The Tiger in the Chinese zodiac
The Tiger is third in the cycle and pairs with the Yin hour before dawn. In Chinese folk culture it is a protector as well as a hunter, which is why popular readings stress courage and warmth together.
The Tiger sits third and pairs with the earthly branch Yin (寅), the hours from 3 am to 5 am, just before first light. It is the animal of things about to begin. As with all twelve, a Tiger year starts at Chinese New Year, not January 1.
The tiger (虎, hǔ) is among the animals the Han dynasty writer Wang Chong lists against a branch in the Lunheng, where it is the one that overpowers the dog, ox and sheep in his argument about the five elements. Chinese folk art also marks the tiger's forehead with a pattern that looks like the character for king (王), which is part of why it is called king of the beasts.
Tigers also appear as guardians. Tiger-head shoes and pillows have long been made for small children as a gesture of protection, so the animal is as much about defending the people you love as about hunting.
Today's popular readings call Tiger people bold, magnetic and slightly impatient with half measures. It can help to ask where your courage is working for someone else, and where it is simply restless.
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) |
|---|---|---|
| 1902 | ||
| 1914 | ||
| 1926 | ||
| 1938 | ||
| 1950 | ||
| 1962 | ||
| 1974 | ||
| 1986 | ||
| 1998 | ||
| 2010 | ||
| 2022 | ||
| 2034 | ||
| 2046 | ||
| 2058 | ||
| 2070 | ||
| 2082 | ||
| 2094 |
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