Chinese zodiac
The Rooster in the Chinese zodiac
The Rooster is the 10th animal of the Chinese zodiac, a yin sign whose fixed element is Metal. Tradition associates it with being observant, hard-working and direct — precision and pride in the work. Rooster years include 1993 (Water), 2005 (Wood), 2017 (Fire), 2029 (Earth).
| Order | 10 of 12 |
|---|---|
| Earthly branch | You 酉 |
| Chinese character | 鸡 (雞) |
| Fixed element | Metal |
| Polarity | Yin |
| Best matches (San He trine) | Ox and Snake |
| Secret friend (Liu He) | Dragon |
| Clash (Chong) | Rabbit |
| Harm (Liu Hai) | Dog |
| Solar month | about 8 September – 7 October |
| Double-hour | 17:00 – 19:00 |
Each year's element comes from its heavenly stem, so a Rooster year is Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal or Water in turn and the same combination returns every sixty years. The start dates above are computed from the Sun's position: Li Chun is the moment it reaches 315° of ecliptic longitude.
A year does not begin on 1 January. The popular zodiac changes at Chinese New Year (between 21 January and 20 February); BaZi changes it at Li Chun, the start of spring, around 4 February. Anyone born in January or early February belongs to the previous year's animal.
In compatibility, the Rooster forms a San He trine with the Ox and Snake, a Liu He pair ("secret friend") with the Dragon, clashes (Chong) with the Rabbit, the animal six places away, and harms (Liu Hai) the Dog.
The Rooster is also the You branch of the day, ruling the double-hour 17:00 – 19:00, and of the solar month that runs from about 8 September to 7 October. In a BaZi chart it can appear in any of the four pillars — year, month, day or hour — not only the year.
| Year | Element | Begins (Li Chun, Beijing time) |
|---|---|---|
| 1945 | Yin Wood | 4 Feb, 12:20 |
| 1957 | Yin Fire | 4 Feb, 09:55 |
| 1969 | Yin Earth | 4 Feb, 07:59 |
| 1981 | Yin Metal | 4 Feb, 05:55 |
| 1993 | Yin Water | 4 Feb, 03:37 |
| 2005 | Yin Wood | 4 Feb, 01:43 |
| 2017 | Yin Fire | 3 Feb, 23:34 |
| 2029 | Yin Earth | 3 Feb, 21:21 |
Questions
What years are the Year of the Rooster?
1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029. Remember the year starts at Chinese New Year (or Li Chun, around 4 February, in BaZi), not on 1 January.
Who is the Rooster most compatible with?
The Ox and Snake (its San He trine) and the Dragon (its Liu He secret friend). Its traditional clash is with the Rabbit, and it harms the Dog.
What element is the Rooster?
The Rooster's fixed element is Metal. Each Rooster year also has its own element from the heavenly stem — for example 2029 is a Earth Rooster.
What time is the hour of the Rooster?
17:00 – 19:00, the You hour. It gives the branch of the hour pillar in BaZi; many practitioners first correct clock time to local solar time.
In Plutto
Plutto reads all four of your animals — year, month, day and hour — in your BaZi chart. Background: Chinese astrology (BaZi).
Ask it something you actually want to know.