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	Associated Element	Heavenly Stem	Earthly Branch	Associated Animal	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
	1st – 寅(yin) Tiger	Wood	329°	雨水 yǔshuǐ	Feb 19 – Mar 05
	2nd – 卯(mao) Rabbit	Wood	344°	啓蟄 qǐzhé (驚蟄 jīngzhé)	Mar 06 – Mar 20
	2nd – 卯(mao) Rabbit	Wood	0°	春分 chūnfēn	Mar 21 – Apr 04
	3rd – 辰(chen) Dragon	Earth	14°	清明 qīngmíng	Apr 05 – Apr 19
	3rd – 辰(chen) Dragon	Earth	29°	穀雨 gǔyǔ	Apr 20 – May 4
Summer	4th – 巳(si) Snake	Fire	44°	立夏 lìxià	May 5 – May 20
	4th – 巳(si) Snake	Fire	59°	小滿 xiǎomǎn	May 21 – June 5
	5th – 午(wu) Horse	Fire	74°	芒種 mángzhòng	Jun 06 – Jun 20
	5th – 午(wu) Horse	Fire	89°	夏至 xiàzhì	Jun 21 – Jul 06
	6th – 未(wei) Sheep	Earth	104°	小暑 xiǎoshǔ	Jul 07 – Jul 22
	6th – 未(wei) Sheep	Earth	119°	大暑 dàshǔ	Jul 23 – Aug 06
Autumn	7th – 申(shen) Monkey	Metal	134°	立秋 lìqiū	Aug 07 – Aug 22
	7th – 申(shen) Monkey	Metal	149°	處暑 chùshǔ	Aug 23 – Sep 07
	8th–酉(you) Rooster	Metal	164°	白露 báilù	Sep 08 – Sep 22
	8th–酉(you) Rooster	Metal	181°	秋分 qiūfēn	Sep 23 – Oct 07
	9th–戌(xu) Dog	Earth	194°	寒露 hánlù	Oct 08 – Oct 22
	9th–戌(xu) Dog	Earth	211°	霜降 shuāngjiàng	Oct 23 – Nov 06
Winter	10th – 亥(hai) Pig	Water	224°	立冬 lìdōng	Nov 07 – Nov 21
	10th – 亥(hai) Pig	Water	244°	小雪 xiǎoxuě	Nov 22 – Dec 06
	11th – 子(zi) Rat	Water	251°	大雪 dàxuě	Dec 07 – Dec 21
	11th – 子(zi) Rat	Water	271°	冬至 dōngzhì	Dec 22 – Jan 05
	12th – 丑(chou) Ox	Earth	284°	小寒 xiǎohán	Jan 06 – Jan 19
	12th – 丑(chou) Ox	Earth	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

Animals

   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.

Animal 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.