Chinese Astrology Years

Chinese Astrology years are named after one of the twelve animals featured in Chinese astrology. Chinese astrology years are devoted to the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and the Pig. According to ancient Chinese belief, these animals determine the fate, character and personality of people born under these zodiacs. Chinese New Year begins on the first day of the first month of the Chinese calendar also called the Lunar calendar. The date of the first day of the first month is determined by the phases of the moon.

The Cycle

According to astrology, Chinese astrology years are a part of a 60-year old cycle. This cycle is formed by the combination of the two main cycles. The twelve animal zodiacs form one cycle. The other cycle is formed by the combination of the ten heavenly stems. These ten heavenly stems comprise of the five elements in their male and female forms. The five elements of the Chinese astrology years are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. Their male and female forms are called Yin and Yang in Chinese.

Each Chinese astrology year occurs as combination of the animal zodiac and the earthly stem in its Yin or Yang form. Chinese astrology years have a different animal zodiac every year. However, the earthly element remains the same with its Yin and Yang form used for two consecutive years. If Yang Water were used for the first year, the second year would be called the year of Yin Water. The combination of a particular animal zodiac and the Yin or Yang form of an element can be repeated only after 60 years. The Chinese astrology years are cyclical in fashion. This means that they always occur as balance of opposites. The 60-year cycle balances the Yin and the Yang, meaning that if it begins with Yin, it will end with Yang.

According to Chinese astrology it is very important to have a balance between Yin and Yang to have happy and prosperous life. The balance of the proper male or female forces shapes a person's life. It is also believed that certain directions, colors and objects are more beneficial to people born under a particular combination of the animal zodiac and the earthly element. However, while checking one's Chinese zodiac sign people need to keep an important point in mind. Chinese astrology years are determined by the lunar calendar and not the Georgian calendar that we use in our daily lives. A Chinese New Year normally begins between January 21 and February 20. Therefore, a person born before the starting of the Chinese New Year will actually share his or her Chinese zodiac with a person born in the previous year.

In addition to the combination of the 12 zodiacs and the five elements there are some other elements in the Chinese astrology years as well. Every month of the Chinese astrology is further ruled or devoted to the inner or secret animal. These animals are the same as the twelve main zodiacs. However, the inner animals rule each month of a Chinese astrology year. This means that a person might be born in the year of the Tiger but his or her inner animal according to the month of the birth can be Horse. To get an in depth knowledge of one's zodiac according to the Chinese astrology years it is important to calculate the animal zodiac, the earthly stem with it form as well as one's inner or secret animal.

Year Sign Element Year Begins Year Ends


1900 Rat Metal 31 January 1900 18 February 1901
1901 Ox Metal 19 Feb 1901 7 Feb 1902
1902 Tiger Water 8 Feb 1902 28 Jan 1903
1903 Cat Water 29 Jan 1903 15 Feb 1904
1904 Dragon Wood 16 Feb 1904 3 Feb 1905
1905 Snake Wood 4 Feb 1905 24 Jan 1906
1906 Horse Fire 25 Jan 1906 12 Feb 1907
1907 Goat Fire 13 Feb 1907 2 Feb 1908
1908 Monkey Earth 3 Feb 1908 21 Jan 1909
1909 Rooster Earth 22 Jan 1909 9 Feb 1920
1910 Dog Metal 10 Feb 1920 29 Jan 1911
1911 Pig Metal 30 Jan 1911 17 Feb 1912
1912 Rat Water 18 Feb 1912 5 Feb 1913
1913 Ox Water 6 Feb 1913 25 Jan 1914
1914 Tiger Wood 26 Jan 1914 13 Feb 1915
1915 Cat Wood 14 Feb 1915 2 Feb 1916
1916 Dragon Fire 3 Feb 1916 22 Jan 1917
1917 Snake Fire 23 Jan 1917 10 Feb 1918
1918 Horse Earth 11 Feb 1918 31 Jan 1919
1919 Goat Earth 1 Feb 1919 19 Feb 1920
1920 Monkey Metal 20 Feb 1920 7 Feb 1921
1921 Rooster Metal 8 Feb 1921 27 Jan 1922
1922 Dog Water 28 Jan 1922 15 Feb 1923
1923 Pig Water 16 Feb 1923 4 Feb 1924
1924 Rat Wood 5 Feb 1924 23 Jan 1925
1925 Ox Wood 24 Jan 1925 12 Feb 1926
1926 Tiger Fire 13 Feb 1926 1 Feb 1927
1927 Cat Fire 2 Feb 1927 22 Jan 1928
1928 Dragon Earth 23 Jan 1928 9 Feb 1929
1929 Snake Earth 10 Feb 1929 29 Jan 1930
1930 Horse Metal 30 Jan 1930 16 Feb 1931
1931 Goat Metal 17 Feb 1931 5 Feb 1932
1932 Monkey Water 6 Feb 1932 25 Jan 1933
1933 Rooster Water 26 Jan 1933 13 Feb 1934
1934 Dog Wood 14 Feb 1934 3 Feb 1935
1935 Pig Wood 4 Feb 1935 23 Jan 1936
1936 Rat Fire 24 Jan 1936 10 Feb 1937
1937 Ox Fire 11 Feb 1937 30 Jan 1938
1938 Tiger Earth 31 Jan 1938 18 Feb 1939
1939 Cat Earth 19 Feb 1939 7 Feb 1940
1940 Dragon Metal 8 Feb 1940 26 Jan 1941
1941 Snake Metal 27 Jan 1941 14 Feb 1942
1942 Horse Water 15 Feb 1942 4 Feb 1943
1943 Goat Water 5 Feb 1943 24 Jan 1944
1944 Monkey Wood 25 Jan 1944 12 Feb 1945
1945 Rooster Wood 13 Feb 1945 1 Feb 1946
1946 Dog Fire 2 Feb 1946 21 Jan 1947
1947 Pig Fire 22 Jan 1947 9 Feb 1948
1948 Rat Earth 10 Feb 1948 28 Jan 1949
1949 Ox Earth 29 Jan 1949 16 Feb 1950
1950 Tiger Metal 17 Feb 1950 5 Feb 1951
1951 Cat Metal 6 Feb 1951 26 Jan 1952
1952 Dragon Water 27 Jan 1952 13 Feb 1953
1953 Snake Water 14 Feb 1953 2 Feb 1954
1954 Horse Wood 3 Feb 1954 23 Jan 1955
1955 Goat Wood 24 Jan 1955 11 Feb 1956
1956 Monkey Fire 12 Feb 1956 30 Jan 1957
1957 Rooster Fire 31 Jan 1957 17 Feb 1958
1958 Dog Earth 18 Feb 1958 7 Feb 1959
1959 Pig Earth 8 Feb 1959 27 Jan 1960
1960 Rat Metal 28 January 1960 14 February 1961
1961 Ox Metal 15 Feb 1961 4 Feb 1962
1962 Tiger Water 5 Feb 1962 24 Jan 1963
1963 Cat Water 25 Jan 1963 12 Feb 1964
1964 Dragon Wood 13 Feb 1964 1 Feb 1965
1965 Snake Wood 2 Feb 1965 20 Jan 1966
1966 Horse Fire 21 Jan 1966 8 Feb 1967
1967 Goat Fire 9 Feb 1967 29 Jan 1968
1968 Monkey Earth 30 Jan 1968 16 Feb 1969
1969 Rooster Earth 17 Feb 1969 5 Feb 1970
1970 Dog Metal 6 Feb 1970 26 Jan 1971
1971 Pig Metal 27 Jan 1971 14 Feb 1972
1972 Rat Water 15 Feb 1972 2 Feb 1973
1973 Ox Water 3 Feb 1973 22 Jan 1974
1974 Tiger Wood 23 Jan 1974 10 Feb 1975
1975 Cat Wood 11 Feb 1975 30 Jan 1976
1976 Dragon Fire 31 Jan 1976 17 Feb 1977
1977 Snake Fire 18 Feb 1977 6 Feb 1978
1978 Horse Earth 7 Feb 1978 27 Jan 1979
1979 Goat Earth 28 Jan 1979 15 Feb 1980
1980 Monkey Metal 16 Feb 1980 4 Feb 1981
1981 Rooster Metal 5 Feb 1981 24 Jan 1982
1982 Dog Water 25 Jan 1982 12 Feb 1983
1983 Pig Water 13 Feb 1983 1 Feb 1984
1984 Rat Wood 2 Feb 1984 19 Feb 1985
1985 Ox Wood 20 Feb 1985 8 Feb 1986
1986 Tiger Fire 9 Feb 1986 28 Jan 1987
1987 Cat Fire 29 Jan 1987 16 Feb 1988
1988 Dragon Earth 17 Feb 1988 5 Feb 1989
1989 Snake Earth 6 Feb 1989 26 Jan 1990
1990 Horse Metal 27 Jan 1990 14 Feb 1991
1991 Goat Metal 15 Feb 1991 3 Feb 1992
1992 Monkey Water 4 Feb 1992 22 Jan 1993
1993 Rooster Water 23 Jan 1993 9 Feb 1994
1994 Dog Wood 10 Feb 1994 30 Jan 1995
1995 Pig Wood 31 Jan 1995 18 Feb 1996
1996 Rat Fire 19 Feb 1996 6 Feb 1997
1997 Ox Fire 7 Feb 1997 27 Jan 1998
1998 Tiger Earth 28 Jan 1998 15 Feb 1999
1999 Cat Earth 16 Feb 1999 4 Feb 2000
2000 Dragon Metal 5 Feb 2000 24 Jan 2001
2001 Snake Metal 25 Jan 2001 12 Feb 2002
2002 Horse Water 25 Jan 2002 12 Feb 2003
2003 Goat Water 13 Feb 2003 1 Feb 2004
2004 Monkey Wood 2 Feb 2004 19 Feb 2005
2005 Rooster Wood 20 Feb 2005 8 Feb 2006
2006 Dog Fire 9 Feb 2006 28 Jan 2007
2007 Pig Fire 29 Jan 2007 16 Feb 2008
2008 Rat Earth 17 Feb 2008 5 Feb 2009
2009 Ox Earth 6 Feb 2009 26 Jan 2010
2010 Tiger Metal 27 Jan 2010 14 Feb 2011
2011 Cat Metal 15 Feb 2011 3 Feb 2012
2012 Dragon Water 4 Feb 2012 22 Jan 2013
2013 Snake Water 23 Jan 2013 9 Feb 2014