The Goat in the Chinese zodiac
The Goat is eighth in the cycle and pairs with the Wei hour in the early afternoon. The Chinese character covers goat, sheep and ram, and popular readings stress gentleness, creativity and care for others.
The eighth animal pairs with the earthly branch Wei (未), the hours from 1 pm to 3 pm. The Chinese word 羊 (yáng) covers goats, sheep and rams alike, which is why English sources switch between Goat, Sheep and Ram for the same year. Neither is wrong, and many writers pick whichever feels warmer.
Wang Chong's Han dynasty Lunheng lists the sheep (羊) as the animal for Wei, together with the ox for Chou, as the two earth-linked branches that the tiger overpowers in his example. The character also sits inside several happy words: it is part of 美 (beautiful), 善 (good) and 祥 (auspicious), which is a nice reason the animal is considered gentle.
Modern popular readings say that the Goat is kind, artistic, flexible and sometimes slow to say what it wants. People enjoy that picture because it reads as more hopeful than the stereotype of a meek follower.
Try asking yourself where being agreeable keeps the peace, and where it quietly keeps you from asking for what you need.
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) |
|---|---|---|
| 1907 | ||
| 1919 | ||
| 1931 | ||
| 1943 | ||
| 1955 | ||
| 1967 | ||
| 1979 | ||
| 1991 | ||
| 2003 | ||
| 2015 | ||
| 2027 | ||
| 2039 | ||
| 2051 | ||
| 2063 | ||
| 2075 | ||
| 2087 | ||
| 2099 |
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