Chinese Birth Chart Calculator
Understanding Your Chinese Birth Chart
The Chinese Birth Chart, often referred to as the Four Pillars of Destiny (Bazi), is a complex system of Chinese astrology that provides insights into an individual's personality, destiny, and potential life path. While a full Bazi analysis is intricate, a fundamental part of it involves determining your Chinese Zodiac Animal and your ruling Element based on your birth year.
The 12 Chinese Zodiac Animals
The Chinese Zodiac follows a 12-year cycle, with each year represented by a different animal. These animals are:
- Rat: Quick-witted, resourceful, versatile, kind.
- Ox: Diligent, dependable, strong, determined.
- Tiger: Brave, confident, competitive, unpredictable.
- Rabbit: Quiet, elegant, kind, responsible.
- Dragon: Confident, intelligent, enthusiastic, ambitious.
- Snake: Enigmatic, intelligent, wise, discreet.
- Horse: Animated, active, energetic, independent.
- Goat: Calm, gentle, sympathetic, artistic.
- Monkey: Sharp, smart, curious, mischievous.
- Rooster: Observant, hardworking, courageous, confident.
- Dog: Loyal, honest, cautious, responsible.
- Pig: Compassionate, generous, diligent, responsible.
Unlike Western astrology, where the zodiac sign changes on January 1st, the Chinese Zodiac animal changes around the Chinese New Year. More precisely for Bazi calculations, it changes around the start of the solar year, known as 'Lichun' (立春), which typically falls on February 3rd, 4th, or 5th each year. If you were born in January or early February, your zodiac animal might be that of the previous Gregorian year.
The Five Elements
In addition to the animal, each birth year is also associated with one of the five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. These elements cycle every two years, creating a 60-year cycle when combined with the animals (e.g., Wood Rat, Fire Ox, etc.). The element is determined by the last digit of your birth year:
- Metal: Years ending in 0 or 1 (e.g., 1960, 1961) – Strong, determined, disciplined.
- Water: Years ending in 2 or 3 (e.g., 1962, 1963) – Flexible, adaptable, insightful.
- Wood: Years ending in 4 or 5 (e.g., 1964, 1965) – Creative, growth-oriented, compassionate.
- Fire: Years ending in 6 or 7 (e.g., 1966, 1967) – Passionate, energetic, dynamic.
- Earth: Years ending in 8 or 9 (e.g., 1968, 1969) – Stable, practical, reliable.
The combination of your Zodiac Animal and Element provides a deeper layer of understanding about your inherent characteristics and how you interact with the world.
How This Calculator Works
This calculator determines your Chinese Zodiac Animal and Element based on your birth year, month, and day. It uses the common astrological convention where the Chinese solar year begins around February 4th (Lichun). Therefore, if your birth date falls in January or the first few days of February, your zodiac animal and element will correspond to the previous Gregorian year.
Examples:
- Born: October 26, 1985
Since October 26 is after February 4th, the effective year is 1985. 1985 is the year of the Ox. The last digit of 1985 is 5, which corresponds to the Wood element. Result: Ox, Wood. - Born: January 15, 1985
Since January 15 is before February 4th, the effective year is 1984. 1984 is the year of the Rat. The last digit of 1984 is 4, which corresponds to the Wood element. Result: Rat, Wood. - Born: February 4, 1985
Since February 4th is on or before the cutoff, the effective year is 1984. 1984 is the year of the Rat. The last digit of 1984 is 4, which corresponds to the Wood element. Result: Rat, Wood. - Born: February 5, 1985
Since February 5th is after the cutoff, the effective year is 1985. 1985 is the year of the Ox. The last digit of 1985 is 5, which corresponds to the Wood element. Result: Ox, Wood.
Discovering your Chinese Zodiac Animal and Element can be a fun way to explore aspects of your personality and gain a deeper appreciation for traditional Chinese culture and astrology.