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Year of the Dragon: Personality, Years, Elements and Compatibility

Quick answer: the Dragon (龙, Earthly Branch 辰) is sign 5 of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals. Recent Dragon years are 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024, and the next is 2036. Dragons are known for being ambitious and energetic. Best matches: Monkey, Rat and Rooster.

The Dragon is the only mythical animal in the zodiac and the traditional symbol of power and good fortune. In the Great Race it stopped to bring rain to people in need and finished fifth. Dragons are ambitious, charismatic and larger than life.

性格Dragon personality

In love. Dragons love grandly and want a partner to share an ambitious life with. They need admiration and honesty in equal measure, and they are protective and generous once committed.

At work. Dragons gravitate to leadership, entrepreneurship, law, politics, entertainment and any field where vision and presence matter.

年份Year of the Dragon: every year and exact dates

Each Dragon year starts on Chinese New Year and ends the day before the next one. Born in January or early February? Check the dates below, or use the Chinese zodiac calculator.

五行The five types of Dragon

The Dragon comes back every 12 years, but with a different element each time, so the same element and animal repeat every 60 years. The element shades the personality:

Wood Dragon: 1964, 2024

Wood adds warmth, growth and a cooperative streak, so the Dragon of a Wood year tends to be generous, idealistic and good with people.

Fire Dragon: 1976, 2036

Fire adds passion and drive, so the Dragon of a Fire year tends to be bolder, more expressive and quicker to act than other Dragons.

Earth Dragon: 1928, 1988

Earth adds stability and realism, so the Dragon of an Earth year tends to be steadier, more practical and more patient than other Dragons.

Metal Dragon: 1940, 2000

Metal adds determination and strength of will, so the Dragon of a Metal year tends to be focused, principled and hard to discourage.

Water Dragon: 1952, 2012

Water adds intuition and flexibility, so the Dragon of a Water year tends to be perceptive, diplomatic and good at adapting.

See the Chinese zodiac elements table for every year.

合婚Dragon compatibility with all 12 signs

Ratings follow classical relationships between the Earthly Branches: trine and Six Harmony pairs are the best matches, the clash sign is the most challenging. See the full compatibility chart.

地支The Dragon in BaZi: Earthly Branch 辰

In a BaZi chart the Dragon can appear in any of the four pillars: the year (your generation), the month, the day or the hour. The hidden stems are the elements stored inside the branch, which is why two people with the same year animal can have very different charts.

流年The Dragon in 2027

2027 is the Year of the Fire Goat. For the Dragon: No clash with Tai Sui. The year's Fire feeds your Earth. Read the Year of the Dragon 2027 forecast.

问答Questions about the Year of the Dragon

Rat · Ox · Tiger · Rabbit · Dragon · Snake · Horse · Goat · Monkey · Rooster · Dog · Pig