Which years are Year of the Rooster?

1933 (Water Rooster, from 26 January 1933); 1945 (Wood Rooster, from 13 February 1945); 1957 (Fire Rooster, from 31 January 1957); 1969 (Earth Rooster, from 17 February 1969); 1981 (Metal Rooster, from 5 February 1981); 1993 (Water Rooster, from 23 January 1993); 2005 (Wood Rooster, from 9 February 2005); 2017 (Fire Rooster, from 28 January 2017); 2029 (Earth Rooster, from 13 February 2029); 2041 (Metal Rooster, from 1 February 2041). The year starts at Chinese New Year, not on 1 January.

When is the next Year of the Rooster?

2029, the Earth Rooster, starting 13 February 2029.

Cathay Ink › Chinese zodiac › Year of the Rooster

Year of the Rooster

Observant, honest and hard-working. The Rooster announces the dawn: it is the sign of punctuality and of saying what it sees.

The Rooster is the tenth of the twelve animals, paired with the earthly branch 酉 and the hours 5 – 7 pm. The next Year of the Rooster is 2029, a Earth Rooster year, from 13 February 2029.

Check my birthday

Years of the Rooster

Each year starts at Chinese New Year, so a January birthday usually belongs to the previous animal.

1933Water Rooster, from 26 January 1933
1945Wood Rooster, from 13 February 1945
1957Fire Rooster, from 31 January 1957
1969Earth Rooster, from 17 February 1969
1981Metal Rooster, from 5 February 1981
1993Water Rooster, from 23 January 1993
2005Wood Rooster, from 9 February 2005
2017Fire Rooster, from 28 January 2017
2029Earth Rooster, from 13 February 2029
2041Metal Rooster, from 1 February 2041

Born in one of these years? Enter the exact date to confirm the animal and see your lunar birthday.

The Rooster in Chinese culture

Character

Observant, honest and hard-working. The Rooster announces the dawn: it is the sign of punctuality and of saying what it sees.

Closest companions in the cycle: the Ox and the Snake, the two animals that share the Rooster's trine. Its secret friend is the Dragon.

A story

A rooster crowing at the right hour was once how a village knew the day had begun.

Element changes the flavour of each Rooster 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 Rooster in ink

A poster with the Rooster 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 birthday

Want a Chinese name on the seal? Find one first: three real names with every character explained, free.

Previous animal: Monkey 猴. Next: Dog 狗.