Explore the Chinese zodiac, the Five Elements, Yin and Yang, and the ancient system that connects them to each year.
從天干地支出發，探索生肖與五行的時間密碼。
Two ancient counting systems work together to name years in the traditional Chinese calendar.
The Heavenly Stems are a repeating sequence of ten symbols. Each stem has a Yin or Yang quality and belongs to one of the Five Elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, or Water.
The elements change in pairs: Yang Wood → Yin Wood → Yang Fire → Yin Fire …
The Earthly Branches form a repeating sequence of twelve symbols. Each branch corresponds to one of the 12 zodiac animals, beginning with the Rat and ending with the Pig.
Rat · Ox · Tiger · Rabbit · Dragon · Snake · Horse · Goat · Monkey · Rooster · Dog · Pig
Combine one Heavenly Stem with one Earthly Branch, advancing both by one step each year. The first pair is 甲子 (jiǎ zǐ), or Yang Wood Rat. Since 10 and 12 align again after 60 steps, the complete pattern repeats every 60 years. This cycle is also called 六十甲子 (liù shí jiǎ zǐ).
Example: 1961 and 2021 are both 辛丑 (xīn chǒu), Yin Metal Ox years.
Choose a year, age, animal, or element. All filters work together. Each result includes Chinese characters, tone-marked Pinyin, and English meaning.
| Gregorian Year | Age in 2026 | Stem–Branch | Zodiac Animal | Yin–Yang & Element |
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How age is calculated: 2026 − birth year gives the age a person turns during 2026; actual current age depends on their birthday. Important: Chinese zodiac years traditionally begin at Lunar New Year, not January 1. Some Four Pillars (Ba Zi) traditions use Lìchūn (Start of Spring) as the year boundary. People born in January or February should check their exact birth date. The Five Element shown here is based on the Heavenly Stem, not the Nà Yīn system.