In China, the Rat is respected and considered a courageous, enterprising person.  Rats know exactly where to find solutions and can take care of themselves and others without problems. They use their instinctive sense of observation to help others in times of need and are among the most fit of all the Animal signs to survive most any situation.

Cunning and thrifty, Rats have a knack with money and are apt to save for rainy days. When capable, the Rat is a great money saver, and in strapped times he knows how to make something out of nothing or how to make things advantageous for himself.   The Chinese have a proverb: They who pile up grain hoards have much to lose.

Prudence, perception and keen powers of observation combine to express as creative flexibility, able to foresee both potential opportunities as well as logistics problems.