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3,000+ Years Ancient Wisdom

Chinese Astrology

12 Zodiac • 5 Elements • Bazi • Zi Wei Dou Shu

Ancient wisdom over 3,000 years old using Yin-Yang principles, Five Elements, and 12 Zodiac animals to analyze destiny, personality, and compatibility. The most complex and profound system in Eastern astrology.

What is Chinese Astrology?

Chinese Astrology is an ancient system with over 3,000 years of history, developed in ancient China by combining Yin-Yang philosophy, Five Elements theory, and cosmic observation.

The Chinese zodiac uses a lunisolar calendar, combining lunar months with the solar year. Animal, element and yin–yang correspondences repeat over 60 years. Bazi uses solar-term boundaries for its year and month pillars.

Chinese Astrology goes beyond birth year to include month, day, and hour of birth, known as Bazi or Four Pillars of Destiny, providing a detailed picture of one's life path.

12 Chinese Zodiac Animals (十二生肖)

Each animal has a fixed branch element, shown here; the year element changes with the heavenly stem. The listed years change at Chinese New Year.

Rat

2020, 2008, 1996, 1984

Water
CleverQuick-wittedAdaptable

Dragon, Monkey

Horse

Ox

2021, 2009, 1997, 1985

Earth
DiligentPatientHonest

Snake, Rooster

Goat

Tiger

2022, 2010, 1998, 1986

Wood
BraveConfidentLeader

Horse, Dog

Monkey

Rabbit

2023, 2011, 1999, 1987

Wood
GentleCalmArtistic

Goat, Pig

Rooster

Dragon

2024, 2012, 2000, 1988

Earth
AmbitiousLuckyPowerful

Rat, Monkey

Dog

Snake

2025, 2013, 2001, 1989

Fire
WiseMysteriousCharming

Ox, Rooster

Pig

Horse

2026, 2014, 2002, 1990

Fire
FreeEnergeticCheerful

Tiger, Dog

Rat

Goat

2027, 2015, 2003, 1991

Earth
GentleCreativeKind

Rabbit, Pig

Ox

Monkey

2028, 2016, 2004, 1992

Metal
CleverWittyPlayful

Rat, Dragon

Tiger

Rooster

2029, 2017, 2005, 1993

Metal
HardworkingDirectConfident

Ox, Snake

Rabbit

Dog

2030, 2018, 2006, 1994

Earth
LoyalFairProtective

Tiger, Horse

Dragon

Pig

2031, 2019, 2007, 1995

Water
KindGenerousCalm

Rabbit, Goat

Snake

5 Elements (五行)

The five elements interact with each other, creating cosmic balance

Wood (木)

GrowthCreativeFlexible

→ Fire

⊘ Earth

Fire (火)

PassionateEnergeticIlluminating

→ Earth

⊘ Metal

Earth (土)

StableNurturingBalanced

→ Metal

⊘ Water

Metal (金)

StrongDecisiveRighteous

→ Water

⊘ Wood

Water (水)

FlowingWiseAdaptable

→ Wood

⊘ Fire

Element Cycles

Generating: Wood → Fire → Earth → Metal → Water → Wood

Controlling: Wood → Earth → Water → Fire → Metal → Wood

Yin-Yang (陰陽)

Opposing forces that complement each other, creating cosmic balance

Yin (陰)

DarkColdStillReceptiveFeminineMoonEven numbers

Yang (陽)

BrightHotMovingActiveMasculineSunOdd numbers
☯️

Everything in the universe contains both Yin and Yang. Balance between these two forces is the key to harmony.

Bazi - Four Pillars of Destiny (八字)

Destiny analysis from Year, Month, Day, and Hour of birth

Bazi or Four Pillars of Destiny uses Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches to create 4 pillars. Each pillar has 2 characters, totaling 8 characters (八字 = 8 characters), providing detailed life analysis.

Year Pillar (年柱)

Ancestors, family, fortune from birthplace

Month Pillar (月柱)

Parents, education, career, youth to working age

Day Pillar (日柱)

Self, spouse, relationships, core of life

Hour Pillar (時柱)

Children, later life, legacy

Zi Wei Dou Shu (紫微斗数)

Emperor's Astrology - China's most complex system

Zi Wei Dou Shu means 'Purple Star Astrology' and is an advanced system using 14 main stars across 12 palaces to analyze all aspects of life, from career and love to health and fortune.

14 Main Stars
Zi Wei (紫微)Tian Ji (天機)Tai Yang (太陽)Wu Qu (武曲)Tian Tong (天同)Lian Zhen (廉貞)Tian Fu (天府)Tai Yin (太陰)Tan Lang (貪狼)Ju Men (巨門)Tian Xiang (天相)Tian Liang (天梁)Qi Sha (七殺)Po Jun (破軍)
12 Palaces
Life (命宮)Siblings (兄弟)Spouse (夫妻)Children (子女)Wealth (財帛)Health (疾厄)Travel (遷移)Friends (交友)Career (官祿)Property (田宅)Fortune (福德)Parents (父母)

10 Heavenly Stems & 12 Earthly Branches

The foundation of the Chinese calendar system

10 Heavenly Stems
甲 (Jia)Yang Wood
乙 (Yi)Yin Wood
丙 (Bing)Yang Fire
丁 (Ding)Yin Fire
戊 (Wu)Yang Earth
己 (Ji)Yin Earth
庚 (Geng)Yang Metal
辛 (Xin)Yin Metal
壬 (Ren)Yang Water
癸 (Gui)Yin Water
12 Earthly Branches
子 (Zi)Rat
丑 (Chou)Ox
寅 (Yin)Tiger
卯 (Mao)Rabbit
辰 (Chen)Dragon
巳 (Si)Snake
午 (Wu)Horse
未 (Wei)Goat
申 (Shen)Monkey
酉 (You)Rooster
戌 (Xu)Dog
亥 (Hai)Pig

Zodiac Compatibility (生肖配對)

Compatible and conflicting zodiac signs

Liu He - Six Harmonies (六合)

Rat+OxTiger+PigRabbit+DogDragon+RoosterSnake+MonkeyHorse+Goat

San He - Three Harmonies (三合)

Rat+Dragon+Monkey (Water)Ox+Snake+Rooster (Metal)Tiger+Horse+Dog (Fire)Rabbit+Goat+Pig (Wood)

Liu Chong - Six Clashes (六冲)

Rat↔HorseOx↔GoatTiger↔MonkeyRabbit↔RoosterDragon↔DogSnake↔Pig

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the Chinese zodiac year start?

The basic Chinese zodiac reading changes year at Chinese New Year, in late January or February. Births before that date use the previous zodiac year. Bazi changes its year pillar at Li Chun, a solar-term boundary.

What's the difference between Bazi and Zi Wei?

Bazi focuses on elemental analysis and balance using 8 characters. Zi Wei uses 14 main stars across 12 palaces, alongside auxiliary stars, to provide a different interpretive framework.

How do elements affect zodiac signs?

Elements modify zodiac personality. For example, Fire Dragon is more courageous than Water Dragon. The same zodiac+element combination repeats every 60 years.

Is Chinese astrology reading free?

VerHoro offers a free basic Chinese reading and Bazi. Two-person compatibility tools and questions to the AI advisor require Member access; AI questions have usage limits.

Ready to discover your destiny through Chinese Astrology?

Enter your birth details to explore your zodiac animal, elements, and Bazi for free. Two-person compatibility tools require Member access.