The Five Elements in Chinese Zodiac

The Five Elements in Chinese Zodiac

The five elements associated with the Chinese zodiac animals are as follows:

  • Metal: Monkey, Rooster
  • Wood: Tiger, Rabbit
  • Water: Rat, Pig
  • Fire: Snake, Horse
  • Earth: Ox, Dragon, Goat, Dog

The Generating and Controlling Cycles of the Five Elements

  • Generating Cycle: Metal generates Water, Water generates Wood, Wood generates Fire, Fire generates Earth, and Earth generates Metal.
  • Controlling Cycle: Metal controls Wood, Wood controls Earth, Earth controls Water, Water controls Fire, and Fire controls Metal.

The five elements evolve into more refined categories, leading to the concept of Na Yin Five Elements (纳音五行). Each year of birth corresponds to a specific element and energy type within the Chinese zodiac and five elements system.

The Five Elements in Chinese Zodiac Animals

Each zodiac sign has different elemental attributes based on the year of birth. Below is a breakdown of the five elements in the Chinese zodiac:

Rat (Zodiac Sign: 鼠)

  • 1924, 1984 (Jia Zi Year): Metal Rat (Sea Gold)
  • 1936, 1996 (Bing Zi Year): Water Rat (Stream Water)
  • 1948, 2008 (Wu Zi Year): Fire Rat (Thunder Fire)
  • 1960, 2020 (Geng Zi Year): Earth Rat (Wall Earth)
  • 1912, 1972 (Ren Zi Year): Wood Rat (Mulberry Wood)

Ox (Zodiac Sign: 牛)

  • 1925, 1985 (Yi Chou Year): Metal Ox (Sea Gold)
  • 1937, 1997 (Ding Chou Year): Water Ox (Stream Water)
  • 1949, 2009 (Ji Chou Year): Fire Ox (Thunder Fire)
  • 1961, 2021 (Xin Chou Year): Earth Ox (Wall Earth)
  • 1913, 1973 (Gui Chou Year): Wood Ox (Mulberry Wood)

Tiger (Zodiac Sign: 虎)

  • 1914, 1974 (Jia Yin Year): Water Tiger (Great River Water)
  • 1926, 1986 (Bing Yin Year): Fire Tiger (Furnace Fire)
  • 1938, 1998 (Wu Yin Year): Earth Tiger (City Wall Earth)
  • 1950, 2010 (Geng Yin Year): Wood Tiger (Pinewood)
  • 1962, 2022 (Ren Yin Year): Metal Tiger (Gold Foil Gold)

Rabbit (Zodiac Sign: 兔)

  • 1915, 1975 (Yi Mao Year): Water Rabbit (Great River Water)
  • 1927, 1987 (Ding Mao Year): Fire Rabbit (Furnace Fire)
  • 1939, 1999 (Ji Mao Year): Earth Rabbit (City Wall Earth)
  • 1951, 2011 (Xin Mao Year): Wood Rabbit (Pinewood)
  • 1963, 2023 (Gui Mao Year): Metal Rabbit (Gold Foil Gold)

Dragon (Zodiac Sign: 龙)

  • 1904, 1964 (Jia Chen Year): Fire Dragon (Lantern Fire)
  • 1916, 1976 (Bing Chen Year): Earth Dragon (Sand Soil)
  • 1928, 1988 (Wu Chen Year): Wood Dragon (Forest Wood)
  • 1940, 2000 (Geng Chen Year): Metal Dragon (White Wax Gold)
  • 1952, 2012 (Ren Chen Year): Water Dragon (Long River Water)

Snake (Zodiac Sign: 蛇)

  • 1905, 1965 (Yi Si Year): Fire Snake (Lantern Fire)
  • 1917, 1977 (Ding Si Year): Earth Snake (Sand Soil)
  • 1929, 1989 (Ji Si Year): Wood Snake (Forest Wood)
  • 1941, 2001 (Xin Si Year): Metal Snake (White Wax Gold)
  • 1953, 2013 (Gui Si Year): Water Snake (Long River Water)

Horse (Zodiac Sign: 马)

  • 1954, 2014 (Jia Wu Year): Metal Horse (Sand Gold)
  • 1906, 1966 (Bing Wu Year): Water Horse (Milky Way Water)
  • 1918, 1978 (Wu Wu Year): Fire Horse (Heavenly Fire)
  • 1930, 1990 (Geng Wu Year): Earth Horse (Roadside Soil)
  • 1942, 2002 (Ren Wu Year): Wood Horse (Willow Wood)

Goat (Zodiac Sign: 羊)

  • 1955, 2015 (Yi Wei Year): Metal Goat (Sand Gold)
  • 1907, 1967 (Ding Wei Year): Water Goat (Milky Way Water)
  • 1919, 1979 (Ji Wei Year): Fire Goat (Heavenly Fire)
  • 1931, 1991 (Xin Wei Year): Earth Goat (Roadside Soil)
  • 1943, 2003 (Gui Wei Year): Wood Goat (Willow Wood)

Monkey (Zodiac Sign: 猴)

  • 1944, 2004 (Jia Shen Year): Water Monkey (Spring Water)
  • 1956, 2016 (Bing Shen Year): Fire Monkey (Mountain Fire)
  • 1908, 1968 (Wu Shen Year): Earth Monkey (Station Soil)
  • 1920, 1980 (Geng Shen Year): Wood Monkey (Pomegranate Wood)
  • 1932, 1992 (Ren Shen Year): Metal Monkey (Sword Gold)

Rooster (Zodiac Sign: 鸡)

  • 1945, 2005 (Yi You Year): Water Rooster (Spring Water)
  • 1957, 2017 (Ding You Year): Fire Rooster (Mountain Fire)
  • 1909, 1969 (Ji You Year): Earth Rooster (Station Soil)
  • 1921, 1981 (Xin You Year): Wood Rooster (Pomegranate Wood)
  • 1933, 1993 (Gui You Year): Metal Rooster (Sword Gold)

Dog (Zodiac Sign: 狗)

  • 1934, 1994 (Jia Xu Year): Fire Dog (Mountain Fire)
  • 1946, 2006 (Bing Xu Year): Earth Dog (Roof Soil)
  • 1958, 2018 (Wu Xu Year): Wood Dog (Plain Wood)
  • 1910, 1970 (Geng Xu Year): Metal Dog (Hairpin Gold)
  • 1922, 1982 (Ren Xu Year): Water Dog (Ocean Water)

Pig (Zodiac Sign: 猪)

  • 1935, 1995 (Yi Hai Year): Fire Pig (Mountain Fire)
  • 1947, 2007 (Ding Hai Year): Earth Pig (Roof Soil)
  • 1959, 2019 (Ji Hai Year): Wood Pig (Plain Wood)
  • 1911, 1971 (Xin Hai Year): Metal Pig (Hairpin Gold)
  • 1923, 1983 (Gui Hai Year): Water Pig (Ocean Water)

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