Year of the Dragon
龙 · 辰 (chén)
Dragon Personality
The Dragon is the fifth sign in the Chinese zodiac cycle and traditionally considered the most auspicious. People born in the Year of the Dragon are often ambitious and self-assured. They set high standards for themselves and others. Their natural charisma and decisiveness make them influential figures, though they can come across as impatient with slower-paced colleagues.
Traits & Characteristics
Key Traits
- Confident
- Intelligent
- Enthusiastic
- Ambitious
- Bold
Strengths
- Decisive
- Inspiring
- Gifted
- Fearless
Weaknesses
- Arrogant
- Impatient
- Can be tactless
Lucky Attributes
Lucky Numbers
1, 6, 7
Lucky Colors
Gold, Silver, Grayish White
Lucky Directions
East, North, South
Compatibility
The Dragon in 2026 & 2027
Fire strengthens Earth — a supportive year. The year's element feeds back into yours, providing a tailwind for personal development and recovering from previous setbacks.
Fire strengthens Earth — a supportive year. The year's element feeds back into yours, providing a tailwind for personal development and recovering from previous setbacks.
Years of the Dragon
The Dragon recurs every 12 years. Note that the Chinese zodiac follows the lunar calendar — if you were born in January or February, check whether your birth date fell before or after Chinese New Year that year.
| Year | Element | Yin/Yang | Full Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | Metal | Yang | Yang Metal Dragon |
| 1952 | Water | Yang | Yang Water Dragon |
| 1964 | Wood | Yang | Yang Wood Dragon |
| 1976 | Fire | Yang | Yang Fire Dragon |
| 1988 | Earth | Yang | Yang Earth Dragon |
| 2000 | Metal | Yang | Yang Metal Dragon |
| 2012 | Water | Yang | Yang Water Dragon |
| 2024 | Wood | Yang | Yang Wood Dragon |
| 2036 | Fire | Yang | Yang Fire Dragon |
The Earth Element
The Dragon's fixed element is Earth, derived from its Earthly Branch (辰). This element colors the Dragon's core characteristics regardless of birth year.
In the five-element cycle: Earth generates Metal, controls Water, and is strengthened by Fire. The birth year's element (from the Heavenly Stems) adds a second layer — which is why a Wood Dragon and a Metal Dragon can have quite different tendencies despite sharing the same animal sign.
Other Zodiac Animals
Related Topics
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This is a general reading based on the traditional Chinese lunar calendar. Your personalized reading based on your birth chart may differ.