Chinese zodiac · Yang · animal number 3 of 12
Year of the Tiger: years, element cycle and traits
The third animal, traditionally linked with courage, independence and a strong sense of presence.
Animal: 虎 hǔ · Earthly branch: 寅 yín
The Tiger is the king of the beasts in Chinese tradition, and the dark stripes on a tiger's forehead are said to resemble the character for king. In the Great Race story the Tiger came third, having had to fight the current of the river.
Tiger years from 1924 to 2031
The Chinese zodiac animal changes at Lunar New Year, not on 1 January. Each row shows the date the Tiger 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1926 | Fire Tiger (Yang) | ||
| 1938 | Earth Tiger (Yang) | ||
| 1950 | Metal Tiger (Yang) | ||
| 1962 | Water Tiger (Yang) | ||
| 1974 | Wood Tiger (Yang) | ||
| 1986 | Fire Tiger (Yang) | ||
| 1998 | Earth Tiger (Yang) | ||
| 2010 | Metal Tiger (Yang) | ||
| 2022 | Water Tiger (Yang) |
If you were born in January or February, check the start date before assuming your animal. For example, a person born on 15 January 2022 was born before the 2022 Lunar New Year on 2022-02-01, so their zodiac animal is the Ox from the previous year, not the Tiger. Birth place can also matter near the boundary, because the date is set in China time.
The element cycle for the Tiger
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 Tiger is a yang animal, and in the Four Pillars (BaZi) system its own fixed element is Wood, which is separate from the element of the year.
- Wood Tiger (1974): the Wood element is read as growth, planning and reaching outward.
- Fire Tiger (1926, 1986): the Fire element is read as warmth, expression and quick action.
- Earth Tiger (1938, 1998): the Earth element is read as steadiness, care and holding things together.
- Metal Tiger (1950, 2010): the Metal element is read as clarity, precision and firm edges.
- Water Tiger (1962, 2022): the Water element is read as adaptability, depth and flowing around obstacles.
The traditional hour of the Tiger is 03:00 to 05:00. 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 Tiger year are traditionally described as brave, independent and sometimes impulsive. The Tiger is also a protective figure in folk art, where tiger images are placed on children's hats and shoes as a sign of care. None of this describes every person born in a Tiger year; read it as a mirror to hold up, not a rule.
Strengths people often recognise
- Courage in the face of a challenge
- Natural leadership when asked to step forward
- Generous and protective toward friends
- Confident in unfamiliar situations
Themes to reflect on
- Acting on impulse before weighing the options
- Resisting direction from others
- Taking a challenge personally
Tiger compatibility table
Traditional folk compatibility compares animals by position on the 12-step cycle. The Tiger's trine allies are the Horse and Dog; its sixth-harmony partner is the Pig; the opposite animal, the traditional clash, is the Monkey. These are folk groupings, offered as conversation starters rather than verdicts on any relationship.
| Animal | Traditional relation |
|---|---|
| Rat | No special relation |
| Ox | No special relation |
| Rabbit | No special relation |
| Dragon | No special relation |
| Snake | Traditional harm pairing |
| Horse | Trine ally |
| Goat | No special relation |
| Monkey | Opposite on the cycle (clash) |
| Rooster | No special relation |
| Dog | Trine ally |
| Pig | Sixth-harmony partner |
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
- When did I last wait before acting, and what did I notice?
- Who would I like to protect more openly?
- What challenge am I taking personally that is really just a task?
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: Rabbit. Before: Ox. 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.