The Dog in the Chinese zodiac
The Dog is eleventh in the cycle and pairs with the Xu hour in the evening. Chinese folk tradition values it as a guardian of the home, so popular readings link it with loyalty and fairness.
The Dog is eleventh and pairs with the earthly branch Xu (戌), the hours from 7 pm to 9 pm, when the household settles in for the evening. It is the guard on the night shift. As with all animals, the year starts at Chinese New Year, not January 1.
Wang Chong's Han dynasty Lunheng names the dog (犬, quǎn) as the animal for Xu, grouping it with the ox and sheep among the earth-linked branches. Folk belief also tells of a celestial dog that swallows the moon during an eclipse, which is why neighbors once banged pots to scare it off.
Dogs in Chinese story are guards, hunters and household companions, and they stand for dependability. That is why modern popular readings call Dog people loyal, fair-minded and quick to defend a friend, and sometimes anxious on behalf of others.
A question to carry: whose side are you on by default, and have you checked lately that it is still the right one? Loyalty is strongest when it is chosen.
For entertainment and reflection only. Not medical, financial, or legal advice.
Zodiac year dates
Years begin at Lunar New Year, not January 1. A birthday before the start date belongs to the previous animal year.
Dates follow the Chinese calendar in China. If your birthday falls within one day of Lunar New Year, check the boundary notice in your chart.
| Year | Starts | Ends (inclusive) |
|---|---|---|
| 1910 | ||
| 1922 | ||
| 1934 | ||
| 1946 | ||
| 1958 | ||
| 1970 | ||
| 1982 | ||
| 1994 | ||
| 2006 | ||
| 2018 | ||
| 2030 | ||
| 2042 | ||
| 2054 | ||
| 2066 | ||
| 2078 | ||
| 2090 |
Calculated from our bundled Lunar New Year table; 1901–2100 dates checked against the Hong Kong Observatory calendar tables.
Sources
Lunheng (論衡) ch. 14 Wushi (物勢篇), the passage pairing earthly branches with animals
- 論衡 (Lunheng), chapter 14 物勢篇 (Wushi)Wang Chong (王充)
- Lunabao original writing