Chinese zodiac · 4 of 12
卯 The Rabbit
The Rabbit is the zodiac's diplomat. Its branch 卯 (Mǎo) is pure Wood and sits exactly at due East and the spring equinox, the moment of balance between light and dark. Rabbits share that sense of balance: gentle, tasteful and skilled at keeping the peace.
- Branch
- 卯 Mǎo
- Fixed element
- Wood
- Polarity
- Yin
- Direction
- East (E)
- Hours
- 5 – 7 am
- Solar month starts
- about 6 Mar (Awakening of Insects)
Rabbit years and their elements
Each Rabbit year also carries one of the five elements, so a Rabbit born in 1984 (Wood) differs from one born in 1996 (Fire). The year changes at Li Chun, the Start of Spring, not on Chinese New Year. If you were born in January or early February, check the start date below.
| Year | Pillar | Starts (Li Chun) | Ends before |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1927 | 丁卯 Yin Fire Rabbit | 5 Feb 1927 | 5 Feb 1928 |
| 1939 | 己卯 Yin Earth Rabbit | 5 Feb 1939 | 5 Feb 1940 |
| 1951 | 辛卯 Yin Metal Rabbit | 4 Feb 1951 | 5 Feb 1952 |
| 1963 | 癸卯 Yin Water Rabbit | 4 Feb 1963 | 5 Feb 1964 |
| 1975 | 乙卯 Yin Wood Rabbit | 4 Feb 1975 | 5 Feb 1976 |
| 1987 | 丁卯 Yin Fire Rabbit | 4 Feb 1987 | 4 Feb 1988 |
| 1999 | 己卯 Yin Earth Rabbit | 4 Feb 1999 | 4 Feb 2000 |
| 2011 | 辛卯 Yin Metal Rabbit | 4 Feb 2011 | 4 Feb 2012 |
| 2023 | 癸卯 Yin Water Rabbit | 4 Feb 2023 | 4 Feb 2024 |
Rabbit personality
These are the traits tradition associates with the Rabbit. Your full BaZi chart, especially your Day Master, shapes you more than your year animal alone.
- Kind, tactful and good company
- Refined taste and an eye for beauty
- Careful and sensible with decisions
- Loyal friends who avoid drama
Watch out for: Rabbits may avoid conflict so completely that problems grow. They can be indecisive and sensitive to criticism.
Rabbit at work
Rabbits are drawn to careful, people-centred work: design, counselling, diplomacy, hospitality and the arts. These are traditional associations; your Day Master and the rest of your chart matter more.
Rabbit compatibility
The Dog is the Rabbit's six-harmony partner, and the Goat and Pig form its three-harmony trio. The Rooster is its opposite, so Rabbit–Rooster couples should agree early on how to handle disagreement.
| Relationship | Sign | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Six harmony (六合) | Dog | The closest natural match; easy teamwork. |
| Three harmony (三合) | Goat and Pig | Allies who share goals and energy. |
| Clash (六冲) | Rooster | Opposite sign; needs patience and clear talk. |
| Harm (六害) | Dragon | Prone to small misunderstandings. |
Feng shui tips for the Rabbit
As Yin Wood, the Rabbit loves plants, natural textures and soft greens, and is fed by Water. Its direction is due East, a good place for a healthy plant. Rabbits are sensitive to harsh lines and noise, so rounded furniture edges and soft lighting help them relax.
Your year animal gives general guidance. For directions that fit you personally, find your Kua Number; it is based on your birth year and gender and gives four favourable and four unfavourable directions.
The Rabbit in 2026 and 2027
The Horse and Rabbit form a 'destruction' pairing (午卯破), so 2026 can bring small disruptions to plans. Build in buffers, keep documents in order and avoid lending large sums.
2027 (Fire Goat) is in your three-harmony group, a year of allies.
Clash, harm and harmony pairings follow fixed traditional rules. They describe tendencies to be aware of, not fixed outcomes.