Chinese Animal Years
In Chinese astrology the animal signs assigned by year represent what others perceive you as being or how you present yourself. It is a common misconception that the animals assigned by year are the only signs, and many western descriptions of Chinese astrology draw solely on this system. In fact, there are also animal signs assigned by month (called inner animals) and hours of the day (called secret animals).
To sum it up, while a person might appear to be a Dragon because they were born in the year of the Dragon, they might also be a Snake internally and an Ox secretively. In total, this makes for 8,640 possible combinations (60 year cycle (5 elements × 12 animals) × 12 months × 12 times of the day) that a person might be. These are all considered critical for the proper use of Chinese astrology
Years
| Year | Associated Element | Heavenly Stem | Earthly Branch | Associated Animal | Year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1924–1983 | 1984–2043 | |||||
| 1 | Feb 04, 1924 – Feb 03, 1925 | Yang Wood | 甲 | 子 | Rat | Feb 04, 1984 – Feb 03, 1985 |
| 2 | Feb 04, 1925 – Feb 03, 1926 | Yin Wood | 乙 | 丑 | Ox | Feb 04, 1985 – Feb 03, 1986 |
| 3 | Feb 04, 1926 – Feb 03, 1927 | Yang Fire | 丙 | 寅 | Tiger | Feb 04, 1986 – Feb 03, 1987 |
| 4 | Feb 04, 1927 – Feb 03, 1928 | Yin Fire | 丁 | 卯 | Rabbit | Feb 04, 1987 – Feb 03, 1988 |
| 5 | Feb 04, 1928 – Feb 03, 1929 | Yang Earth | 戊 | 辰 | Dragon | Feb 04, 1988 – Feb 03, 1989 |
| 6 | Feb 04, 1929 – Feb 03, 1930 | Yin Earth | 己 | 巳 | Snake | Feb 04, 1989 – Feb 03, 1990 |
| 7 | Feb 04, 1930 – Feb 03, 1931 | Yang Metal | 庚 | 午 | Horse | Feb 04, 1990 – Feb 03, 1991 |
| 8 | Feb 04, 1931 – Feb 03, 1932 | Yin Metal | 辛 | 未 | Sheep | Feb 04, 1991 – Feb 03, 1992 |
| 9 | Feb 04, 1932 – Feb 03, 1933 | Yang Water | 壬 | 申 | Monkey | Feb 04, 1992 – Feb 03, 1993 |
| 10 | Feb 04, 1933 – Feb 03, 1934 | Yin Water | 癸 | 酉 | Rooster | Feb 04, 1993 – Feb 03, 1994 |
| 11 | Feb 04, 1934 – Feb 03, 1935 | Yang Wood | 甲 | 戌 | Dog | Feb 04, 1994 – Feb 03, 1995 |
| 12 | Feb 04, 1935 – Feb 03, 1936 | Yin Wood | 乙 | 亥 | Boar | Feb 04, 1995 – Feb 03, 1996 |
| 13 | Feb 04, 1936 – Feb 03, 1937 | Yang Fire | 丙 | 子 | Rat | Feb 04, 1996 – Feb 03, 1997 |
| 14 | Feb 04, 1937 – Feb 03, 1938 | Yin Fire | 丁 | 丑 | Ox | Feb 04, 1997 – Feb 03, 1998 |
| 15 | Feb 04, 1938 – Feb 03, 1939 | Yang Earth | 戊 | 寅 | Tiger | Feb 04, 1998 – Feb 03, 1999 |
| 16 | Feb 04, 1939 – Feb 03, 1940 | Yin Earth | 己 | 卯 | Rabbit | Feb 04, 1999 – Feb 03, 2000 |
| 17 | Feb 04, 1940 – Feb 03, 1941 | Yang Metal | 庚 | 辰 | Dragon | Feb 04, 2000 – Feb 03, 2001 |
| 18 | Feb 04, 1941 – Feb 03, 1942 | Yin Metal | 辛 | 巳 | Snake | Feb 04, 2001 – Feb 03, 2002 |
| 19 | Feb 04, 1942 – Feb 03, 1943 | Yang Water | 壬 | 午 | Horse | Feb 04, 2002 – Feb 03, 2003 |
| 20 | Feb 04, 1943 – Feb 03, 1944 | Yin Water | 癸 | 未 | Sheep | Feb 04, 2003 – Feb 03, 2004 |
| 21 | Feb 04, 1944 – Feb 03, 1945 | Yang Wood | 甲 | 申 | Monkey | Feb 04, 2004 – Feb 03, 2005 |
| 22 | Feb 04, 1945 – Feb 03, 1946 | Yin Wood | 乙 | 酉 | Rooster | Feb 04, 2005 – Feb 03, 2006 |
| 23 | Feb 04, 1946 – Feb 03, 1947 | Yang Fire | 丙 | 戌 | Dog | Feb 04, 2006 – Feb 03, 2007 |
| 24 | Feb 04, 1947 – Feb 03, 1948 | Yin Fire | 丁 | 亥 | Boar | Feb 04, 2007 – Feb 03, 2008 |
| 25 | Feb 04, 1948 – Feb 03, 1949 | Yang Earth | 戊 | 子 | Rat | Feb 04, 2008 – Feb 03, 2009 |
| 26 | Feb 04, 1949 – Feb 03, 1950 | Yin Earth | 己 | 丑 | Ox | Feb 04, 2009 – Feb 03, 2010 |
| 27 | Feb 04, 1950 – Feb 03, 1951 | Yang Metal | 庚 | 寅 | Tiger | Feb 04, 2010 – Feb 03, 2011 |
| 28 | Feb 04, 1951 – Feb 03, 1952 | Yin Metal | 辛 | 卯 | Rabbit | Feb 04, 2011 – Feb 03, 2012 |
| 29 | Feb 04, 1952 – Feb 03, 1953 | Yang Water | 壬 | 辰 | Dragon | Feb 04, 2012 – Feb 03, 2013 |
| 30 | Feb 04, 1953 – Feb 03, 1954 | Yin Water | 癸 | 巳 | Snake | Feb 04, 2013 – Feb 03, 2014 |
| 31 | Feb 04, 1954 – Feb 03, 1955 | Yang Wood | 甲 | 午 | Horse | Feb 04, 2014 – Feb 03, 2015 |
| 32 | Feb 04, 1955 – Feb 03, 1956 | Yin Wood | 乙 | 未 | Sheep | Feb 04, 2015 – Feb 03, 2016 |
| 33 | Feb 04, 1956 – Feb 03, 1957 | Yang Fire | 丙 | 申 | Monkey | Feb 04, 2016 – Feb 03, 2017 |
| 34 | Feb 04, 1957 – Feb 03, 1958 | Yin Fire | 丁 | 酉 | Rooster | Feb 04, 2017 – Feb 03, 2018 |
| 35 | Feb 04, 1958 – Feb 03, 1959 | Yang Earth | 戊 | 戌 | Dog | Feb 04, 2018 – Feb 03, 2019 |
| 36 | Feb 04, 1959 – Feb 03, 1960 | Yin Earth | 己 | 亥 | Boar | Feb 04, 2019 – Feb 03, 2020 |
| 37 | Feb 04, 1960 – Feb 03, 1961 | Yang Metal | 庚 | 子 | Rat | Feb 04, 2020 – Feb 03, 2021 |
| 38 | Feb 04, 1961 – Feb 03, 1962 | Yin Metal | 辛 | 丑 | Ox | Feb 04, 2021 – Feb 03, 2022 |
| 39 | Feb 04, 1962 – Feb 03, 1963 | Yang Water | 壬 | 寅 | Tiger | Feb 04, 2022 – Feb 03, 2023 |
| 40 | Feb 04, 1963 – Feb 03, 1964 | Yin Water | 癸 | 卯 | Rabbit | Feb 04, 2023 – Feb 03, 2024 |
| 41 | Feb 04, 1964 – Feb 03, 1965 | Yang Wood | 甲 | 辰 | Dragon | Feb 04, 2024 – Feb 03, 2025 |
| 42 | Feb 04, 1965 – Feb 03 1966 | Yin Wood | 乙 | 巳 | Snake | Feb 04, 2025 – Feb 03, 2026 |
| 43 | Feb 04, 1966 – Feb 03, 1967 | Yang Fire | 丙 | 午 | Horse | Feb 04, 2026 – Feb 03, 2027 |
| 44 | Feb 04, 1967 – Feb 03, 1968 | Yin Fire | 丁 | 未 | Sheep | Feb 04, 2027 – Feb 03, 2028 |
| 45 | Feb 04, 1968 – Feb 03, 1969 | Yang Earth | 戊 | 申 | Monkey | Feb 04, 2028 – Feb 03, 2029 |
| 46 | Feb 04, 1969 – Feb 03, 1970 | Yin Earth | 己 | 酉 | Rooster | Feb 04, 2029 – Feb 03, 2030 |
| 47 | Feb 04, 1970 – Feb 03, 1971 | Yang Metal | 庚 | 戌 | Dog | Feb 04, 2030 – Feb 03, 2031 |
| 48 | Feb 04, 1971 – Feb 03, 1972 | Yin Metal | 辛 | 亥 | Boar | Feb 04, 2031 – Feb 03, 2032 |
| 49 | Feb 04, 1972 – Feb 03, 1973 | Yang Water | 壬 | 子 | Rat | Feb 04, 2032 – Feb 03, 2033 |
| 50 | Feb 04, 1973 – Feb 03, 1974 | Yin Water | 癸 | 丑 | Ox | Feb 04, 2033 – Feb 03, 2034 |
| 51 | Feb 04, 1974 – Feb 03, 1975 | Yang Wood | 甲 | 寅 | Tiger | Feb 04, 2034 – Feb 03, 2035 |
| 52 | Feb 04, 1975 – Feb 03, 1976 | Yin Wood | 乙 | 卯 | Rabbit | Feb 04, 2035 – Feb 03, 2036 |
| 53 | Feb 04, 1976 – Feb 03, 1977 | Yang Fire | 丙 | 辰 | Dragon | Feb 04, 2036 – Feb 03, 2037 |
| 54 | Feb 04, 1977 – Feb 03, 1978 | Yin Fire | 丁 | 巳 | Snake | Feb 04, 2037 – Feb 03, 2038 |
| 55 | Feb 04, 1978 – Feb 03, 1979 | Yang Earth | 戊 | 午 | Horse | Feb 04, 2038 – Feb 03, 2039 |
| 56 | Feb 04, 1979 – Feb 03, 1980 | Yin Earth | 己 | 未 | Sheep | Feb 04, 2039 – Feb 03, 2040 |
| 57 | Feb 04, 1980 – Feb 03, 1981 | Yang Metal | 庚 | 申 | Monkey | Feb 04, 2040 – Feb 03, 2041 |
| 58 | Feb 04, 1981 – Feb 03, 1982 | Yin Metal | 辛 | 酉 | Rooster | Feb 04, 2041 – Feb 03, 2042 |
| 59 | Feb 04, 1982 – Feb 03, 1983 | Yang Water | 壬 | 戌 | Dog | Feb 04, 2042 – Feb 03, 2043 |
| 60 | Feb 04, 1983 – Feb 03, 1984 | Yin Water | 癸 | 亥 | Boar | Feb 04, 2043 – Feb 03, 2044 |
Months and solar terms
| Season | Lunar Month | Fixed Element | Solar Longitude | Solar Term | Western Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1st – 寅(yin) Tiger | Wood | 314° | 立春 lìchūn | Feb 04 – Feb 18 |
| 329° | 雨水 yǔshuǐ | Feb 19 – Mar 05 | |||
| 2nd – 卯(mao) Rabbit | Wood | 344° | 啓蟄 qǐzhé (驚蟄 jīngzhé) | Mar 06 – Mar 20 | |
| 0° | 春分 chūnfēn | Mar 21 – Apr 04 | |||
| 3rd – 辰(chen) Dragon | Earth | 14° | 清明 qīngmíng | Apr 05 – Apr 19 | |
| 29° | 穀雨 gǔyǔ | Apr 20 – May 4 | |||
| Summer | 4th – 巳(si) Snake | Fire | 44° | 立夏 lìxià | May 5 – May 20 |
| 59° | 小滿 xiǎomǎn | May 21 – June 5 | |||
| 5th – 午(wu) Horse | Fire | 74° | 芒種 mángzhòng | Jun 06 – Jun 20 | |
| 89° | 夏至 xiàzhì | Jun 21 – Jul 06 | |||
| 6th – 未(wei) Sheep | Earth | 104° | 小暑 xiǎoshǔ | Jul 07 – Jul 22 | |
| 119° | 大暑 dàshǔ | Jul 23 – Aug 06 | |||
| Autumn | 7th – 申(shen) Monkey | Metal | 134° | 立秋 lìqiū | Aug 07 – Aug 22 |
| 149° | 處暑 chùshǔ | Aug 23 – Sep 07 | |||
| 8th–酉(you) Rooster | Metal | 164° | 白露 báilù | Sep 08 – Sep 22 | |
| 181° | 秋分 qiūfēn | Sep 23 – Oct 07 | |||
| 9th–戌(xu) Dog | Earth | 194° | 寒露 hánlù | Oct 08 – Oct 22 | |
| 211° | 霜降 shuāngjiàng | Oct 23 – Nov 06 | |||
| Winter | 10th – 亥(hai) Pig | Water | 224° | 立冬 lìdōng | Nov 07 – Nov 21 |
| 244° | 小雪 xiǎoxuě | Nov 22 – Dec 06 | |||
| 11th – 子(zi) Rat | Water | 251° | 大雪 dàxuě | Dec 07 – Dec 21 | |
| 271° | 冬至 dōngzhì | Dec 22 – Jan 05 | |||
| 12th – 丑(chou) Ox | Earth | 284° | 小寒 xiǎohán | Jan 06 – Jan 19 | |
| 301° | 大寒 dàhán | Jan 20 – Feb 3 |
Times
- 23:00 – 01:00: 子 Rat
- 01:00 – 03:00: 丑 Ox
- 03:00 – 05:00: 寅 Tiger
- 05:00 – 07:00: 卯 Rabbit
- 07:00 – 09:00: 辰 Dragon
- 09:00 – 11:00: 巳 Snake
- 11:00 – 13:00: 午 Horse
- 13:00 – 15:00: 未 Sheep
- 15:00 – 17:00: 申 Monkey
- 17:00 – 19:00: 酉 Rooster
- 19:00 – 21:00: 戌 Dog
- 21:00 – 23:00: 亥 Pig
1. Rat (🐀) – 鼠 (子) (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Water): Forthright, tenacious, intense, meticulous, charismatic, sensitive, intellectual, industrious, charming, eloquent, sociable, artistic, and shrewd. Can be manipulative, vindictive, self-destructive, envious, mendacious, venal, obstinate, critical, over-ambitious, ruthless, intolerant, and scheming.
2. Ox (🐂) – 牛 (丑) (Water buffalo (🐃) in Vietnam) (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Water): Dependable, ambitious, calm, methodical, born leader, patient, hardworking, conventional, steady, modest, logical, resolute, tenacious. Can be stubborn, dogmatic, hot-tempered, narrow-minded, materialistic, rigid, demanding.
3. Tiger (🐅 🐯) – 虎 (寅) (Yin, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Wood): Unpredictable, rebellious, colorful, powerful, passionate, daring, impulsive, vigorous, stimulating, sincere, affectionate, humanitarian, generous. Can be restless, reckless, impatient, quick-tempered, obstinate, selfish, aggressive, moody.
4. Hare (🐇 🐰) – 兔 or 兎 (卯) (Cat (🐈 🐱) in Vietnam) (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Wood): Gracious, good friend, kind, sensitive, soft-spoken, amiable, elegant, reserved, cautious, artistic, thorough, tender, self-assured, shy, astute, compassionate, lucky, flexible. Can be moody, detached, superficial, self-indulgent, opportunistic, stubborn.
5. Dragon (🐉 🐲) – 龍 / 龙 (辰) (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Wood): Magnanimous, stately, vigorous, strong, self-assured, proud, noble, direct, dignified, eccentric, intellectual, fiery, passionate, decisive, pioneering, artistic, generous, loyal. Can be tactless, arrogant, imperious, tyrannical, demanding, intolerant, dogmatic, violent, impetuous, brash.
6. Snake (🐍) – 蛇 (巳) (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Fire): Deep thinker, wise, mystic, graceful, soft-spoken, sensual, creative, prudent, shrewd, elegant, cautious, responsible, calm, strong, constant, purposeful. Can be loner, bad communicator, possessive, hedonistic, self-doubting, distrustful, mendacious, suffocating, cold.
7. Horse (🐎 🐴) – 馬 / 马 (午) (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Fire): Cheerful, popular, quick-witted, changeable, earthy, perceptive, talkative, agile—mentally and physically, magnetic, intelligent, astute, flexible, open-minded. Can be fickle, arrogant, childish, anxious, rude, gullible, stubborn.
8. Ram (🐏) – 羊 (未) (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Fire): Righteous, sincere, sympathetic, mild-mannered, shy, artistic, creative, gentle, compassionate, understanding, mothering, peaceful, generous, seeks security. Can be moody, indecisive, over-passive, worrier, pessimistic, over-sensitive, complainer, weak-willed.
9. Monkey (🐒 🐵) – 猴 (申) (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Metal): Inventor, motivator, improviser, quick-witted, inquisitive, flexible, innovative, problem solver, self-assured, sociable, artistic, polite, dignified, competitive, objective, factual, intellectual. Can be egotistical, vain, arrogant, selfish, reckless, snobbish, deceptive, manipulative, cunning, jealous, suspicious.
10. Rooster (🐓) – 雞 / 鸡 (酉) (Yin, 2nd Trine, Fixed Element Metal): Acute, neat, meticulous, organized, self-assured, decisive, conservative, critical, perfectionist, alert, zealous, practical, scientific, responsible. Can be over zealous and critical, puritanical, egotistical, abrasive, proud, opinionated, given to empty bravado.
11. Dog (🐕 🐶) – 狗 / 犬 (戌) (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Metal): Honest, intelligent, straightforward, loyal, sense of justice and fair play, attractive, amicable, unpretentious, sociable, open-minded, idealistic, moralistic, practical, affectionate, sensitive, easy going. Can be cynical, lazy, cold, judgmental, pessimistic, worrier, stubborn, quarrelsome.
12. Pig (🐖 🐷) – 豬 / 猪 (亥) (Boar (🐗) in Japan and Elephant (🐘) in Northern Thailand) (Yin, 4th Trine, Fixed Element Water): Honest, gallant, sturdy, sociable, peace-loving, patient, loyal, hard-working, trusting, sincere, calm, understanding, thoughtful, scrupulous, passionate, intelligent. Can be naïve, over-reliant, self-indulgent, gullible, fatalistic, materialistic.
Trines
First Trine
The first trine consists of the Rat, Dragon, and Monkey. These three signs are intense and powerful individuals, capable of great good or great evil. They make great leaders, but the three may have different approaches. Frustrated when hampered, these signs are ruled by highly potent energy and unpredictability. At their worst, Rats are ruthlessly power-hungry, vindictive, and Machiavellian; Dragons are inflexible megalomaniacs and narcissists; and Monkeys are destructive manipulators and hedonists. They are intelligent, magnanimous, charismatic, charming, authoritative, confident, eloquent and artistic. They can also be tyrannical, bombastic, prejudiced, deceitful, imperious, and ruthless.
Second Trine
The second trine consists of the Ox, Snake, and Rooster. These three souls conquer life through endurance, application, and slow accumulation of energy. Although each sign is fixed and rigid in opinions and views, they are geniuses in the art of meticulous planning. They are hardworking, discreet, modest, industrious, charitable, loyal, punctual, philosophical, patient, and good-hearted individuals with high moral standards. They can also be self-righteous, vain, critical, judgmental, myopic, narrow-minded, and petty. They are also natural leaders, but are better natured than the first trine.
Third Trine
The third trine consists of the Tiger, Horse, and Dog. These three signs seek a true lover, and are like-minded in their pursuit of humanitarian causes. Idealistic and impulsive, the Tiger, Horse and Dog follow the beat of their own drummer. Defiant against injustice, these three signs wilt without large amounts of physical affection and loyal support for causes. They are productive, enthusiastic, independent, engaging, dynamic and honorable. They can also be rash, rebellious, quarrelsome, hot-headed, reckless, anxious, moody, disagreeable, and stubborn. Although these three signs are loyal, they can be very protective when lied to. The three signs do not enjoy being told what to do, but will listen when it is a person they love or trust whole-kindheartedly.
Fourth Trine
The fourth trine consists of the Rabbit, Sheep, and Pig. The quest for these three signs is the aesthetic and beautiful in life. Their calm nature gives them great leadership abilities. They are artistic, refined, intuitive, and well-mannered. These souls love the preliminaries in love, and are fine artists in their lovemaking. The Rabbit, Sheep and Pig have been bestowed with calmer natures than the other 9 signs. These three are compassionately aware, yet detached and resigned to their condition. They seek beauty and a sensitive lover. They are caring, unique, self-sacrificing, obliging, sensible, creative, empathic, tactful, and prudent. They can also be naive, pedantic, insecure, cunning, indecisive, and pessimistic.