Chinese Zodiac Calculator

Discover Your Zodiac Animal

This calculator reveals your Chinese zodiac animal based on your birth year. The Chinese zodiac is based on a 12-year cycle, with each year represented by an animal sign. This tool also shows your corresponding element based on the 60-year stem-branch cycle.

The Chinese Zodiac Explained

The 12 animal signs are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. The cycle repeats every 12 years. Because the Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar, the start of the year (Chinese New Year) falls somewhere between late January and mid-February. This calculator uses the Gregorian year for simplicity.

How to Use the Calculator

1. Birth Year: Enter your year of birth.
2. Calculate: The tool will display your zodiac animal and its associated element.

Real-World Example

A person was born in 1990.

• The calculator will determine that 1990 was the Year of the Horse.
• It will also identify the element as Metal, making it the Year of the Metal Horse.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• What if I was born in January or February? Because the Chinese New Year does not start on January 1st, if you were born early in the year, your zodiac animal might actually be the one from the previous year. For precise results, you would need to know the exact date of the Chinese New Year for your birth year.
• What do the elements mean? The 12-year animal cycle is combined with a 10-year cycle of five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water), each lasting for two years. This creates a 60-year master cycle. So, there is not just a Year of the Horse, but a Wood Horse, Fire Horse, etc., each with different attributed characteristics.
• Is this related to Western astrology? No, the Chinese zodiac is a completely separate tradition with its own history and set of beliefs.