Five Elements

The five elements have been part of Chinese culture almost from the beginning. Much of Chinese philosophy is built around the belief in the five elements and their abilities to interact with and create relationships between natural phenomena.

How to know your element?

If you were born in the years with the latest number is :

0 to 1 : Metal
(1950-1951, 1960-1961, 1970-1971, 1980-1981)

Feelings which conduct electricity, likes power.
Person born in the years controlled by the metal element will be as rigid and resolute in expression as their particular signs will permit. They are guided by strong feelings and will pursue their objectives with intensity and little hesitation. Sustained by their ambitions, they are capable of prolonged effort to get what they want. They are very sources-oriented and unwavering in their determination.
The qualities associated with metal are unyieldingness, rigidity, persistence, strength and determination. The metal person is controlling, ambitious, forceful and set in their ways as metal is very strong; and they are self-reliant and prefer to handle their problems alone. The metal person is also materialistic, business oriented and good at organization and stability. However the metal person can also appreciate luxury and enjoy the good things in life. Just as metal can conduct electricity, the Metal person has strong impulses and generative powers and can bring about changes and transformations for those who come into contact with them. Metal is believed to govern the lungs, nose and skin. The negative emotion associated with metal is grief, while the positive emotion is courage.

2 to 3 : Water
(1952-1953, 1962-1963, 1972-1973, 1982-1983)

Silent and constant; influences other's thoughts.
Person born in a year dominated by the water element have a better than average ability to communicate and to advance their ideas by influencing the thoughts of others. Other peoples minds are their vessels and help carry their creative ideas into positive action. They are basically ruled by sympathetic vibrations and convey their feelings and emotions to the best degree that their native animal sign will permit.
Water personalities tend to be emotional, kind, nurturing, sympathetic, empathetic and intuitive; however, they can also be needy, sentimental, over-sensitive and irrational.

4 to 5 : Wood
(1954-1955, 1964-1965, 1974-1975, 1984, 1985)

Value ethics; cooperative and generous nature.
People born under the auspices of the wood element value their ethics, they have high morals and a good deal of self-confidence. They know the intrinsic value of things and their interest are wide and varied. Their expansive and cooperative natures will allow them to do things on a grand scale. They posses executive personalities because they can apportion separate matters into the right categories and work orders. Their progressiveness and generosity enable them to take on large projects, long-term or sizable developments or expensive scientific studies (not one - man ventures).
In Chinese thought, wood attributes are considered to be strength and flexibility, as with bamboo. It is also associated with qualities of warmth, generosity, co-operation, and idealism. The wood person will be expansive, outgoing, and socially conscious. The wood element is one that seek s always to grow and expand. Wood heralds the beginning of life , springtime and buds, sensuality and fecundity. Wood needs moisture to thrive.

6 to 7 : Fire
(1955-1956, 1965-1966, 1975-1976, 1985-1986)

Attractive and impulsive, strong leadership qualities.
People born in a year ruled by the fire element will display above average qualities of leadership, they are decisive and sure of themselves. They have the maximum capacity allowed by their particular sign to motivate people and bring ideas into fruition because they will be more aggressive and positives than other natives of their particular sign. Loving adventure and innovation, they will tend to take on bright new ideas readily and try to dominate others with their creativeness and originality. They do not fear risks and like to keep on the move and to explore new horizons.
Fire personalities are believed to have good leading qualities, and also tend to be extroverted, rebellious, passionate and enthusiastic; however, they can also be moody, hot-tempered, snappy, uncontrollable and angry.

8 to 9 : Earth
(1958-1959, 1968-1969, 1978-1979, 1988-1989)

Deductive powers, prefers solid and reliable pursuit.
People born under signs influenced by the earth element are more concerned with functional and practical aspirations. They have excellent deductive powers and like solid and reliable pursuits on which to expend their energy. With their foresight and capacity for organization, they are effective planners and administrators. They will put whatever resources they find to optimum use and are wise and prudent in financial affairs as well as holding on to their own money. They are intelligent and most objective in directing others toward realizing well-plotted goals.
Earth personalities tend to be calm, practical, pragmatic, responsible and cautious; however they can also be stubborn, intolerable, and inflexible.

Chinese Zodiac

The Chinese zodiac consist of a 12 year cycle. Each year of the 12 year cycle has been named after one of the original 12 animals. Every animal has a different characteristic and personality. Chinese astrology is based on the lunar calendar, there are no equivalent constellations like those of the occidental zodiac. As per Chinese astrology, the year in which a person is born plays the primary role in determining the individual's traits, success, and happiness in their lifetime.

The Lunar Calendar 60 year cycle consist of two separate cycles interacting with each other. The first is the cycle of ten heavenly stems, namely The Five Elements : wood, fire, earth, metal and water. The second is the cycle of the twelve zodiac animal signs. They are in order as follows:

1. Rat

• Year of birth : January 24 1936 to February 10 1937; February 10 1948 to February 14 1949; January 28 1960 to February 14 1961; January 16 1972 to February 02 1973; February 02 1984 to February 19 1985; 1996; 2008; 20202.

2. Ox

• Year of birth : February 11 1937 to 30 January 1938; January 29 1949 to February 16 1950; February 15 1961 to February 4 1962; February 3 1973 to January 22 1974; February 20 1985 to February 8 1986; 1997; 2008; 2021

3. Tiger

• Year of birth : January 31 1938 to February 18 1939; February 17 1950 to February 05 1951; February 05 1962 to January 24 1963; January 23 1974 to February 10 1975; January 09 1986 to January 28 1987; 1998; 2010; 2022

4. Rabbit

• Year of birth : February 19 1939 to February 07 1940; February 06 1951 to January 26 1952; January 25 1963 to February 12 1964; February 11 1975 to January 30 1976; January 29 1987 to February 16 1988; 1999; 2011; 2023

5. Dragon

• Year of birth : February 08 1940 to January 26 1941; January 27 1952 to February 13 1953; February 13 1964 to February 01 1965; January 31 1976 to February 17 1977; February 17 1988 to February 05 1989; 2000; 2012; 2024

6. Snake

• Year of birth : January 27 1941 to February 14 1942; February 14 1953 to February 02 1954; February 02 1965 to January 20 1966; February 18 1977 to February 06 1978; February 06 1989 to January 26 1990; 2001; 2013; 2025

7. Horse

• Year of birth : January 15 1942 to February 04 1943; February 03 1954 to January 23 1955; January 21 1966 to February 08 1967; February 07 1978 to January 27 1979; January 27 1990 to February 14 1991; 2002; 2014; 2026

8. Goat

• Year of birth : January 05 1943 to January 24 1944; January 24 1955 to February 11 1956; February 09 1967 to 28 January 1968; January 28 1979 to February 15 1980; February 15 1991 to February 03 1992; 2003; 2015; 2027

9. Monkey

• Year of birth : January 25 1944 to February 12 1945;February 12 1956 to January 30 1957; January 30 1968 to February 16 1969; February 16 1980 to February 04 1981; February 04 1992 to January 22 1993; 2004; 2016; 2028

10. Rooster

• Year of birth : February 13 1945 to February 01 1945; January 31 1957 to February 17 1958; February 17 1969 to February 05 1970; February 05 1981 to January 24 1982; January 23 1993 to February 09 1994; 2005; 2017; 2029

11. Dog

• Year of birth : February 02 1946 to January 21 1947; February 18 1958 to February 07 1959; February 06 1970 to January 26 1971; January 25 1982 to February 12 1983; February 10 1994 to January 30 1995; 2007; 2019; 2031

12. Pig

• Year of birth : January 22 1947 to February 09 1948; February 08 1959 to January 27 1960; January 27 1991 to January 15 1972; February 13 1983 to February 01 1984; January 31 1995 to February 18 1996