Chinese Zodiac Calculator

How it is calculated

The tool works from the calendar year you enter (1900 or later). The animal follows the 12-year cycle: index = (year − 4) mod 12, with 0 = Rat, 1 = Ox, 2 = Tiger and so on to 11 = Pig. The element comes from the last digit of the year: 0-1 Metal, 2-3 Water, 4-5 Wood, 6-7 Fire, 8-9 Earth. Polarity is Yang for even years and Yin for odd years.

Important limit: the Chinese new year falls in January or February and moves from year to year, but this tool uses only the Gregorian year. If you were born in January or early February, check the date of that year's lunar new year, because you may belong to the previous year's animal. Years before 1900 give no result.

Common mistakes

• Ignoring the lunar new year for people born in January or February; the tool uses only the calendar year.
• Confusing the zodiac animal with the element: the animal repeats every 12 years, while the element pattern follows the last digit of the year.
• Entering the age instead of the birth year.
• Expecting a result for years before 1900, which the tool does not cover.