Chinese Horoscope: Zodiac Signs and Elements

The following table gives an overview of the animal signs and elements in the Chinese Horoscope. Crucial for the determination of your personal animal and element is the birth year in the Chinese calendar.

Since the Chinese year is not starting at our 1st January, you have to look in the columns "Begin" and "End" of the table. Therefore, for example, the Chinese year 1912 begins on 18th February 1912 and ends on 5th February 1913. Those born between these days, have the zodiac sign "Rat" with the element "Water" ("Water Rat"). So, even the day 10. January 1913, for instance, falls into the Chinese year 1912.

Each Chinese Year is assigned an animal and an element. The year 1912 is therefore the "Year of the Rat" and the "Year of Water". We are also speaking of the year of the "Water Rat".

The Chinese Calendar is divided into time circles (cycles/periods) lasting 60 years. Such a time circle always starts with the Year of the Water-Rat. Because the 12 zodiac signs are repeating every 12 years and the 5 elements Water, Wood, Fire, Earth and Metal are repeating every 10 years, it makes 60 years until this procedure again starts from the beginning.