Chinese Zodiac
Discover the ancient wisdom of the Chinese zodiac — 12 animal signs, 5 elements, and the 60-year cycle that has guided billions for over 5,000 years.
🔥 2026: Year of the Fire Horse
February 17, 2026 marks the beginning of the Fire Horse year — a rare 60-year cycle known for intense energy, bold breakthroughs, and rapid transformation. The last Fire Horse year was 1966.
Read Fire Horse 2026 Predictions →What is the Chinese Zodiac?
The Chinese zodiac (生肖, shēngxiào) is a 12-year cycle where each year is represented by an animal sign. Unlike Western astrology which is based on your birth month, Chinese zodiac is based on your birth year.
But there's more: each year is also associated with one of the five elements(Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water), creating a 60-year cycle. This means your full Chinese zodiac sign includes both your animal AND your element — for example, "Fire Horse" or "Water Rabbit."
The 12 Animal Signs
Rat
Years: 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020
Clever, resourceful, quick-witted, charming
Ox
Years: 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021
Diligent, dependable, strong, determined
Tiger
Years: 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022
Brave, confident, competitive, unpredictable
Rabbit
Years: 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023
Quiet, elegant, kind, responsible
Dragon
Years: 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024
Confident, intelligent, enthusiastic, powerful
Snake
Years: 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025
Wise, enigmatic, intuitive, graceful
Horse
Years: 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026
Energetic, independent, warm-hearted, free-spirited
Goat
Years: 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027
Calm, gentle, sympathetic, creative
Monkey
Years: 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028
Sharp, smart, curious, mischievous
Rooster
Years: 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029
Observant, hardworking, courageous, honest
Dog
Years: 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030
Loyal, honest, amiable, kind
Pig
Years: 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031
Compassionate, generous, diligent, social
The 5 Elements
The five elements (五行, wǔxíng) interact with each other in a cycle of creation and destruction. Your element is determined by the last digit of your birth year.
🌳 Wood
Years ending in 4, 5
Growth, creativity, expansion
🔥 Fire
Years ending in 6, 7
Passion, action, intensity
⛰️ Earth
Years ending in 8, 9
Stability, grounding, nurturing
⚙️ Metal
Years ending in 0, 1
Structure, discipline, precision
💧 Water
Years ending in 2, 3
Intuition, flow, adaptability
Example: If you were born in 1990, you're a Metal Horse (Horse = animal sign, Metal = element from year ending in 0).
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