Chinese zodiac · Yin · animal number 8 of 12
Year of the Goat: years, element cycle and traits
The eighth animal, traditionally linked with kindness, creativity and a love of harmony.
Animal: 羊 yáng · Earthly branch: 未 wèi
The Chinese word for this animal, yang, covers goats, sheep and rams, so English books use all three names. The animal is a symbol of gentleness and good omen in Chinese culture, and the character for auspicious contains the character for it. In one version of the Great Race story the Goat, the Monkey and the Rooster crossed the river together on a raft and arrived side by side.
Goat years from 1924 to 2031
The Chinese zodiac animal changes at Lunar New Year, not on 1 January. Each row shows the date the Goat year begins and the last day before the next animal takes over. Dates follow China Standard Time (UTC+8) and are computed from the positions of the Sun and the new Moon.
| Year | Element and polarity | Starts (Lunar New Year) | Ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1931 | Metal Goat (Yin) | ||
| 1943 | Water Goat (Yin) | ||
| 1955 | Wood Goat (Yin) | ||
| 1967 | Fire Goat (Yin) | ||
| 1979 | Earth Goat (Yin) | ||
| 1991 | Metal Goat (Yin) | ||
| 2003 | Water Goat (Yin) | ||
| 2015 | Wood Goat (Yin) | ||
| 2027 | Fire Goat (Yin) | * |
* In 2027 the new Moon falls within minutes of midnight in China, so a calendar built another way can differ by a day. Orrery Lane follows the astronomical definition.
If you were born in January or February, check the start date before assuming your animal. For example, a person born on 15 January 2027 was born before the 2027 Lunar New Year on 2027-02-06, so their zodiac animal is the Horse from the previous year, not the Goat. Birth place can also matter near the boundary, because the date is set in China time.
The element cycle for the Goat
The Chinese calendar pairs the 12 animals with five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. Each element covers two consecutive years, first yang and then yin, so the full pairing of animal and element repeats only every 60 years. The Goat is a yin animal, and in the Four Pillars (BaZi) system its own fixed element is Earth, which is separate from the element of the year.
- Wood Goat (1955, 2015): the Wood element is read as growth, planning and reaching outward.
- Fire Goat (1967, 2027): the Fire element is read as warmth, expression and quick action.
- Earth Goat (1979): the Earth element is read as steadiness, care and holding things together.
- Metal Goat (1931, 1991): the Metal element is read as clarity, precision and firm edges.
- Water Goat (1943, 2003): the Water element is read as adaptability, depth and flowing around obstacles.
The traditional hour of the Goat is 13:00 to 15:00. The popular zodiac year begins at Lunar New Year, while the Four Pillars system begins its year at Lichun, around 4 February; the two can give different animals for dates in early February, as explained on how we calculate.
Traits as reflection
People born in a Goat year are traditionally described as kind, imaginative and happiest in good company. The character is often said to be artistic, to dislike conflict and to do its best work in a supportive setting. None of this describes every person born in a Goat year; read it as a mirror to hold up, not a rule.
Strengths people often recognise
- Compassionate and generous with time
- Creative imagination
- Gentle manner that puts others at ease
- Appreciates beauty in small things
Themes to reflect on
- Hesitation when a decision falls to them alone
- Dependence on approval
- Pulling back when criticised
Goat compatibility table
Traditional folk compatibility compares animals by position on the 12-step cycle. The Goat's trine allies are the Rabbit and Pig; its sixth-harmony partner is the Horse; the opposite animal, the traditional clash, is the Ox. These are folk groupings, offered as conversation starters rather than verdicts on any relationship.
| Animal | Traditional relation |
|---|---|
| Rat | Traditional harm pairing |
| Ox | Opposite on the cycle (clash) |
| Tiger | No special relation |
| Rabbit | Trine ally |
| Dragon | No special relation |
| Snake | No special relation |
| Horse | Sixth-harmony partner |
| Monkey | No special relation |
| Rooster | No special relation |
| Dog | No special relation |
| Pig | Trine ally |
The animal is only one part of a Chinese chart, and Western signs add another layer. See the compatibility report for two-chart comparisons, or browse the 12 zodiac signs.
Questions to reflect on
- What would I make if nobody were going to judge it?
- When do I wait for permission that nobody is withholding?
- Who gives me room to be myself?
See your own Chinese zodiac year
The free chart shows your Chinese zodiac animal and element beside your Western Sun, Moon and Rising signs, calculated in your browser from your birth date, time and place.
Explore other animals
Next in the cycle: Monkey. Before: Horse. The full year-by-year table lists every year from 1924 to 2031, and the origins and sources page explains where these traditions come from.
Astrology is a symbolic framework that mainstream science does not recognize. These lines are prompts for reflection, not advice or a forecast. Orrery Lane offers astrology for reflection and entertainment. It does not predict events and is not professional advice.