CHINESE ZODIAC GUIDE
What Is My Chinese Zodiac?
Find your animal sign by birth year and understand how it connects to Bazi
QUICK ANSWER
- ◈Your Chinese zodiac sign is the animal linked to your birth year: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, or Pig.
- ◈If you were born in January or early February, check the Chinese New Year date for that year because you may belong to the previous animal.
- ◈In Bazi, the familiar zodiac animal is only the Year Branch. A full chart also includes Month, Day, Hour, Day Master, Ten Gods, and Luck Pillars.
ZODIAC SNAPSHOT
- 12
- Animals
- Each animal maps to one Earthly Branch.
- 60
- Stem Branch Years
- Animals combine with Heavenly Stems in the Sexagenary Cycle.
- 4
- Bazi Pillars
- The zodiac year is only one of the four birth-chart pillars.
Find your Chinese zodiac by birth year
| Birth Years | Animal | Branch | Element | Polarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020, 2032 | Rat | 子 Zi | Water | Yang |
| 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021, 2033 | Ox | 丑 Chou | Earth | Yin |
| 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022, 2034 | Tiger | 寅 Yin | Wood | Yang |
| 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023, 2035 | Rabbit | 卯 Mao | Wood | Yin |
| 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024, 2036 | Dragon | 辰 Chen | Earth | Yang |
| 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025, 2037 | Snake | 巳 Si | Fire | Yin |
| 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026, 2038 | Horse | 午 Wu | Fire | Yang |
| 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027, 2039 | Goat | 未 Wei | Earth | Yin |
| 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028, 2040 | Monkey | 申 Shen | Metal | Yang |
| 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029, 2041 | Rooster | 酉 You | Metal | Yin |
| 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030, 2042 | Dog | 戌 Xu | Earth | Yang |
| 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031, 2043 | Pig | 亥 Hai | Water | Yin |
Why January and February birthdays need checking
The popular zodiac sign is usually counted from Chinese New Year. For example, if Chinese New Year falls on February 5, someone born on February 3 still belongs to the previous zodiac year. Bazi year pillars may use Li Chun in many schools, so serious chart work should use the Bazi calculator rather than a simple year table.
The twelve animals and their branch symbolism
Rat
Resourceful, observant, adaptable. Zi Water marks the first stirring of yang in winter.
Ox
Steady, patient, methodical. Chou Earth stores endurance and hidden resources.
Tiger
Bold, expressive, initiating. Yin Wood marks early spring movement.
Rabbit
Diplomatic, refined, sensitive to atmosphere. Mao is pure spring Wood.
Dragon
Visionary, intense, able to hold mixed forces. Chen Earth stores Water.
Snake
Strategic, inward, perceptive. Si Fire contains hidden Metal and Earth.
Horse
Active, warm, independent. Wu is peak Fire and the noon branch.
Goat
Creative, gentle, relational. Wei Earth carries late-summer warmth.
Monkey
Quick, technical, versatile. Shen Metal begins autumn clarity.
Rooster
Precise, presentational, orderly. You is pure Metal.
Dog
Loyal, protective, principled. Xu Earth stores Fire and Metal.
Pig
Generous, intuitive, easygoing. Hai Water contains the seed of Wood.
Beyond animals: the Earthly Branch system
The animal names are memorable labels for the twelve Earthly Branches. Each branch also carries a direction, season, time of day, hidden stems, and relationship rules. This is why zodiac compatibility is a rough entry point, while Bazi reads the whole branch structure.
Harmony, clash, and compatibility
Zodiac relationships are often summarized through harmony and clash patterns. These branch relationships offer a traditional language for observing interaction; a complete Bazi comparison adds the rest of both charts.
Six Harmonies
Pairs of close resonance in the branch system.
Rat and Ox, Tiger and Pig, Rabbit and Dog, Dragon and Rooster, Snake and Monkey, Horse and Goat
Three Harmonies
Triads that gather around one elemental direction.
Monkey Rat Dragon, Tiger Horse Dog, Pig Rabbit Goat, Snake Rooster Ox
Six Clashes
Oppositional pairs that often mark movement, friction, or reorientation.
Rat Horse, Ox Goat, Tiger Monkey, Rabbit Rooster, Dragon Dog, Snake Pig
Look up a zodiac pair
Choose a pair to see how its two birth-year branches are classified in this reference. Each unordered pair appears once. The label describes the branch relationship used in the index.
Rat · Zi 子
Rat & Rat
子 · 子
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Rat & Ox
子 · 丑
Six Harmony Pair
Rat & Tiger
子 · 寅
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Rat & Rabbit
子 · 卯
Branch Punishment
Rat & Dragon
子 · 辰
Three Harmony Frame
Rat & Snake
子 · 巳
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Rat & Horse
子 · 午
Opposing Branches
Rat & Goat
子 · 未
Six Harm Pair
Rat & Monkey
子 · 申
Three Harmony Frame
Rat & Rooster
子 · 酉
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Rat & Dog
子 · 戌
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Rat & Pig
子 · 亥
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Ox · Chou 丑
Ox & Ox
丑 · 丑
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Ox & Tiger
丑 · 寅
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Ox & Rabbit
丑 · 卯
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Ox & Dragon
丑 · 辰
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Ox & Snake
丑 · 巳
Three Harmony Frame
Ox & Horse
丑 · 午
Six Harm Pair
Ox & Goat
丑 · 未
Opposing Branches
Ox & Monkey
丑 · 申
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Ox & Rooster
丑 · 酉
Three Harmony Frame
Ox & Dog
丑 · 戌
Branch Punishment
Ox & Pig
丑 · 亥
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Tiger · Yin 寅
Tiger & Tiger
寅 · 寅
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Tiger & Rabbit
寅 · 卯
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Tiger & Dragon
寅 · 辰
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Tiger & Snake
寅 · 巳
Six Harm Pair
Tiger & Horse
寅 · 午
Three Harmony Frame
Tiger & Goat
寅 · 未
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Tiger & Monkey
寅 · 申
Opposing Branches
Tiger & Rooster
寅 · 酉
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Tiger & Dog
寅 · 戌
Three Harmony Frame
Tiger & Pig
寅 · 亥
Six Harmony Pair
Rabbit · Mao 卯
Rabbit & Rabbit
卯 · 卯
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Rabbit & Dragon
卯 · 辰
Six Harm Pair
Rabbit & Snake
卯 · 巳
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Rabbit & Horse
卯 · 午
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Rabbit & Goat
卯 · 未
Three Harmony Frame
Rabbit & Monkey
卯 · 申
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Rabbit & Rooster
卯 · 酉
Opposing Branches
Rabbit & Dog
卯 · 戌
Six Harmony Pair
Rabbit & Pig
卯 · 亥
Three Harmony Frame
Dragon · Chen 辰
Dragon & Dragon
辰 · 辰
Branch Punishment
Dragon & Snake
辰 · 巳
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Dragon & Horse
辰 · 午
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Dragon & Goat
辰 · 未
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Dragon & Monkey
辰 · 申
Three Harmony Frame
Dragon & Rooster
辰 · 酉
Six Harmony Pair
Dragon & Dog
辰 · 戌
Opposing Branches
Dragon & Pig
辰 · 亥
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Snake · Si 巳
Snake & Snake
巳 · 巳
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Snake & Horse
巳 · 午
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Snake & Goat
巳 · 未
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Snake & Monkey
巳 · 申
Six Harmony Pair
Snake & Rooster
巳 · 酉
Three Harmony Frame
Snake & Dog
巳 · 戌
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Snake & Pig
巳 · 亥
Opposing Branches
Horse · Wu 午
Horse & Horse
午 · 午
Branch Punishment
Horse & Goat
午 · 未
Six Harmony Pair
Horse & Monkey
午 · 申
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Horse & Rooster
午 · 酉
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Horse & Dog
午 · 戌
Three Harmony Frame
Horse & Pig
午 · 亥
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Goat · Wei 未
Goat & Goat
未 · 未
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Goat & Monkey
未 · 申
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Goat & Rooster
未 · 酉
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Goat & Dog
未 · 戌
Branch Punishment
Goat & Pig
未 · 亥
Three Harmony Frame
Monkey · Shen 申
Monkey & Monkey
申 · 申
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Monkey & Rooster
申 · 酉
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Monkey & Dog
申 · 戌
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Monkey & Pig
申 · 亥
Six Harm Pair
Rooster · You 酉
Rooster & Rooster
酉 · 酉
Branch Punishment
Rooster & Dog
酉 · 戌
Six Harm Pair
Rooster & Pig
酉 · 亥
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Dog · Xu 戌
Dog & Dog
戌 · 戌
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Dog & Pig
戌 · 亥
No Direct Major Pair Relation
Pig · Hai 亥
Pig & Pig
亥 · 亥
Branch Punishment
How to read the relation labels
- Six Harmony Pair
- These year branches form one of the six paired harmonies in the traditional Earthly Branch system. The label describes a branch rule, not personal compatibility.
- Three Harmony Frame
- These year branches are two members of the same three-branch harmony frame. The frame is a traditional classification, not evidence of shared goals or outcomes.
- Opposing Branches
- These year branches occupy opposite positions in the twelve-branch cycle and form one of the Six Clash pairs. This geometry does not predict attraction or conflict.
- Six Harm Pair
- These year branches are listed as one of the Six Harm pairs in traditional branch relations. The category is symbolic and does not establish hidden resentment or harm.
- Branch Punishment
- These year branches match a punishment rule used in traditional branch analysis. Schools differ on details, and the label does not establish conflict or emotional trials.
- No Direct Major Pair Relation
- These year branches do not form a direct Six Harmony, Three Harmony, Clash, Harm, or Punishment pair in this model. That absence does not measure compatibility.
Current context: 2026 Fire Horse
As of 2026, the current zodiac guide on CosmicTao focuses on the Bing Wu Fire Horse year. Use the current-year guide for dates, Li Chun and Chinese New Year differences, and cultural outlooks.
Read the 2026 Fire Horse guideGo beyond your zodiac sign
Generate your complete Bazi chart to see your Year, Month, Day, Hour, Day Master, Ten Gods, and Luck Pillars.
Open the Bazi CalculatorSOURCE AND READING NOTES
- Classical framework
- The page follows the twelve Earthly Branch and zodiac animal correspondence used in Chinese calendrical and Bazi traditions.
- Hong Kong Observatory — Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches
- Reading note
- Zodiac signs work as year-branch labels inside the wider Chinese calendar and Bazi system.
- Chinese Text Project — Earthly Branch dictionary