How to use the chart

Find your calendar year, then check whether your birthday happened before that year's Chinese New Year. If it did, use the previous row instead.

Quick Chinese zodiac element chart

YearChinese New Year startsAnimalBirth-year elementPolarity
1984February 2RatWoodYang
1985February 20OxWoodYin
1986February 9TigerFireYang
1987January 29RabbitFireYin
1988February 17DragonEarthYang
1989February 6SnakeEarthYin
1990January 27HorseMetalYang
1991February 15GoatMetalYin
1992February 4MonkeyWaterYang
1993January 23RoosterWaterYin
1994February 10DogWoodYang
1995January 31PigWoodYin
1996February 19RatFireYang
1997February 7OxFireYin
1998January 28TigerEarthYang
1999February 16RabbitEarthYin
2000February 5DragonMetalYang
2001January 24SnakeMetalYin
2002February 12HorseWaterYang
2003February 1GoatWaterYin
2004January 22MonkeyWoodYang
2005February 9RoosterWoodYin
2006January 29DogFireYang
2007February 18PigFireYin
2008February 7RatEarthYang
2009January 26OxEarthYin
2010February 14TigerMetalYang
2011February 3RabbitMetalYin
2012January 23DragonWaterYang
2013February 10SnakeWaterYin
2014January 31HorseWoodYang
2015February 19GoatWoodYin
2016February 8MonkeyFireYang
2017January 28RoosterFireYin
2018February 16DogEarthYang
2019February 5PigEarthYin
2020January 25RatMetalYang
2021February 12OxMetalYin
2022February 1TigerWaterYang
2023January 22RabbitWaterYin
2024February 10DragonWoodYang
2025January 29SnakeWoodYin
2026February 17HorseFireYang
2027February 6GoatFireYin
2028January 26MonkeyEarthYang
2029February 13RoosterEarthYin
2030February 3DogMetalYang
2031January 23PigMetalYin

Chart mistake to avoid

A chart is useful for quick lookup, but it is still not enough for January and February birthdays. For example, 1990 is listed as Metal Horse, but January 15, 1990 still belongs to the 1989 Earth Snake year.

Use the chart, then verify by date

If your birthday is near Chinese New Year, use the calculator instead of guessing from the row.

FAQ

Is the chart based on the birth-year element?

Yes. The element shown here is the birth-year element from the 60-year cycle. It is different from the zodiac animal's fixed element.

Why does each element appear for two years?

Each element appears as a Yang year and then a Yin year before the cycle moves to the next element.

What should I do after finding my element?

Use the calculator to confirm your date, then take the Five Elements personality test for a separate self-reflection layer.

Go beyond the chart

A chart gives the label. The report sample shows how the label can become a readable personal profile.

Take the personality test See report sample