The Chinese calendar astrology is based off of a 12 year cycle repeats itself. Very much online, the current Western calendar, which is based off of the birth of Jesus Christ. With the birth of Jesus Christ being 2000 plus years, the Chinese have documentation that predates Jesus Christ's birth by 2000 plus years.
This has allowed the Chinese calendar astrology to be perfected over thousands and thousands of years. Some of the key elements to the Chinese calendar astrology include:

• Chinese “Fortune Telling” Calendar
• Concise Chinese Astrology
• Date and Time of Solar Months
• Center Points and 24 Section of the Chinese Calendar
• Five Yearly Element Types.

These are the five main principles designed Chinese calendar astrology while there are others. If you are considering studying astrology these would be considered the essentials, if one were to start studying Chinese calendar astrology.