Dragon (zodiac)


The Dragon is the fifth of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. The Year of the Dragon is associated with the Earthly Branch symbol, pronounced chen.
It has been proposed by one academic researcher that the Earthly Branch character may have been associated with scorpions; it may have symbolized the star Antares. In the Buddhist calendar used in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka, the Dragon is replaced by the nāga. In the Gurung zodiac, the Dragon is replaced by the eagle. In the Persian zodiac, the Dragon is replaced by the whale. In Old Turkic calendar it is replaced by the fish.

Years and the Five Elements

People born within these date ranges can be said to have been born in the "Year of the Dragon", while bearing the following elemental sign:
Start dateEnd dateHeavenly branch
16 February 19043 February 1905Wood Dragon
4 February 191622 January 1917Fire Dragon
23 January 19289 February 1929Earth Dragon
8 February 194026 January 1941Metal Dragon
27 January 195213 February 1953Water Dragon
13 February 19641 February 1965Wood Dragon
31 January 197617 February 1977Fire Dragon
17 February 19885 February 1989Earth Dragon
5 February 200023 January 2001Metal Dragon
23 January 20129 February 2013Water Dragon
10 February 202428 January 2025Wood Dragon
28 January 203614 February 2037Fire Dragon
14 February 20481 February 2049Earth Dragon
2 February 206020 January 2061Metal Dragon
19 February 20726 February 2073Water Dragon
6 February 208425 January 2085Wood Dragon
25 January 209611 February 2097Fire Dragon

There are typically marked spikes in the birth rates of countries that use the Chinese zodiac or places with substantial Overseas Chinese populations during the year of the Dragon, because such "Dragon babies" are considered to be lucky and have desirable characteristics that supposedly lead to better life outcomes. The relatively recent phenomenon of planning a child's birth in the Dragon year has led to hospital overcapacity issues and even an uptick in infant mortality rates toward the end of these years due to strained neonatal resources.

Compatibility

Cycle: Dragon needs Monkey, Monkey needs Rat, Rat needs Dragon; but his rival opposes the Dog.

Basic astrology elements

Relationship with other zodiac signs

Among the 12 animal signs, the Monkey has the most tacit understanding with the Dragon people. The cunning Rat can be a good partner with the Dragon to make something big. The Dragon people can live happily with the Snake, for the Snake can prevent the Dragon from behaving outrageously. People under the signs of the Rooster, Snake, Pig, Rabbit, Goat, Tiger, and Horse like to be friends with the Dragon, as they admire the Dragon's beautiful bearing and strength.
Dragons people are known as paper dragons. Two Dragons can get along well with each other because they lie all day long. However, the relationship between the Dragon and the Ox people is usually tense, because both of them are majestic. The people whom the Dragon feels headaches is with the Dog people. They feel uncomfortable due to the Dog's close guard.