Chinese Zodiac Calculator
Find your Chinese zodiac animal, element and yin-yang from your birth year.
Last updated · View algorithm, constants and default inputs (JSON)
About this calculator
The Chinese zodiac cycles twelve animals against five elements, so the same animal returns with a different element every twelve years and the full sixty year cycle repeats only after two zodiac rounds. The year is counted from Chinese New Year, not from January the first.
Worked example
calculated with the default values below
Gregorian birth year 1,990 Zodiac animal Horse · Element Metal · Yin or Yang Yang · Full sign Metal Horse · Next Gregorian year of this animal 2,002 year · Position in the 12 year cycle 7
General background references
Disclaimer
These calculators give general estimates. Sizing, pricing, availability and standards vary by brand, retailer and country, so treat the output as a starting point and confirm it against the seller's or authority's own figures.
Implementation source
This record describes the implementation used by this page. It is not independent validation. External references, when available, support only the stated formula or definition; estimates and custom rules retain their own assumptions.
Formula and variables
a = (Y − 4) mod 12; e = ⌊((Y − 4) mod 10) ÷ 2⌋; p ∈ {Yang, Yin}; Y ≡ 0 (mod 2) → Yang; Y ≡ 1 (mod 2) → Yin
- Y
- Birth year
- a
- Animal index (0 = Rat)
- e
- Element index (0–4)
- p
- Polarity (Yang/Yin)
Elements cycle Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water; even years are Yang, odd years Yin.
Frequently asked questions
Does this tool account for Chinese New Year?
No. It maps the entered Gregorian year to an animal, element and yin/yang label using a year-based cycle. There is no birth-date input and no Chinese New Year date check. Someone born before Lunar New Year may belong to the preceding zodiac year; verify the transition date separately.