The twelve animals
Each animal holds a two-hour window of the day, a month of the year, a direction and one of the five elements. Open any one for its character and the full list of years it rules.
1. Rat 鼠
Water · 子 Zi
Resourceful, quick-witted and adaptable.
1924 · 1936 · 1948 · 1960 · 1972 · 1984 · 1996 · 2008 · 2020 · 2032 · 2044
2. Ox 牛
Earth · 丑 Chou
Diligent, dependable and patient.
1925 · 1937 · 1949 · 1961 · 1973 · 1985 · 1997 · 2009 · 2021 · 2033
3. Tiger 虎
Wood · 寅 Yin
Brave, competitive and a natural leader.
1926 · 1938 · 1950 · 1962 · 1974 · 1986 · 1998 · 2010 · 2022 · 2034
4. Rabbit 兔
Wood · 卯 Mao
Gentle, cautious and refined.
1927 · 1939 · 1951 · 1963 · 1975 · 1987 · 1999 · 2011 · 2023 · 2035
5. Loong 龙
Earth · 辰 Chen
Charismatic, confident and energetic.
1928 · 1940 · 1952 · 1964 · 1976 · 1988 · 2000 · 2012 · 2024 · 2036
6. Snake 蛇
Fire · 巳 Si
Wise, intuitive and deliberate.
1929 · 1941 · 1953 · 1965 · 1977 · 1989 · 2001 · 2013 · 2025 · 2037
7. Horse 马
Fire · 午 Wu
Free-spirited, energetic and adventurous.
1930 · 1942 · 1954 · 1966 · 1978 · 1990 · 2002 · 2014 · 2026 · 2038
8. Goat 羊
Earth · 未 Wei
Harmonious, creative and gentle.
1931 · 1943 · 1955 · 1967 · 1979 · 1991 · 2003 · 2015 · 2027 · 2039
9. Monkey 猴
Metal · 申 Shen
Witty, curious and inventive.
1932 · 1944 · 1956 · 1968 · 1980 · 1992 · 2004 · 2016 · 2028 · 2040
10. Rooster 鸡
Metal · 酉 You
Punctual, honest and meticulous.
1933 · 1945 · 1957 · 1969 · 1981 · 1993 · 2005 · 2017 · 2029 · 2041
11. Dog 狗
Earth · 戌 Xu
Loyal, sincere and responsible.
1934 · 1946 · 1958 · 1970 · 1982 · 1994 · 2006 · 2018 · 2030 · 2042
12. Pig 猪
Water · 亥 Hai
Generous, honest and fortunate.
1935 · 1947 · 1959 · 1971 · 1983 · 1995 · 2007 · 2019 · 2031 · 2043
Which year counts?
The year lists treat a whole Gregorian year as one animal, which is true for most of it. January and early February are the exception: the zodiac turns at the Start of Spring (around 4 February) for divination and at the lunar new year for the festival. A birth between the two belongs to the previous animal under one rule and the new one under the other.
Check an exact date with the zodiac lookup.