Chinese Zodiac Elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water
In ancient Chinese astrology, the Five Elements—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water—form a framework that shapes personality, compatibility, and life patterns. Each element corresponds to two zodiac years in a 60-year cycle and embodies distinct energies. The generative cycle (Water → Wood → Fire → Earth → Metal → Water) shows how each element nurtures the next. Understanding your element reveals where you draw strength, how you express energy, and how you influence others.
Wood symbolizes growth and renewal. As the first element, it nurtures Fire with creative inspiration. People under Wood influence are visionary, adaptable, and natural communicators. Cultivating flexibility—through learning or mindful practice—helps Wood personalities flourish in changing environments.
Fire embodies passion, energy, and transformational power. Fueled by Wood, it ignites enthusiasm and leadership, inspiring action and creativity. Fire personalities are charismatic, adventurous, and deeply expressive. Balancing passion with grounding—through reflective rest or intentional planning—ensures that Fire individuals channel their intense drive into positive, sustainable outcomes.
Earth represents stability, nourishment, and harmony. Generated by Fire, it offers support that grounds emotional and physical well-being. Earth types are reliable, practical, and caring caretakers. Focusing on balance—through routines like structured planning or community service—helps Earth individuals maintain their center and foster a sense of security for themselves and others.
Metal signifies discipline, strength, and precision. Born from Earth, it governs structure, focus, and clear boundaries. Metal personalities are analytical, principled, and determined. Practicing refinement—through rituals such as goal setting or skill-building—enables Metal individuals to harness their steadfast resolve and bring clarity and order to complex situations.
Water embodies wisdom, adaptability, and introspection. Emerging from Metal, it represents flexibility and deep emotional currents. Water individuals are intuitive, empathetic, and resourceful. Cultivating flow—through practices like meditation or creative expression—allows Water personalities to navigate change gracefully and connect others through compassionate understanding.
In Chinese astrology, each year is associated with not only a zodiac animal, but also one of the Five Elements — Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. These elements are part of a 10-year cycle known as the Heavenly Stems.
🔄 How It Works
The element is determined by your birth year. Each element lasts for two consecutive years:
Wood: Years ending in 4 or 5 (e.g., 1984, 1985)
Fire: Years ending in 6 or 7 (e.g., 1976, 1977)
Earth: Years ending in 8 or 9 (e.g., 1998, 1999)
Metal: Years ending in 0 or 1 (e.g., 1990, 1991)
Water: Years ending in 2 or 3 (e.g., 1992, 1993)
Element – Year Chart
Use this chart to find your Chinese Zodiac element by birth year. Each element spans two consecutive years and then repeats every ten years within the 60-year cycle.
Wood personalities are growth-oriented, creative, and adaptable. They thrive on new ideas and enjoy intellectual challenges. Highly communicative and sociable, they often serve as natural connectors in groups, fostering collaboration and innovation. Their flexibility allows them to pivot smoothly when circumstances change, but they can become scattered if overextended. Wood types value learning and personal development; they flourish in environments that encourage experimentation and fresh perspectives. At their best, they inspire others with visionary thinking; at their worst, they may struggle with impatience or overcommitment.
Fire (火)
Fire types are passionate, dynamic, and charismatic. Driven by enthusiasm, they excel at motivating teams and spearheading initiatives. Their optimism and boldness draw people in, making them natural leaders and performers. However, Fire personalities can be impulsive and intense—prone to burnout if they don’t balance activity with rest. They feel most fulfilled when they have opportunities for creative expression and public recognition. Cultivating moments of calm reflection helps Fire types channel their energy into sustainable achievements rather than short-lived bursts.
Earth (土)
Earth personalities are grounded, nurturing, and dependable. They prioritize stability and harmony, often acting as caretakers in both personal and professional settings. With strong organizational skills, they excel at planning, logistics, and maintaining long-term projects. Their empathetic nature makes them supportive colleagues and reliable friends, but they may resist rapid change and prefer tried-and-true methods. Earth types achieve balance by integrating small doses of novelty into their routines—allowing them to remain secure while still growing. Their steady presence fosters trust and cohesion in any team.
Metal (金)
Metal personalities are disciplined, principled, and detail-oriented. They value structure, precision, and clear boundaries, thriving in roles that require analysis, strategy, and integrity. Metal types approach challenges methodically, breaking complex tasks into manageable steps. Their strength lies in focus and resilience, enabling them to see projects through to completion. However, they may appear rigid or overly critical if they become too attached to rules. Embracing flexibility—such as occasionally re-evaluating standards or inviting feedback—helps Metal individuals maintain excellence without stifling creativity.
Water (水)
Water personalities are intuitive, reflective, and adaptable. Gifted with strong emotional intelligence, they navigate social dynamics with empathy and depth. Water types excel at problem-solving in fluid situations, using their insight to guide others through uncertainty. Their calm demeanor can be a stabilizing force, though they may retreat inward when overwhelmed. To stay balanced, Water individuals benefit from structured outlets for expression—like journaling or creative projects—that honor their need for introspection. Their capacity for deep listening and understanding makes them valued confidants and mediators.
Yin & Yang Polarity in the Chinese Zodiac
In Chinese cosmology, every element year carries a polarity—either Yang (active, expansive) or Yin (receptive, contracting).
Polarity adds a layer of nuance to your element sign, coloring its energy and personality expression.
Polarity Rules
Yang applies to the first year in each 2-year element pair.
Yin applies to the second year in each pair.
In practice, you can determine polarity by checking whether your element index (from 0–9) is even or odd:
Even index → Yang (e.g., index 0, 2, 4,… → Yang Wood, Yang Fire, …)
Odd index → Yin (e.g., index 1, 3, 5,… → Yin Wood, Yin Fire, …)
Element Index Calculation
Use the formula below to get your elementIndex (0–9):
elementIndex = (birthYear – 4) % 10
Index → Element & Polarity Mapping
Index
Element
Polarity
0
Wood
Yang
1
Wood
Yin
2
Fire
Yang
3
Fire
Yin
4
Earth
Yang
5
Earth
Yin
6
Metal
Yang
7
Metal
Yin
8
Water
Yang
9
Water
Yin
Worked Example
If you were born in 1991:
elementIndex = (1991 – 4) % 10 = 7
Index 7 → Metal
Odd → Yin Metal
Zodiac animal for 1991 → Goat
Full Sign: Yin Metal Goat
What Polarity Means for You
Yang years energize your element with assertive, outward-moving qualities—ideal for leadership, risk-taking, and visible achievements.
Yin years bring introspection, adaptability, and subtle influence—excellent for planning, empathy, and behind-the-scenes mastery.
By combining your element’s core traits (e.g., Metal’s precision) with its polarity, you gain a richer, more personalized portrait of your Chinese Zodiac identity.
Can I Change My Element?
Your core element in the Chinese Zodiac—your “Heavenly Stem”—is determined solely by your birth year and cannot be changed. It’s part of the immutable 60-year cycle. However, you can balance and amplify elemental energies in your life through these practices:
In Four Pillars astrology, your 10-year “luck pillars” can introduce different elements into your chart. A practitioner can help you leverage those cycles to bring in supportive energy.
Bottom Line: You can’t reassign your natal element—but by consciously engaging with the other elements through environment, behavior, and astrological timing, you can create a more balanced, empowered life.
Element Compatibility
In Chinese metaphysics, elements interact in two primary ways: the generative (supportive) cycle and the controlling (challenging) cycle.
Harmonious pairings amplify each other’s strengths, while controlling relationships introduce tension and growth opportunities.
Generative (Supportive) Relationships
These pairings follow the natural “giving” cycle—each element nourishes the next:
Supporting Element
Value To
Notes
Water (水)
Wood (木)
Water nourishes growth—ideal for creative partnerships.
Wood (木)
Fire (火)
Wood fuels passion—great for innovators and leaders.
Fire (火)
Earth (土)
Fire enriches Earth with ash—strong foundation builders.
Earth (土)
Metal (金)
Earth produces Metal—excellent for structured strategy.
Metal (金)
Water (水)
Metal condenses moisture—good for intuitive visionaries.
Controlling (Challenging) Relationships
These pairings follow the regulation cycle—each element keeps another in check, creating productive tension:
Controlling Element
Controlled Element
Notes
Wood (木)
Earth (土)
Roots break soil—useful for shaking up routines.
Earth (土)
Water (水)
Earth dams water—helps set healthy boundaries.
Water (水)
Fire (火)
Water extinguishes Fire—cooling influence in conflicts.
Fire (火)
Metal (金)
Fire melts Metal—drives transformation.
Metal (金)
Wood (木)
Metal axes wood—supports decisive action.
Applying Element Compatibility
• Choose supportive pairings when building teams or partnerships—e.g. Wood + Fire for creative leadership.
• Leverage challenging pairings for growth—e.g. Fire + Metal to spark innovation through constructive feedback.
• Balance your circle by including all five elements across your network: ensure you have mentors (parent elements), collaborators (same element), and challengers (controlling elements) to thrive.
How Animal, Element & Yin-Yang Pair in Your Zodiac Sign
Your Chinese Zodiac sign is actually a three-part formula:
Zodiac Animal + One of the Five Elements + Yin or Yang polarity.
Each layer adds nuance:
Animal (主要性格 ~60%)
Defines your core archetype—strengths, drives, life themes.
E.g., Goat = gentle, creative, community-oriented.
Element (能量质地 ~30%)
Colors those traits with an energetic “flavor.”
E.g., Metal Goat is more disciplined and focused than a Wood Goat.
Yin/Yang (极性 ~10%)
Adds an active vs. receptive tilt.
Yang Metal Goat is outward-driven and decisive; Yin Metal Goat is introspective and cautious.
Pairing Rules
Determine your animal by birth year (e.g. 1991 → Goat).
Find your element via the 10-year Heavenly Stems cycle (e.g. index 7 → Metal).
Assign Yin or Yang by odd/even stem index (odd → Yin, even → Yang).
Example Comparison
Sign
Animal Traits
Element Twist
Polarity Shade
Yang Wood Tiger
Bold, adventurous, leadership-oriented
Wood adds growth-minded, expansive creativity
Yang amplifies outward courage, decisiveness
Yin Earth Rabbit
Gentle, diplomatic, community-focused
Earth brings stability, nurturing support
Yin emphasizes introspection, sensitivity
Yang Fire Dragon
Ambitious, charismatic, transformational
Fire heightens passion and visionary drive
Yang fuels dynamic leadership and bold action
Relative Importance
While every layer matters, most of your observable “personality” comes from the Animal (≈ 60%).
The Element (≈ 30%) modifies how those core traits manifest, and the Yin/Yang polarity (≈ 10%) tunes your orientation—active vs. reflective.
Putting It Into Practice
1. Identify your full sign (Animal + Element + Yin/Yang).
2. Embrace your animal archetype—that’s your foundation.
3. Leverage your element’s strengths to refine how you act: e.g., a Wood Rat can channel adaptability into creative problem-solving.
4. Balance via polarity: Yang signs benefit from pauses; Yin signs benefit from deliberate action.
