Fengshui Zen

Chinese zodiac years by exact date

Last checked · calculated, then checked against the Hong Kong Observatory tables

The Chinese zodiac assigns an animal to each lunar year, starting on Chinese New Year rather than January 1. 2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse, from February 17, 2026 to February 5, 2027. Enter a birth date to see its animal under both the Chinese New Year rule and the Lichun rule used in Four Pillars.

Find a zodiac animal by birth date

The 12 animals

The five most recent years of each animal and the next one.

How the zodiac year is decided

Guides: born in January or February · Lichun vs Chinese New Year · born outside China

New Year rule (popular use). The animal changes on Chinese New Year, the first day of the lunar year, which falls between January 21 and February 20. Someone born in January or early February belongs to the previous year's animal if their birthday comes before that year's New Year.

Lichun rule (Four Pillars). The traditional Four Pillars system starts the year at the Start of Spring (Lichun) solar term, around February 4, at an exact minute. Births between Lichun and Chinese New Year therefore get different animals under the two rules; each year page shows those days.

Element. The year's element comes from its Heavenly Stem, which changes every year in the order Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, two years each. A quick check for years after New Year: the last digit 4 or 5 is Wood, 6 or 7 Fire, 8 or 9 Earth, 0 or 1 Metal, 2 or 3 Water; even years are Yang and odd years Yin. Elements, stems and the 60-year cycle.

Zodiac year by birth year, 1920 to 2040

Start date is Chinese New Year. Open a year for the exact boundary and the Lichun rule, or see all years by animal in the zodiac years chart.

Jump to: 1920s · 1930s · 1940s · 1950s · 1960s · 1970s · 1980s · 1990s · 2000s · 2010s · 2020s · 2030s · 2040s

FAQ

Why can my zodiac animal differ from my birth year?

The zodiac year starts on Chinese New Year, which falls between January 21 and February 20. If you were born in January or early February, check the exact date: you may belong to the previous year's animal.

What is the order of the 12 zodiac animals?

Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. Each stands for one of the twelve Earthly Branches.

What do the five elements add?

Each year also has a Heavenly Stem, which carries one of five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water). Stems and branches combine into a 60-year cycle, so the same animal-and-element pair returns every 60 years.