Chinese Zodiac Years: 12 Animal Signs Chart, Calendar

📅 Chinese zodiac: Annual lunar calendar, horoscopes and meaning of your sign and animal element according to your date of birth
By KarmaWeather - 28 January 2024
© KarmaWeather by Konbi - All rights reserved

What is my Chinese zodiac sign?

Find out the date, character and predictions for your Chinese zodiac animal sign and element. The following birth calculation charts give you a direct insight into the 12 Chinese zodiac signs. Based on the Chinese horoscope, use our free Chinese zodiac calculator or the calendar below to discover what is your Chinese zodiac animal. The Chinese zodiac race order is:

  1. Rat
  2. Ox
  3. Tiger
  4. Rabbit
  5. Dragon
  6. Snake
  7. Horse
  8. Goat
  9. Monkey
  10. Rooster
  11. Dog
  12. Pig

On this page, in addition to the complete list of years, months and hours of the Chinese lunar calendar, you can also discover the Chinese zodiac element of your year of birth according to the Chinese horoscope, the monthly Chinese zodiac calendar of 2023 (and 2024), and the season of your birth.

Chinese zodiac 2023

Written for the 12 Chinese zodiac signs, read the free and complete Year of the Rabbit 2023 Forecast, starting on Lunar New Year's Day, January 22, 2023, aka CNY. KarmaWeather's annual predictions include personalized information for love, money, and work, as well as colors, amulets, and births in 2023.


The 12 Chinese zodiac animals

Each of the 12 animals (or signs) of the Chinese zodiac are associated with the cyclical rotation of the 5 elements of Chinese cosmology (Wu Xing), changing every sixty years  (12 x 5 = 60 years for the 12 signs, 5 x 2 = 10 years for the 5 elements that follow each other in pairs, with a Yang then Yin polarity).

According to the Chinese zodiac, every year, every month, every day and every hour are directly associated with a Chinese zodiac animal and a corresponding element. Each of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs also possess their own embedded set of elements.

The relationships between the five elements of Chinese astrology and the Chinese zodiac animals are mainly linked to creation, filiation and destruction cycles.

Differences between the order of the 12 animals and that of the lunar months

In the Chinese horoscope, the first month of a Chinese New Year always begins with the Month of the Tiger. This is the first month of the lunar year. One must not confuse the position of the Tiger in the Chinese calendar (3rd Chinese zodiac sign) with its position as an animal governing the 1st lunar month of the year. Thus, the Month of the Tiger is the 1st month of the lunar year, followed by the Month of the Rabbit, 2nd month of the lunar year, then the Month of the Dragon, 3rd lunar month and so on in the order of 12 Chinese astrology animals. The Chinese Year always ends with the Month of the Ox, the 12th Chinese lunar month. This rule applies to all Chinese years. In the table below, you will find the complete list arranged in the respective order of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs and 12 lunar months.

List of the 12 animals of Chinese astrology and corresponding lunar months

Distribution of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs and of the 12 lunar months
Chinese Zodiac Name Animal Sign Order Monthly Order
🐭 Rat 1st Chinese zodiac sign 11th lunar month
🐮 Ox 2nd Chinese zodiac sign 12th lunar month
🐯 Tiger 3rd Chinese zodiac sign 1st lunar month
🐰 Rabbit 4th Chinese zodiac sign 2nd lunar month
🐲 Dragon 5th Chinese zodiac sign 3rd lunar month
🐍 Snake 6th Chinese zodiac sign 4th lunar month
🐴 Horse 7th Chinese zodiac sign 5th lunar month
🐐 Goat 8th Chinese zodiac sign 6th lunar month
🐵 Monkey 9th Chinese zodiac sign 7th lunar month
🐔 Rooster 10th Chinese zodiac sign 8th lunar month
🐶 Dog 11th Chinese zodiac sign 9th lunar month
🐷 Pig 12th Chinese zodiac sign 10th lunar month

The Chinese calendar

The Chinese zodiac calendar is based on the cycles of the Moon, while the Western calendar (or Gregorian calendar) is a solar calendar.

As such, the Chinese lunar years have different start and end dates from the classic Gregorian calendar, when New Year's Day is on January 1st. The beginning and ending dates below give you the exact duration of each Chinese Year, translated into Gregorian calendar dates, allowing you to identify which animal (or sign) you belong to, with your date of birth.

While Lunar New Year's Day, used in Chinese astrology to determine your Chinese zodiac sign, changes every year, remember that this is not the case of the Luo Shu square system traditionally used in Feng Shui. The astrological year of this 9 years cycle system always begins on February 4.

Chinese zodiac calendar years
Chinese Zodiac: Animal and element of the year of the Chinese calendar
The 12 zodiac signs Chinese astrology are shown according to their year of birth, from 1944 to 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028. Also note the Yin Yang polarity & main element of each Chinese zodiac animal (not to be confused with the annual element)

Chinese pregnancy calendar

According to Chinese astrology, you can determine the sex of your baby with the Chinese calendar baby gender predictor.

The Chinese calendar can also serve as a pregnancy calendar for any expectant mother who wishes to ensure upstream parent-child compatibility of her baby with her and her husband or companion. To do this, first check the compatibility of your Chinese zodiac sign with the zodiac sign corresponding to the Chinese animal of the year during which you are planning the birth of your boy or girl.

According to the Chinese calendar 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, children born between January 25, 2020 and February 11, 2021 are of the Chinese zodiac sign of the Metal Rat, while those born between February 12, 2021 and January 31, 2022 are of the Chinese zodiac sign of the Metal Ox. From February 1, 2022 to January 21, 2023, children born during this period are from the Year of the Water Tiger. Boys and girls born between January 22, 2023 and February 9, 2024 have the Year of the Water Rabbit as their first pillar of destiny.



12 Chinese zodiac signs' year of birth calendar (1920 to 2031)


Rat, Mouse (Chinese zodiac)

🐭 Rat (Chinese zodiac): Years of the Rat, Mouse

Birth years of the Chinese zodiac sign of the Rat

If your birth is within the date ranges below, it means you were born in the Year of the Rat (1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020). Read the full horoscope of the Chinese zodiac sign of the Rat here: Rat Chinese horoscope

Birth calendar of the Year of the Rat
Year Date range
(DD/MM/YYYY)
Chinese year
1924 05/02/1924
24/01/1925
Wood Rat
1936 24/01/1936
10/02/1937
Fire Rat
1948 10/02/1948
28/01/1949
Earth Rat
1960 28/01/1960
14/02/1961
Metal Rat
1972 15/02/1972
02/02/1973
Water Rat
1984 02/02/1984
19/02/1985
Wood Rat
1996 19/02/1996
06/02/1997
Fire Rat
2008 07/02/2008
25/01/2009
Earth Rat
2020 25/01/2020
11/02/2021
Metal Rat



Ox, Buffalo (Chinese zodiac)

🐮 Ox (Chinese zodiac): Years of the Ox, Buffalo

Birth years of the Chinese zodiac sign of the Ox

If your birth is within the date ranges below, it means you were born in the Year of the Ox (1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021). Read the full horoscope of the Chinese zodiac sign of the Ox here: Ox Chinese horoscope

Birth calendar of the Year of the Ox
Year Date range
(DD/MM/YYYY)
Chinese year
1925 25/01/1925
12/02/1926
Wood Ox
1937 11/02/1937
30/01/1938
Fire Ox
1949 29/01/1949
16/02/1950
Earth Ox
1961 15/02/1961
04/02/1962
Metal Ox
1973 03/02/1973
22/01/1974
Water Ox
1985 20/02/1985
08/02/1986
Wood Ox
1997 07/02/1997
27/01/1998
Fire Ox
2009 26/01/2009
13/02/2010
Earth Ox
2021 12/02/2021
31/01/2022
Metal Ox



Tiger (Chinese zodiac)

🐯 Tiger (Chinese zodiac): Years of the Tiger

Birth years of the Chinese zodiac sign of the Tiger

If your birth is within the date ranges below, it means you were born in the Year of the Tiger (1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022). Read the full horoscope of the Chinese zodiac sign of the Tiger here: Tiger Chinese horoscope

Birth calendar of the Year of the Tiger
Year Date range
(DD/MM/YYYY)
Chinese year
1926 13/02/1926
01/02/1927
Fire Tiger
1938 31/01/1938
18/02/1939
Earth Tiger
1950 17/02/1950
05/02/1951
Metal Tiger
1962 05/02/1962
25/01/1963
Water Tiger
1974 23/01/1974
10/02/1975
Wood Tiger
1986 09/02/1986
28/01/1987
Fire Tiger
1998 28/01/1998
15/02/1999
Earth Tiger
2010 14/02/2010
02/02/2011
Metal Tiger
2022 01/02/2022
21/01/2023
Water Tiger



Rabbit, Hare, Cat (Chinese zodiac)

🐰 Rabbit (Chinese zodiac): Years of the Rabbit, Hare, Cat

Birth years of the Chinese zodiac sign of the Rabbit

If your birth is within the date ranges below, it means you were born in the Year of the Rabbit (1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023). Read the full horoscope of the Chinese zodiac sign of the Rabbit here: Rabbit Chinese horoscope

Birth calendar of the Year of the Rabbit
Year Date range
(DD/MM/YYYY)
Chinese year
1927 02/02/1927
22/01/1928
Fire Rabbit
1939 19/02/1939
07/02/1940
Earth Rabbit
1951 06/02/1951
26/01/1952
Metal Rabbit
1963 25/01/1963
12/02/1964
Water Rabbit
1975 11/02/1975
30/01/1976
Wood Rabbit
1987 29/01/1987
16/02/1988
Fire Rabbit
1999 16/02/1999
04/02/2000
Earth Rabbit
2011 03/02/2011
22/01/2012
Metal Rabbit
2023 22/01/2023
09/02/2024
Water Rabbit



Dragon (Chinese zodiac)

🐲 Dragon (Chinese zodiac): Years of the Dragon

Birth years of the Chinese zodiac sign of the Dragon

If your birth is within the date ranges below, it means you were born in the Year of the Dragon (1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2021, 2024). Read the full horoscope of the Chinese zodiac sign of the Dragon here: Dragon Chinese horoscope

Birth calendar of the Year of the Dragon
Year Date range
(DD/MM/YYYY)
Chinese year
1928 23/01/1928
09/02/1929
Earth Dragon
1940 08/02/1940
26/01/1941
Metal Dragon
1952 27/01/1952
13/02/1953
Water Dragon
1964 13/02/1964
01/02/1965
Wood Dragon
1976 31/01/1976
17/02/1977
Fire Dragon
1988 17/02/1988
05/02/1989
Earth Dragon
2000 05/02/2000
23/01/2001
Metal Dragon
2012 23/01/2012
09/02/2013
Water Dragon
2024 10/02/2024
29/01/2025
Wood Dragon



Snake (Chinese zodiac)

🐍 Snake (Chinese zodiac): Years of the Snake

Birth years of the Chinese zodiac sign of the Snake

If your birth is within the date ranges below, it means you were born in the Year of the Snake (1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025). Read the full horoscope of the Chinese zodiac sign of the Snake here: Snake Chinese horoscope

Birth calendar of the Year of the Snake
Year Date range
(DD/MM/YYYY)
Chinese year
1929 10/02/1929
09/01/1930
Earth Snake
1941 27/01/1941
14/02/1942
Metal Snake
1953 14/02/1953
02/02/1954
Water Snake
1965 02/02/1965
20/02/1966
Wood Snake
1977 18/02/1977
06/02/1978
Fire Snake
1989 06/02/1989
26/01/1990
Earth Snake
2001 24/01/2001
11/02/2002
Metal Snake
2013 10/02/2013
30/01/2014
Water Snake
2025 29/01/2025
16/02/2026
Wood Snake



Horse (Chinese zodiac)

🐴 Horse (Chinese zodiac): Years of the Horse

Birth years of the Chinese zodiac sign of the Horse

If your birth is within the date ranges below, it means you were born in the Year of the Horse (1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026). Read the full horoscope of the Chinese zodiac sign of the Horse here: Horse Chinese horoscope

Birth calendar of the Year of the Horse
Year Date range
(DD/MM/YYYY)
Chinese year
1930 10/01/1930
16/02/1931
Metal Horse
1942 15/02/1942
04/02/1943
Water Horse
1954 03/02/1954
23/01/1955
Wood Horse
1966 21/01/1966
08/02/1967
Fire Horse
1978 07/02/1978
27/01/1979
Earth Horse
1990 27/01/1990
14/02/1991
Metal Horse
2002 12/02/2002
31/01/2003
Water Horse
2014 31/01/2014
18/02/2015
Wood Horse
2026 17/02/2026
05/02/2027
Fire Horse



Goat, Sheep (Chinese zodiac)

🐐 Goat (Chinese zodiac): Years of the Goat, Sheep

Birth years of the Chinese zodiac sign of the Goat

If your birth is within the date ranges below, it means you were born in the Year of the Goat (1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979 ,1991, 2003, 2015, 2027). Read the full horoscope of the Chinese zodiac sign of the Goat here: Goat Chinese horoscope

Birth calendar of the Year of the Goat
Year Date range
(DD/MM/YYYY)
Chinese year
1931 17/02/1931
05/02/1932
Metal Goat
1943 05/02/1943
24/01/1944
Water Goat
1955 24/01/1955
11/02/1956
Wood Goat
1967 09/02/1967
29/01/1968
Fire Goat
1979 28/01/1979
15/02/1980
Earth Goat
1991 15/02/1991
03/02/1992
Metal Goat
2003 01/02/2003
21/01/2004
Water Goat
2015 19/02/2015
07/02/2016
Wood Goat
2027 06/02/2027
25/02/2028
Fire Goat



Monkey (Chinese zodiac)

🐵 Monkey (Chinese zodiac): Years of the Monkey

Birth years of the Chinese zodiac sign of the Monkey

If your birth is within the date ranges below, it means you were born in the Year of the Monkey (1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028). Read the full horoscope of the Chinese zodiac sign of the Monkey here: Monkey Chinese horoscope

Birth calendar of the Year of the Monkey
Year Date range
(DD/MM/YYYY)
Chinese year
1920 20/02/1920
07/02/1921
Metal Monkey
1932 06/02/1932
25/01/1933
Water Monkey
1944 25/01/1944
12/02/1945
Wood Monkey
1956 12/02/1956
30/01/1957
Fire Monkey
1968 30/01/1968
16/02/1969
Earth Monkey
1980 16/02/1980
04/02/1981
Metal Monkey
1992 04/02/1992
22/01/1993
Water Monkey
2004 22/01/2004
08/02/2005
Wood Monkey
2016 08/02/2016
27/01/2017
Fire Monkey
2028 26/01/2028
12/02/2029
Earth Monkey



Rooster, Chicken (Chinese zodiac)

🐔 Rooster (Chinese zodiac): Years of the Rooster, Chicken

Birth years of the Chinese zodiac sign of the Rooster

If your birth is within the date ranges below, it means you were born in the Year of the Rooster (1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029). Read the full horoscope of the Chinese zodiac sign of the Rooster here: Rooster Chinese horoscope

Birth calendar of the Year of the Rooster
Year Date range
(DD/MM/YYYY)
Chinese year
1921 08/02/1921
27/01/1922
Metal Rooster
1933 26/01/1933
13/02/1934
Water Rooster
1945 13/02/1945
01/02/1946
Wood Rooster
1957 31/01/1957
17/02/1958
Fire Rooster
1969 17/02/1969
05/02/1970
Earth Rooster
1981 05/02/1981
24/01/1982
Metal Rooster
1993 23/01/1993
09/02/1994
Water Rooster
2005 09/02/2005
28/01/2006
Wood Rooster
2017 28/01/2017
15/02/2018
Fire Rooster
2029 13/02/2029
02/02/2030
Earth Rooster



Dog (Chinese zodiac)

🐶 Dog (Chinese zodiac): Years of the Dog

Birth years of the Chinese zodiac sign of the Dog

If your birth is within the date ranges below, it means you were born in the Year of the Dog (1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030). Read the full horoscope of the Chinese zodiac sign of the Dog here: Dog Chinese horoscope

Birth calendar of the Year of the Dog
Year Date range
(DD/MM/YYYY)
Chinese year
1922 28/01/1922
15/02/1923
Water Dog
1934 14/02/1934
03/02/1935
Wood Dog
1946 02/02/1946
21/01/1947
Fire Dog
1958 18/02/1958
07/02/1959
Earth Dog
1970 06/02/1970
28/01/1971
Metal Dog
1982 25/01/1982
12/02/1983
Water Dog
1994 10/02/1994
30/01/1995
Wood Dog
2006 29/01/2006
17/02/2007
Fire Dog
2018 16/02/2018
04/02/2019
Earth Dog
2030 03/02/2030
22/01/2031
Metal Dog



Pig, Boar (Chinese zodiac)

🐷 Pig (Chinese zodiac): Years of the Pig, Boar

Birth years of the Chinese zodiac sign of the Pig

If your birth is within the date ranges below, it means you were born in the Year of the Pig (1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031). Read the full horoscope of the Chinese zodiac sign of the Pig here: Pig Chinese horoscope

Birth calendar of the Year of the Pig
Year Date range
(DD/MM/YYYY)
Chinese year
1923 16/02/1923
04/02/1924
Water Pig
1935 04/02/1935
23/01/1936
Wood Pig
1947 22/01/1947
09/02/1948
Fire Pig
1959 08/02/1959
27/01/1960
Earth Pig
1971 27/01/1971
14/02/1972
Metal Pig
1983 13/02/1983
01/02/1984
Water Pig
1995 31/01/1995
18/02/1996
Wood Pig
2007 18/02/2007
06/02/2008
Fire Pig
2019 05/02/2019
24/01/2020
Earth Pig
2031 23/01/2031
10/02/2032
Metal Pig



Monthly Chinese zodiac calendar 2023

Below are listed the Chinese zodiac 2023 ruling animals and elements for each month of the year.* According to the Chinese New Year 2023 calendar, January 22nd, 2023 is the Lunar New Year celebration day, which marks the start of the Year of the Water Rabbit 2023 (the Rabbit being the ruling animal of the year 2023) and the first day of the Month of the Wood Tiger, first month of the lunar calendar of 2023.

2023 lunar monthly calendar
Date range
(DD/MM/YYYY)
Chinese lunar month
22/01/2023
19/02/2023
Wood Tiger Month
20/02/2023
19/04/2023
Wood Rabbit Month
(doubled month)
20/04/2023
18/05/2023
Fire Dragon Month
19/05/2023
17/06/2023
Fire Snake Month
18/06/2023
17/07/2023
Earth Horse Month
18/07/2023
15/08/2023
Earth Goat Month
16/08/2023
14/09/2023
Metal Monkey Month
15/09/2023
14/10/2023
Metal Rooster Month
15/10/2023
12/11/2023
Water Dog Month
13/11/2023
12/12/2023
Water Pig Month
13/12/2023
10/01/2024
Wood Rat Month
11/01/2024
9/02/2024
Wood Ox Month

* All periods are Chinese horoscope calendar's monthly dates translated into Gregorian dates, just like the yearly dates previously listed for each of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs.



Monthly Chinese zodiac calendar 2024

Below are listed the Chinese zodiac 2024 ruling animals and elements for each month of the year.* According to the Chinese New Year 2024 calendar, February 10, 2024 is the Lunar New Year celebration day, which marks the start of the Year of the Wood Dragon 2024 (the Tiger being the ruling animal of the year 2022) and the first day of the Month of the Fire Tiger, first month of the lunar calendar of 2024.

2024 lunar monthly calendar
Date range
(DD/MM/YYYY)
Chinese lunar month
10/02/2024
09/03/2024
Fire Tiger Month
10/03/2024
08/04/2024
Fire Rabbit Month
09/04/2024
07/05/2024
Earth Dragon Month
08/05/2024
05/06/2024
Earth Snake Month
06/06/2024
05/07/2024
Metal Horse Month
06/07/2024
03/08/2024
Metal Goat Month
04/08/2024
02/09/2024
Water Monkey Month
03/09/2024
02/10/2024
Water Rooster Month
03/10/2024
31/10/2024
Wood Dog Month
01/11/2024
30/11/2024
Wood Pig Month
01/12/2024
30/12/2024
Fire Rat Month
01/01/2025
28/01/2025
Fire Ox Month

* All periods are Chinese Zodiac Calendar's monthly dates translated into Gregorian dates, just like the Chinese zodiac birth dates previously listed.



Chinese zodiac hours

Discover the Chinese Zodiac Animal and the Element of your hour of birth
You can use the local time of your birth to define the Chinese Zodiac sign of your hour of birth:

Birth times according to Chinese astrology
Chinese hour Time range Chinese zodiac sign's polarity & element
Rat 11:00 pm
00:59 am
Yang Water
Ox 1:00 am
2:59 am
Yin Earth
Tiger 3:00 am
4:59 am
Yang Wood
Rabbit 5:00 am
6:59 am
Yin Wood
Dragon 7:00 am
8:59 am
Yang Earth
Snake 9:00 am
10:59 am
Yin Fire
Horse 11:00 am
12:59 pm
Yang Fire
Goat 01:00 pm
2:59 pm
Yin Earth
Monkey 03:00 pm
4:59 pm
Yang Metal
Rooster 05:00 pm
6:59 pm
Yin Metal
Dog 07:00 pm
8:59 pm
Yang Earth
Pig 09:00 pm
10:59 pm
Yin Water



Chinese seasons' dates and elements

The element of the Chinese season of your birth

The seasons according to Chinese astrology
Element Date range Chinese Season
🌳 Wood 14/02
17/04
Spring
🗿 Earth 18/04
03/05
5th Season **
🔥 Fire 04/05
17/07
Summer
🗿 Earth 18/07
04/08
5th Season
🛠 Metal 05/08
17/10
Fall
🗿 Earth 18/10
04/11
5th Season
💧 Water 05/11
16/01
Winter
🗿 Earth 17/01
13/02
5th Season

** The fifth season is the last two weeks of each season, during which the Earth element replaces the element of the season that ends.

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