Cathay Ink › Chinese zodiac › Year of the Dragon
Year of the Dragon
Confident, ambitious and generous. The only mythical animal in the cycle, the Dragon brings rain and good harvests; emperors took it as their emblem.
The Dragon is the fifth of the twelve animals, paired with the earthly branch 辰 and the hours 7 – 9 am. The next Year of the Dragon is 2036, a Fire Dragon year, from 28 January 2036.
Check my birthdayYears of the Dragon
Each year starts at Chinese New Year, so a January birthday usually belongs to the previous animal.
- 1928Earth Dragon, from 23 January 1928
- 1940Metal Dragon, from 8 February 1940
- 1952Water Dragon, from 27 January 1952
- 1964Wood Dragon, from 13 February 1964
- 1976Fire Dragon, from 31 January 1976
- 1988Earth Dragon, from 17 February 1988
- 2000Metal Dragon, from 5 February 2000
- 2012Water Dragon, from 23 January 2012
- 2024Wood Dragon, from 10 February 2024
- 2036Fire Dragon, from 28 January 2036
Born in one of these years? Enter the exact date to confirm the animal and see your lunar birthday.
The Dragon in Chinese culture
Character
Confident, ambitious and generous. The only mythical animal in the cycle, the Dragon brings rain and good harvests; emperors took it as their emblem.
Closest companions in the cycle: the Rat and the Monkey, the two animals that share the Dragon's trine. Its secret friend is the Rooster.
A story
Dragon years see a rise in births across the Chinese-speaking world: parents plan for them.
Element changes the flavour of each Dragon year. Metal 金: resolve and clarity: the edge of a blade, the ring of a bell. Wood 木: growth and flexibility: spring, bamboo, new shoots. Water 水: adaptability and depth: rivers finding their way. Fire 火: warmth and drive: summer, lanterns, the hearth. Earth 土: steadiness and care: harvest, soil, the centre.
Your Dragon in ink
A poster with the Dragon above, your name and lunar birthday below, and your Chinese name as a round seal.
Make the poster
Enter your birthday and we set the poster: the animal in ink wash, the year's element, the date in the lunar calendar, your name. Full-resolution download, printable at A3.
Start with my birthdayWant a Chinese name on the seal? Find one first: three real names with every character explained, free.