Chinese New Year Zodiac Charts

Updated January 10, 2020
Chinese astrological horoscope wheel

The Chinese zodiac signs are based on the Chinese New Year calculated using the lunar calendar. Chinese New Year charts reveal more than the astrological animal zodiac signs. The Chinese zodiac chart features the yin yang of each animal and its element. The charts explain how each of these components affects and influences your life.

Explore Chinese New Year Zodiac Chart Layout

Some people know their Chinese astrological sign, but when studied closer, the Chinese New Year zodiac chart reveals the very essence of a person's natural characteristics. The chart is circular and divided into three main parts, elements, zodiac animals and yin yang chi energy.

Part 1: Inner Ring of Five Elements

The inner ring contains the five elements. Each of the 12 zodiac animal signs has a fixed element as well as one of each five elements based on the birth year.

Fixed Element Zodiac Signs
Element Zodiac Signs
Fire Horse and Snake
Metal Rooster and Monkey
Water Rat and Pig
Wood Rabbit and Tiger
Earth Dragon, Sheep, Ox, and Dog

Each Zodiac Sign Assigned Five Elements

In addition to the fixed element, each sign is also assigned an element based on the year of birth. The five elements are assigned one element per one year to each sign.

Example of Five Elements per Zodiac Animal

The first zodiac animal is the rat. With five elements divided among this zodiac sign (one per year), there will be a water rat, wood rat, fire rat, earth rat, and metal rat. The other zodiac signs also have five elements assigned to them dictated by the birth year. This creates a 60-year cycle for a complete rotation of the zodiac since 12 zodiac signs x 5 elements=60 years to complete the cycle.

Part 2: Middle Ring of Zodiac Animal Signs

This ring contains the twelve Chinese astrological signs. The zodiac animal signs are based on the Chinese New Year calendar that uses the Lunar Calendar to calculate the birthdates and animals assigned to each in the following order.

  1. Rat
  2. Ox
  3. Tiger
  4. Rabbit
  5. Dragon
  6. Snake
  7. Horse
  8. Sheep, Ram or Goat (Different Chinese regions use different type)
  9. Monkey
  10. Rooster
  11. Dog
  12. Pig
Chinese zodiac symbols on wheel

Understanding the Chinese New Year Calendar

The Chinese New Year uses the Lunar Calendar, not the Gregorian Calendar. The Chinese New Year begins the second new moon that occurs after the Chinese winter solstice (on or around December 22). This means the New Year could start sometimes toward the end of January or the first couple of weeks in February.

The Lunar Calendar Zodiac Dates

Since the New Year span often includes January birthdates for the following Gregorian Calendar year, a listing needs to provide a range of dates from the beginning of the Chinese New Year to the end of the Chinese New Year.

Chinese Zodiac Animal Signs

You can find your zodiac animal sign and ruling element by searching the tables below. Find the year range where your birthday falls. This is your zodiac sign and the element that rules your sign. For ease of reading, the following charts are divided into 10-year segments.

Chinese Zodiac Animal Signs Chart
New Year Begins New Year Ends Zodiac Sign Element
January 31, 1900 February 18, 1901 Rat Metal
February 19, 1901 February 7, 1902 Ox Metal
February 8, 1902 January 28, 1903 Tiger Water
January 29, 1903 February 15, 1904 Rabbit Water
February 16, 1904 February 3, 1905 Dragon Wood
February 4, 1905 January 24, 1906 Snake Wood
January 25, 1906 February 12, 1907 Horse Fire
February 13, 1907 February 1, 1908 Sheep/Ram/Goat Fire
February 2, 1908 January 21, 1909 Monkey Earth
January 22, 1909 February 9, 1910 Rooster Earth
New Year Begins New Year Ends Zodiac Sign Element
February 10, 1910 January 29, 1911 Dog Metal
January 30, 1911 February 17, 1912 Pig Metal
February 18, 1912 February 5, 1913 Rat Water
February 6, 1913 January 25, 1914 Ox Water
January 26, 1914 February 13, 1915 Tiger Wood
February 14, 1915 February 2, 1916 Rabbit Wood
February 3, 1916 January 22, 1917 Dragon Fire
January 23, 1917 February 10, 1918 Snake Fire
February 11, 1918 January 31, 1919 Horse Earth
February 1, 1919 February 19, 1920 Sheep/Ram/Goat Earth
New Year Begins New Year Ends Zodiac Sign Element
February 20, 1920 February 7, 1921 Monkey Metal
February 8, 1921 January 27, 1922 Rooster Metal
January 28, 1922 February 15, 1923 Dog Water
February 16, 1923 February 4, 1924 Pig Water
February 5, 1924 January 24, 1925 Rat Wood
January 25, 1925 February 12, 1926 Ox Wood
February 13, 1926 February 1, 1927 Tiger Fire
February 2, 1927 January 22, 1928 Rabbit Fire
January 23, 1928 February 9, 1929 Dragon Earth
February 10, 1929 January 29, 1930 Snake Earth
New Year Begins New Year Ends Zodiac Sign Element
January 30, 1930 February 16, 1931 Horse Metal
February 17, 1931 February 5, 1932 Sheep/Ram/Goat Metal
February 6, 1932 January 25, 1933 Monkey Water
January 26, 1933 February 13, 1934 Rooster Water
February 14, 1934 February 3, 1935 Dog Wood
February 4, 1935 January 23, 1936 Pig Wood
January 24, 1936 February 10, 1937 Rat Fire
February 11, 1937 January 30, 1938 Ox Fire
January 31, 1938 February 18, 1939 Tiger Earth

February 19, 1939

February 7, 1940 Rabbit

Earth

New Year Begins New Year Ends Zodiac Sign Element
February 8, 1940 January 26, 1941 Dragon Metal
January 27, 1941 February 14, 1942 Snake Metal
February 15, 1942 February 4, 1943 Horse Water
February 5, 1943 January 24, 1944 Sheep/Ram/Goat Water
January 25, 1944 February 12, 1945 Monkey Wood
February 13, 1945 February 1, 1946 Rooster Wood
February 2, 1946 January 21, 1947 Dog Fire
January 22, 1947 February 9, 1948 Pig Fire
February 10, 1948 January 28, 1949 Rat Earth
January 29, 1949 February 16, 1950 Ox Earth
New Year Begins New Year Ends Zodiac Sign Element
February 17, 1950 February 5, 1951 Tiger Metal
February 6, 1951 January 26, 1952 Rabbit Metal
January 27, 1952 February 13, 1953 Dragon Water
February 14, 1953 February 2, 1954 Snake Water
February 3, 1954 January 23, 1955 Horse Wood
January 24, 1955 February 11, 1956 Sheep/Ram/Goat Wood
February 12, 1956 January 30, 1957 Monkey Fire
January 31, 1957 February 17, 1958 Rooster Fire
February 18, 1958 February 7, 1959 Dog Earth
February 8, 1959 January 27, 1960 Pig Earth
New Year Begins New Year Ends Zodiac Sign Element
January 28, 1960 February 14, 1961 Rat Metal
February 15, 1961 February 4, 1962 Ox Metal
February 5, 1962 January 24, 1963 Tiger Water
January 25, 1963 February 12, 1964 Rabbit Water
February 13, 1964 February 1, 1965 Dragon Wood
February 2, 1965 January 20, 1966 Snake Wood
January 21, 1966 February 8, 1967 Horse Fire
February 9, 1967 January 29, 1968 Sheep/Ram/Goat Fire
January 30, 1968 February 16, 1969 Monkey Earth
February 17, 1969 February 5, 1970 Rooster Earth
New Year Begins New Year Ends Zodiac Sign Element
February 6, 1970 January 26, 1971 Dog Metal
January 27, 1971 February 14, 1972 Pig Metal
February 15, 1972 February 2, 1973 Rat Water
February 3, 1973 January 22, 1974 Ox Water
January 23, 1974 February 10, 1975 Tiger Wood
February 11, 1975 January 30, 1976 Rabbit Wood
January 31, 1976 February 17, 1977 Dragon Fire
February 18, 1977 February 6, 1978 Snake Fire
February 7, 1978 January 27, 1979 Horse Earth
January 28, 1979 February 15, 1980 Sheep/Ram/Goat Earth
New Year Begins New Year Ends Zodiac Sign Element
February 16, 1980 February 4, 1981 Monkey Metal
February 5, 1981 January 24, 1982 Rooster Metal
January 25, 1982 February 12, 1983 Dog Water
February 13, 1983 February 1, 1984 Pig Water
February 2, 1984 February 19, 1985 Rat Wood
February 20, 1985 February 8, 1986 Ox Wood
February 9, 1986 January 28, 1987 Tiger Fire
January 29, 1987 February 16, 1988 Rabbit Fire
February 17, 1988 February 5, 1989 Dragon Earth
February 6, 1989 January 26, 1990 Snake Earth
New Year Begins New Year Ends Zodiac Sign Element
January 27, 1990 February 14, 1991 Horse Metal
February 15, 1991 February 3, 1992 Sheep/Ram/Goat Metal
February 4, 1992 January 22, 1993 Monkey Water
January 23, 1993 February 9, 1994 Rooster Water
February 10, 1994 January 30, 1995 Dog Wood
January 31, 1995 February 18, 1996 Pig Wood
February 19, 1996 February 6, 1997 Rat Fire
February 7, 1997 January 27, 1998 Ox Fire
January 28, 1998 February 15, 1999 Tiger Earth
February 16, 1999 February 4, 2000 Rabbit Earth
New Year Begins New Year Ends Zodiac Sign Element
February 5, 2000 January 23, 2001 Dragon Metal
January 24, 2001 February 11, 2002 Snake Metal
February 12, 2002 January 31, 2003 Horse Water
February 1, 2003 January 21, 2004 Sheep/Ram/Goat Water
January 22, 2004 February 8, 2005 Monkey Wood
February 9, 2005 January 28, 2006 Rooster Wood
January 29, 2006 February 17, 2007 Dog Fire
February 18, 2007 February 6, 2008 Pig Fire
February 7, 2008 January 25, 2009 Rat Earth
January 26, 2009 February 9, 2010 Ox Earth
New Year Begins New Year Ends Zodiac Sign Element
February 10, 2010 February 2, 2011 Tiger Metal
February 3, 2011 January 22, 2012 Rabbit Metal
January 23, 2012 February 9, 2013 Dragon Water
February 10, 2013 January 30, 2014 Snake Water
January 31, 2014 February 18, 2015 Horse Wood
February 19, 2015 February 8, 2016 Sheep/Ram/Goat Wood
February 9, 2016 January 27, 2017 Monkey Fire
January 28, 2017 February 15, 2018 Rooster Fire
February 16, 2018 February 4, 2019 Dog Earth
February 5, 2019 January 24, 2020 Pig Earth
New Year Begins New Year Ends Zodiac Sign Element
January 25, 2020 February 11, 2021 Rat Metal
February 12, 2021 January 31, 2022 Ox Metal
February 1, 2022 January 21, 2023 Tiger Water
January 22, 2023 February 9, 2024 Rabbit Water
February 10, 2024 January 28, 2025 Dragon Wood
January 29, 2025 February 16, 2026 Snake Wood

Part 3: Outer Circle of Yin Yang Chi

The outer circle of a Chinese New Year zodiac chart features a white and black rim. Each sign will have either a black (yin) or white (yang) band to indicate the animal's chi energy. White represents sunlight and masculine yang energy while the black represents moonlight and feminine yin energy.

Ying and Yang Symbol

Yin and Yang According to Year

Not only is each astrological sign in the Chinese New Year zodiac chart ruled by an element, but they are also ruled by either yin or yang energy. There are "Yin" years and "Yang" years for each Chinese zodiac astrological sign. The easiest way to keep this straight is:

  • Years that end in an odd number are "Yin"
  • Years ending in even numbers are "Yang" ruled.
  • The yin energy of an element portrays personality characteristics that are subtle and subdued.
  • The yang energy of an element portrays characteristics that are more pronounced and at times considered aggressive.

Yin Yang and Elements

Each year has either yin or yang energy as well as an element. You can easily determine these when you follow the chart below.

Year Ending Number and Element
Year Ending Yin or Yang Element
0 Yang Metal
1 Yin Metal
2 Yang Water
3 Yin Water
4 Yang Wood
5 Yin Wood
6 Yang Fire
7 Yin Fire
8 Yang Earth

9

Yin Earth

Productive (Affinity) Relationships

The five elements in the Chinese zodiac chart are interrelated and can be either productive, often referred to as an affinity relationship, or destructive, often referred to as an enmity relationship. A compatible relationship (productive) is positive for both people and produces all the good things you expect from a solid and whole yin yang relationship.

  • Water and wood: Water nourishes wood and helps it to grow.
  • Wood and fire: Wood fuels fire to burn and provide heat.
  • Fire and Earth: Fire produces ash and dust, which are considered Earth elements.
  • Earth and metal: Earth creates metal.
  • Metal and water: Metal attracts water.
Feng Shui Productive Cycle Diagram

Destructive (Enmity) Relationships

When the elements clash in ways that destroy each other from opposite directions, such as north (water) and south (fire) this is called the destructive cycle. In a human relationship, this threat of element clashing is referred to as an enmity relationship. This type of relationship will basically self-destruct.

  • Water puts out fire.
  • Fire melts metal.
  • Wood parts/deplete earth.
  • Earth absorbs water.
  • Metal cuts wood.
Feng Shui Destructive Cycle Diagram

Lucky and Unlucky Chinese New Year Zodiac Charts

At each Chinese New Year, different energies take hold. The Chinese New Year chart for each year influences your life and can give significant clues as to how lucky or unlucky you might be in your career, finances, and relationships during the year. Some years support and compliment your skills, others don't.

An Example

As an example, 2019 was the Chinese year of the Earth Pig. Being born during the year of the Earth Pig is considered positive for wealth and good fortune. But 2019 did not bode well for Monkey, Tiger, or Snake, and for all Pigs 2019 was their Ben Ming Nian, a year of some significant stress and discomfort.

Ben Ming Nian

Ben Ming Nian is the Chinese Zodiac Birth Year that shares the same Chinese zodiac sign as your birth year. Every 12 years, at ages of 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72 and even 84, people experience Ben Ming Nian. These are the ages when Tai Sui, the god of fortune comes calling. It' a popular superstition that one's Ben Ming Nian is an unlucky year. Fortune often does fluctuate during these years, so, generally, greater consideration needs to be given to marriage, moving house, travel, investments, and starting a business during your Ben Ming Nian.

Remedies for Ben Ming Nian

Superstition or not, the Chinese have remedies to lessen the unlucky impact of Ben Ming Nian. The most popular solution is to wear red scarfs, clothes, underwear, belts, or bracelets, etc. that have been purchased by family or friends. It's thought the red items are more powerful when they are gifted to the Ben Ming Nian individual.

Using Chinese New Year Zodiac Charts

The Chinese New Year zodiac charts are easy to use. The different aspects of your Chinese astrology chart come together to form a complete picture of the cosmic influences in your life, including your best and worst relationships for a life partner/marriage, friends, family, and work relationships. Additionally, each Chinese New Year chart when compared to your own can give clues about what each New Year holds for you.

Chinese New Year Zodiac Charts