closely tied to the Chinese calendar, where these twelve mythological animals symbolize twelve cosmic forces in Eastern cosmogonic theory. A person’s year of birth corresponds to one of these signs and represents a specific stage of self-realization. Each sign is viewed as a personal strategy, shaping an individual’s interaction with the world and influencing how others relate to them.
The postage block "Eastern Horoscope. Horse–Pig" features six stamps representing the following zodiac signs: Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.