The Chinese Calendar

The official calendar in modern China has been the Gregorian Calendar since October 1, 1949, when Mao Zedung proclaimed People's republic of China.

However, the old, traditional Chinese calendar is stil observed in traditional Chinese communities around the world as well as in rural China. It is used to determine auspicious dates for important events (such as weddings, business deals, etc.) and most of the traditional Chinese festivals.

The traditional Chinese calendar is also called the 'Yin Calendar', the 'Han Calendar', or the 'Rural Calendar'.

The Chinese calendar is the longest chronological record in human history. It dates from 2637 BC, when Emperor Huangdi (or Huang Ti) introduced the first cycle of the Chinese zodiac / calendar.

A Lunisolar Calendar

The traditional Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar. This means that it combines the solar year and the moon phases.

In the Chinese calendar, a month begins with the day of new moon ('dark moon'), and a year can have 12 or 13 lunar months. An ordinary Chinese year has 12 months and 353-355 days. Every second or third year has 13 months and 383-385 days, and is called a leap year.

A Chinese year begins on the second or third new moon after the winter solstice, depending on the number of new moons between two consecutive winter solstices. Therefore, the date of the Chinese New Year in the Gregorian calendar is variable between January 20th and February 20th. Lower on this page you will find the Gregorian calendar dates of the Chinese New Years in the 77th and 78th cycles (i.e. 1924-2043).

The 60 Years Cycles

While the Gregorian calendar counts years in an infinite sequence, the Chinese calendar counts years in 60-years cycles.

Each year in the Chinese calendar is assigned a name consisting of two components: a celestial stem and a terrestrial branch.

There are 10 celestial stems:

  • Jia (wood, as in growing wood)
  • Yi (wood, as in cut timber)
  • Bing (fire, as in natural fire)
  • Ding (fire, as in artificial fire)
  • Wu (earth, as in soil)
  • Ji (earth, as in earthenware)
  • Geng (metal, as in mineral)
  • Xin (metal, as in wrought metal)
  • Ren (water, as in running water)
  • Gui (water, as in standing water)

The terrestrial branches are the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac cycle:

  • Zi (rat)
  • Chou (ox)
  • Yin (tiger)
  • Mao (rabbit)
  • Chen (dragon)
  • Si (snake)
  • Wu (horse)
  • Wei (goat)
  • Shen (monkey)
  • You (rooster)
  • Xu (dog)
  • Hai (pig)
The 60-years cycle is generated by combining the two components in a rather complicated sequence. Each 60-years cycle in the Chinese calendar begins with the Wood Rat (Jia Zi) year and ends with the Water Pig (Gui Hai) year.

The 77th Cycle of the Chinese Calendar

The 77th cycle of the traditional Chinese calendar began on February 5, 1924 with the year of the Wood Rat (chinese year 4622).

Zodiac Sign (Element) Chinese New Year
Rat (Wood) 1924, Feb 5
Ox (Wood) 1925, Jan 25
Tiger (Fire) 1926, Feb 13
Rabbit (Fire) 1927, Feb 2
Dragon (Earth) 1928, Jan 23
Snake (Earth) 1929, Feb 10
Horse (Metal) 1930, Jan 30
Goat (Metal) 1931, Feb 17
Monkey (Water) 1932, Feb 6
Rooster (Water) 1933, Jan 26
Dog (Wood) 1934, Feb 14
Pig (Wood) 1935, Feb 4
Rat (Fire) 1936, Jan 24
Ox (Fire) 1937, Feb 11
Tiger (Earth) 1938, Jan 31
Rabbit (Earth) 1939, Feb 19
Dragon (Metal) 1940, Feb 8
Snake (Metal) 1941, Jan 27
Horse (Water) 1942, Feb 15
Goat (Water) 1943, Feb 5
Monkey (Wood) 1944, Jan 25
Rooster (Wood) 1945, Feb 13
Dog (Fire) 1946, Feb 2
Pig (Fire) 1947, Jan 22
Rat (Earth) 1948, Feb 10
Ox (Earth) 1949, Jan 29
Tiger (Metal) 1950, Feb 17
Rabbit (Metal) 1951, Feb 6
Dragon (Water) 1952, Jan 27
Snake (Water) 1953, Feb 14
Horse (Wood) 1954, Feb 3
Goat (Wood) 1955, Jan 24
Monkey (Fire) 1956, Feb 12
Rooster (Fire) 1957, Jan 31
Dog (Earth) 1958, Feb 18
Pig (Earth) 1959, Feb 8
Rat (Metal) 1960, Jan 28
Ox (Metal) 1961, Feb 15
Tiger (Water) 1962, Feb 5
Rabbit (Water) 1963, Jan 25
Dragon (Wood) 1964, Feb 13
Snake (Wood) 1965, Feb 2
Horse (Fire) 1966, Jan 21
Goat (Fire) 1967, Feb 9
Monkey (Earth) 1968, Jan 30
Rooster (Earth) 1969, Feb 17
Dog (Metal) 1970, Feb 6
Pig (Metal) 1971, Jan 27
Rat (Water) 1972, Feb 14
Ox (Water) 1973, Feb 3
Tiger (Wood) 1974, Jan 23
Rabbit (Wood) 1975, Feb 11
Dragon (Fire) 1976, Jan 31
Snake (Fire) 1977, Feb 18
Horse (Earth) 1978, Feb 07
Goat (Earth) 1979, Jan 28
Monkey (Metal) 1980, Feb 16
Rooster (Metal) 1981, Feb 4
Dog (Water) 1982, Jan 23
Pig (Water) 1983, Feb 11

The 78th Cycle of the Han Calendar

The 78th cycle of the traditional Chinese calendar began on February 2, 1984 with the year of the Wood Rat (chinese year 4682) and will end on January 30, 2044.

Zodiac Sign (Element) Chinese New Year
Rat (Wood) 1984, Feb 2
Ox (Wood) 1985, Feb 20
Tiger (Fire) 1986, Feb 9
Rabbit (Fire) 1987, Jan 29
Dragon (Earth) 1988, Feb 17
Snake (Earth) 1989, Feb 6
Horse (Metal) 1990, Jan 27
Goat (Metal) 1991, Feb 15
Monkey (Water) 1992, Feb 4
Rooster (Water) 1993, Jan 23
Dog (Wood) 1994, Feb 10
Pig (Wood) 1995, Jan 31
Rat (Fire) 1996, Feb 19
Ox (Fire) 1997, Feb 8
Tiger (Earth) 1998, Jan 29
Rabbit (Earth) 1999, Feb 17
Dragon (Metal) 2000, Feb 6
Snake (Metal) 2001, Jan 25
Horse (Water) 2002, Feb 13
Goat (Water) 2003, Feb 2
Monkey (Wood) 2004, Jan 23
Rooster (Wood) 2005, Feb 10
Dog (Fire) 2006, Jan 29
Pig (Fire) 2007, Feb 17
Rat (Earth) 2008, Feb 7
Ox (Earth) 2009, Jan 26
Tiger (Metal) 2010, Feb 14
Rabbit (Metal) 2011, Feb 3
Dragon (Water) 2012, Jan 23
Snake (Water) 2013, Feb 10
Horse (Wood) 2014, Jan 31
Goat (Wood) 2015, Feb 19
Monkey (Fire) 2016, Feb 8
Rooster (Fire) 2017, Jan 28
Dog (Earth) 2018, Feb 16
Pig (Earth) 2019, Feb 5
Rat (Metal) 2020, Jan 25
Ox (Metal) 2021, Feb 12
Tiger (Water) 2022, Feb 1
Rabbit (Water) 2023, Jan 22
Dragon (Wood) 2024, Feb 10
Snake (Wood) 2025, Jan 29
Horse (Fire) 2026, Feb 17
Goat (Fire) 2027, Feb 6
Monkey (Earth) 2028, Jan 26
Rooster (Earth) 2029, Feb 13
Dog (Metal) 2030, Feb 3
Pig (Metal) 2031, Jan 23
Rat (Water) 2032, Feb 11
Ox (Water) 2033, Jan 31
Tiger (Wood) 2034, Feb 19
Rabbit (Wood) 2035, Feb 8
Dragon (Fire) 2036, Jan 28
Snake (Fire) 2037, Feb 15
Horse (Earth) 2038, Feb 4
Goat (Earth) 2039, Jan 24
Monkey (Metal) 2040, Feb 12
Rooster (Metal) 2041, Feb 1
Dog (Water) 2042, Jan 22
Pig (Water) 2043, Feb 10

The Companion Sign Is the Chinese Counterpart of the European Ascendant / Rising Sign

In Chinese astrology, the 12 Earthly Branches (later replaced by the 12 Chinese zodiac signs) are also used to record the time of day. The 24 hours of the day are divided into 12 two-hour intervals, each ruled by one zodiac sign.

People born within each time interval have the coresponding Chinese zodiac sign as companion sign (aka Ascendant, or Rising Sign). Therefore, in Chinese astrology just as in European astrology, the Ascendant is determined by the time of birth.

The companion sign in Chinese astrology plays a similar role to the Ascendant (Rising Sign) in European astrology: a supplementary influence on one's personality, one's 'hidden self'.

The hours of the Rat are 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.

The Rat Ascendant makes the sign more communicative and sociable. They are also more careful when it comes to money, disciplined, cautious and temperate.

Having the Rat as companion sign is especially good for people born in the Chinese years of the Horse, Monkey, Pig or Rabbit.

The hours of the Ox are 1 a.m. to 3 a.m.

The Ox Ascendant lends the sign patience and self-control. They are also more determined, hardworking and reliable.

Having the Ox as companion sign is particularly beneficial to people born in the Chinese years of the Goat, Rabbit or Tiger.

The hours of the Tiger are 3 a.m. to 5 a.m.

The Tiger Ascendant gives the sign more passion and impulsiveness. They are also affectionate, humanitarian and generous.

Having the Tiger as companion sign has a good influence especially on people born in the Chinese years of the Horse, Ox, Snake or Tiger.

The hours of the Rabbit are 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.

The Rabbit Ascendant makes the sign more reserved, graceful and diplomatic. They also tend to be cautious, sensitive and discreet people.

Having the Rabbit as companion sign is favourable for people born in the Chinese years of the Dragon, Monkey, Rat or Rooster.

The hours of the Dragon are 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.

The Dragon Ascendant lends the sign more determination and strength. They can also be fiery, impetuous and very ambitious.

Having the Dragon as companion sign is especially beneficial to people born in the Chinese years of the Dog, Goat, Monkey or Rabbit.

The hours of the Snake are 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

The Snake Ascendant makes the sign more intuitive, creative and meditative. They also tend to be more independent, distrustful and solitary.

Having the Snake as companion sign has a good influence for people born in the Chinese years of the Goat, Pig or Tiger.

The hours of the Horse are 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Horse Ascendant makes the sign bolder, more active and inclined towards adventure. Sometimes they can also be unpredictable and impulsive.

Having the Horse as companion sign is especially beneficial to people born in the Chinese years of the Dog, Pig, Rabbit or Snake.

The hours of the Goat are 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The Goat Ascendant makes the sign more sensitive, compassionate and tolerant. They can also have special creative talents in artistic fields.

Having the Goat as companion sign is generally beneficial to people born in the Chinese years of the Dragon, Ox, Rooster or Snake.

The hours of the Monkey are 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The Monkey Ascendant lends the sign a higher adaptability and a special sense of humor. They can often be energetic and resourceful.

Having the Monkey as companion sign is good for people born in the Chinese years of the Goat, Ox, Rat or Snake.

The hours of the Rooster are 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The Rooster Ascendant makes the sign more practical, organized and responsible. They are usually meticulous, even perfectionists.

Having the Rooster as companion sign is especially beneficial to people born in the Chinese years of the Horse, Ox, Rabbit or Tiger.

The hours of the Dog are 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The Dog Ascendant makes the sign more reasonable, open-minded and fair. They also tend to be loyal and faithful partners.

Having the Dog as companion sign is particularly favourable for people born in the Chinese years of the Goat, Dragon or Tiger.

The hours of the Pig are 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.

The Pig Ascendant makes the sign more sociable and gallant. They can also be easy-going and self-indulgent.

Having the Pig as companion sign is especially beneficial to people born in the Chinese years of the Dragon or Monkey.

All Chinese Zodiac Signs