Zodiac Almanac

What Is My Chinese Zodiac Sign?

Your sign changes at Lichun, around 4 February — not on 1 January, and not at Chinese New Year.

Most people find their sign by looking up the year they were born. That works for about eleven months of the year and fails for the other one. The Chinese zodiac year does not start on 1 January, and in classical practice it does not start at Chinese New Year either: it starts at Lichun (立春), "Start of Spring", an astronomical instant that falls on 3, 4 or 5 February. Anyone born in January or the first days of February needs to check which side of that instant they were born on.

There is a second complication. Chinese New Year moves between 21 January and 20 February, so it can fall before or after Lichun. Of the 144 years in the table below, 139 have a gap between the two dates during which the two conventions give different answers. Neither convention is wrong — the almanac has always used Lichun for chart work and the lunar date for festivals — but a site that does not say which one it used is not giving you an answer you can check.

The table lists both boundaries for every year from 1900 to 2043, along with the year's stem-branch and the element that goes with it. Lichun times are Beijing time (UTC+8), because that is the meridian the Chinese calendar is defined on; if you were born elsewhere, convert your birth moment to Beijing time before comparing, or let the calculator do it.

To check one birth moment against the exact instant, use the zodiac calculator — it converts your birth time to Beijing time first and reports the answer under both conventions when they differ.

Two worked examples

Both rows are computed from the astronomical calendar, not looked up in a chart.
BornLichun that yearChinese New YearSign by LichunSign by New Year
4 February 1984, 18:00 Beijing time4 February 1984, 23:182 February 1984PigRat
5 February 2027, 08:00 Beijing time4 February 2027, 09:466 February 2027GoatHorse

4 February 1984, 18:00 Beijing time. The two conventions disagree: Pig by Lichun, Rat by Chinese New Year. Classical BaZi practice uses Lichun, so the year pillar is Pig.

5 February 2027, 08:00 Beijing time. The two conventions disagree: Goat by Lichun, Horse by Chinese New Year. Classical BaZi practice uses Lichun, so the year pillar is Goat.

Chinese zodiac years, 1900 to 2043

Element is the element of the year's Heavenly Stem, which is what makes 2027 a Fire Goat year rather than simply a Goat year. Lichun times are Beijing time (UTC+8); Chinese New Year is the first day of the first lunar month.
YearSignElementStem-branchLichun (Beijing time)Chinese New YearWhich comes first
1900RatMetal庚子1900-02-04 13:511900-01-31New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1901OxMetal辛丑1901-02-04 19:391901-02-19Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1902TigerWater壬寅1902-02-05 01:381902-02-08Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1903RabbitWater癸卯1903-02-05 07:311903-01-29New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1904DragonWood甲辰1904-02-05 13:241904-02-16Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1905SnakeWood乙巳1905-02-04 19:151905-02-04Same day
1906HorseFire丙午1906-02-05 01:031906-01-25New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1907GoatFire丁未1907-02-05 06:581907-02-13Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1908MonkeyEarth戊申1908-02-05 12:471908-02-02New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1909RoosterEarth己酉1909-02-04 18:321909-01-22New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1910DogMetal庚戌1910-02-05 00:271910-02-10Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1911PigMetal辛亥1911-02-05 06:101911-01-30New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1912RatWater壬子1912-02-05 11:531912-02-18Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1913OxWater癸丑1913-02-04 17:421913-02-06Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1914TigerWood甲寅1914-02-04 23:291914-01-26New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1915RabbitWood乙卯1915-02-05 05:251915-02-14Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1916DragonFire丙辰1916-02-05 11:131916-02-03New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1917SnakeFire丁巳1917-02-04 16:571917-01-23New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1918HorseEarth戊午1918-02-04 22:531918-02-11Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1919GoatEarth己未1919-02-05 04:391919-02-01New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1920MonkeyMetal庚申1920-02-05 10:261920-02-20Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1921RoosterMetal辛酉1921-02-04 16:201921-02-08Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1922DogWater壬戌1922-02-04 22:061922-01-28New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1923PigWater癸亥1923-02-05 04:001923-02-16Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1924RatWood甲子1924-02-05 09:491924-02-05Same day
1925OxWood乙丑1925-02-04 15:361925-01-24New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1926TigerFire丙寅1926-02-04 21:381926-02-13Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1927RabbitFire丁卯1927-02-05 03:301927-02-02New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1928DragonEarth戊辰1928-02-05 09:161928-01-23New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1929SnakeEarth己巳1929-02-04 15:081929-02-10Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1930HorseMetal庚午1930-02-04 20:511930-01-30New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1931GoatMetal辛未1931-02-05 02:401931-02-17Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1932MonkeyWater壬申1932-02-05 08:291932-02-06Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1933RoosterWater癸酉1933-02-04 14:091933-01-26New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1934DogWood甲戌1934-02-04 20:031934-02-14Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1935PigWood乙亥1935-02-05 01:481935-02-04New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1936RatFire丙子1936-02-05 07:291936-01-24New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1937OxFire丁丑1937-02-04 13:251937-02-11Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1938TigerEarth戊寅1938-02-04 19:141938-01-31New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1939RabbitEarth己卯1939-02-05 01:101939-02-19Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1940DragonMetal庚辰1940-02-05 07:071940-02-08Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1941SnakeMetal辛巳1941-02-04 12:491941-01-27New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1942HorseWater壬午1942-02-04 18:481942-02-15Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1943GoatWater癸未1943-02-05 00:401943-02-05Same day
1944MonkeyWood甲申1944-02-05 06:221944-01-25New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1945RoosterWood乙酉1945-02-04 12:191945-02-13Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1946DogFire丙戌1946-02-04 18:031946-02-02New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1947PigFire丁亥1947-02-04 23:501947-01-22New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1948RatEarth戊子1948-02-05 05:421948-02-10Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1949OxEarth己丑1949-02-04 11:221949-01-29New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1950TigerMetal庚寅1950-02-04 17:201950-02-17Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1951RabbitMetal辛卯1951-02-04 23:131951-02-06Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1952DragonWater壬辰1952-02-05 04:521952-01-27New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1953SnakeWater癸巳1953-02-04 10:451953-02-14Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1954HorseWood甲午1954-02-04 16:301954-02-03New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1955GoatWood乙未1955-02-04 22:171955-01-24New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1956MonkeyFire丙申1956-02-05 04:111956-02-12Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1957RoosterFire丁酉1957-02-04 09:541957-01-31New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1958DogEarth戊戌1958-02-04 15:491958-02-18Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1959PigEarth己亥1959-02-04 21:421959-02-08Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1960RatMetal庚子1960-02-05 03:231960-01-28New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1961OxMetal辛丑1961-02-04 09:221961-02-15Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1962TigerWater壬寅1962-02-04 15:171962-02-05Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1963RabbitWater癸卯1963-02-04 21:071963-01-25New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1964DragonWood甲辰1964-02-05 03:041964-02-13Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1965SnakeWood乙巳1965-02-04 08:461965-02-02New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1966HorseFire丙午1966-02-04 14:371966-01-21New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1967GoatFire丁未1967-02-04 20:301967-02-09Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1968MonkeyEarth戊申1968-02-05 02:071968-01-30New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1969RoosterEarth己酉1969-02-04 07:581969-02-17Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1970DogMetal庚戌1970-02-04 13:451970-02-06Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1971PigMetal辛亥1971-02-04 19:251971-01-27New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1972RatWater壬子1972-02-05 01:201972-02-15Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1973OxWater癸丑1973-02-04 07:041973-02-03New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1974TigerWood甲寅1974-02-04 13:001974-01-23New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1975RabbitWood乙卯1975-02-04 18:591975-02-11Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1976DragonFire丙辰1976-02-05 00:391976-01-31New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1977SnakeFire丁巳1977-02-04 06:331977-02-18Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1978HorseEarth戊午1978-02-04 12:261978-02-07Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1979GoatEarth己未1979-02-04 18:121979-01-28New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1980MonkeyMetal庚申1980-02-05 00:091980-02-16Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1981RoosterMetal辛酉1981-02-04 05:551981-02-05Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1982DogWater壬戌1982-02-04 11:451982-01-25New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1983PigWater癸亥1983-02-04 17:391983-02-13Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1984RatWood甲子1984-02-04 23:181984-02-02New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1985OxWood乙丑1985-02-04 05:111985-02-20Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1986TigerFire丙寅1986-02-04 11:071986-02-09Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1987RabbitFire丁卯1987-02-04 16:511987-01-29New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1988DragonEarth戊辰1988-02-04 22:421988-02-17Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1989SnakeEarth己巳1989-02-04 04:271989-02-06Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1990HorseMetal庚午1990-02-04 10:141990-01-27New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1991GoatMetal辛未1991-02-04 16:081991-02-15Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1992MonkeyWater壬申1992-02-04 21:481992-02-04Same day
1993RoosterWater癸酉1993-02-04 03:371993-01-23New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1994DogWood甲戌1994-02-04 09:301994-02-10Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1995PigWood乙亥1995-02-04 15:121995-01-31New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1996RatFire丙子1996-02-04 21:071996-02-19Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1997OxFire丁丑1997-02-04 03:011997-02-07Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
1998TigerEarth戊寅1998-02-04 08:561998-01-28New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
1999RabbitEarth己卯1999-02-04 14:571999-02-16Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
2000DragonMetal庚辰2000-02-04 20:402000-02-05Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
2001SnakeMetal辛巳2001-02-04 02:282001-01-24New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
2002HorseWater壬午2002-02-04 08:242002-02-12Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
2003GoatWater癸未2003-02-04 14:052003-02-01New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
2004MonkeyWood甲申2004-02-04 19:562004-01-22New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
2005RoosterWood乙酉2005-02-04 01:432005-02-09Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
2006DogFire丙戌2006-02-04 07:272006-01-29New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
2007PigFire丁亥2007-02-04 13:182007-02-18Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
2008RatEarth戊子2008-02-04 19:002008-02-07Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
2009OxEarth己丑2009-02-04 00:492009-01-26New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
2010TigerMetal庚寅2010-02-04 06:472010-02-14Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
2011RabbitMetal辛卯2011-02-04 12:322011-02-03New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
2012DragonWater壬辰2012-02-04 18:222012-01-23New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
2013SnakeWater癸巳2013-02-04 00:132013-02-10Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
2014HorseWood甲午2014-02-04 06:032014-01-31New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
2015GoatWood乙未2015-02-04 11:582015-02-19Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
2016MonkeyFire丙申2016-02-04 17:462016-02-08Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
2017RoosterFire丁酉2017-02-03 23:342017-01-28New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
2018DogEarth戊戌2018-02-04 05:282018-02-16Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
2019PigEarth己亥2019-02-04 11:142019-02-05Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
2020RatMetal庚子2020-02-04 17:032020-01-25New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
2021OxMetal辛丑2021-02-03 22:582021-02-12Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
2022TigerWater壬寅2022-02-04 04:502022-02-01New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
2023RabbitWater癸卯2023-02-04 10:422023-01-22New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
2024DragonWood甲辰2024-02-04 16:272024-02-10Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
2025SnakeWood乙巳2025-02-03 22:102025-01-29New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
2026HorseFire丙午2026-02-04 04:022026-02-17Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
2027GoatFire丁未2027-02-04 09:462027-02-06Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
2028MonkeyEarth戊申2028-02-04 15:312028-01-26New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
2029RoosterEarth己酉2029-02-03 21:202029-02-13Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
2030DogMetal庚戌2030-02-04 03:082030-02-03New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
2031PigMetal辛亥2031-02-04 08:582031-01-23New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
2032RatWater壬子2032-02-04 14:482032-02-11Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
2033OxWater癸丑2033-02-03 20:412033-01-31New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
2034TigerWood甲寅2034-02-04 02:412034-02-19Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
2035RabbitWood乙卯2035-02-04 08:312035-02-08Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
2036DragonFire丙辰2036-02-04 14:192036-01-28New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
2037SnakeFire丁巳2037-02-03 20:112037-02-15Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
2038HorseEarth戊午2038-02-04 02:032038-02-04Same day
2039GoatEarth己未2039-02-04 07:522039-01-24New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
2040MonkeyMetal庚申2040-02-04 13:392040-02-12Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year
2041RoosterMetal辛酉2041-02-03 19:252041-02-01New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
2042DogWater壬戌2042-02-04 01:122042-01-22New Year first — the two disagree until Lichun
2043PigWater癸亥2043-02-04 06:582043-02-10Lichun first — the two disagree until New Year

Frequently asked questions

Is my Chinese zodiac sign decided by Chinese New Year or by Lichun?
Both conventions are in use, and they only differ for people born in the gap between the two dates. Classical BaZi practice, and every chart calculation on this site, uses Lichun: the year pillar changes at the astronomical instant, not at the festival. Popular calendars and most festival material use Chinese New Year. If your birthday falls between the two, state which convention you are using whenever you quote your sign.
What if I was born on the day of Lichun itself?
Then the time matters, because Lichun is an instant rather than a day. In 1984, for instance, it fell at 23:18 Beijing time on 4 February, so almost the whole of that day still belonged to the previous sign. The table below gives the time as well as the date for every year, and the calculator compares your exact birth moment against it.
Does my birth country change my sign?
It can, near a boundary. The Chinese calendar is defined on the Beijing meridian, so the comparison is made after converting your birth moment to Beijing time — a birth at 20:00 in New York on 3 February is already 09:00 on 4 February in Beijing. Away from the boundary the conversion changes nothing; within a day of Lichun it can change the answer.