Chinese Zodiac Calculator
NewFind your Chinese zodiac animal and element from your birth year, based on the traditional 12-year animal cycle and 10-year elemental cycle.
DRA
Dragon
Metal element
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the zodiac animal calculated from a birth year?
The Chinese zodiac follows a 12-year repeating cycle of animals (Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig), anchored so that 1900 was a Year of the Rat — the calculator finds your offset from 1900 modulo 12 to determine your animal.
What does the "element" refer to?
Alongside the 12-animal cycle, Chinese astrology also assigns one of five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) on a 10-year cycle, with each element covering two consecutive years — combining the animal and element gives more specific combinations like "Metal Dragon" or "Wood Rat," which repeat only once every 60 years (the full combined cycle).
Does this account for the Chinese New Year falling in a different month than January?
No — this calculator uses the calendar (Gregorian) birth year directly. The actual Chinese zodiac year technically begins on Chinese New Year (a date in late January or February that varies yearly), so if you were born in early January or February, your true zodiac animal might be the previous year's animal — check an exact Chinese New Year date table if your birthday falls in that window.
Is the Chinese zodiac the same as Western astrology?
No — they're entirely separate systems. Western (tropical) astrology assigns one of 12 signs based on birth month/day and the sun's position; the Chinese zodiac assigns one of 12 animals based on birth year. They use completely different calculation methods and have no mathematical relationship to each other.