Chinese zodiac · 6 of 12
巳 The Snake
The Snake is the zodiac's quiet thinker. Its branch 巳 (Sì) marks the start of summer and late-morning hours, when Fire energy is building. Snakes are known for insight, elegance and a talent for seeing what others miss.
- Branch
- 巳 Sì
- Fixed element
- Fire
- Polarity
- Yin
- Direction
- South-southeast (SSE)
- Hours
- 9 – 11 am
- Solar month starts
- about 6 May (Start of Summer)
Snake years and their elements
Each Snake year also carries one of the five elements, so a Snake 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1929 | 己巳 Yin Earth Snake | 4 Feb 1929 | 4 Feb 1930 |
| 1941 | 辛巳 Yin Metal Snake | 4 Feb 1941 | 4 Feb 1942 |
| 1953 | 癸巳 Yin Water Snake | 4 Feb 1953 | 4 Feb 1954 |
| 1965 | 乙巳 Yin Wood Snake | 4 Feb 1965 | 4 Feb 1966 |
| 1977 | 丁巳 Yin Fire Snake | 4 Feb 1977 | 4 Feb 1978 |
| 1989 | 己巳 Yin Earth Snake | 4 Feb 1989 | 4 Feb 1990 |
| 2001 | 辛巳 Yin Metal Snake | 4 Feb 2001 | 4 Feb 2002 |
| 2013 | 癸巳 Yin Water Snake | 4 Feb 2013 | 4 Feb 2014 |
| 2025 | 乙巳 Yin Wood Snake | 3 Feb 2025 | 4 Feb 2026 |
Snake personality
These are the traits tradition associates with the Snake. Your full BaZi chart, especially your Day Master, shapes you more than your year animal alone.
- Wise, intuitive and perceptive
- Calm and composed in a crisis
- Elegant taste
- Strategic, with long-term plans
Watch out for: Snakes can be secretive and slow to trust. They may hold grudges and prefer to watch rather than join in.
Snake at work
Snakes do well in work that rewards insight and strategy: research, psychology, finance, investigation and advisory roles. These are traditional associations; your Day Master and the rest of your chart matter more.
Snake compatibility
The Monkey is the Snake's six-harmony partner, and the Rooster and Ox form its three-harmony trio. The Pig is its opposite, so Snake–Pig pairings need openness about feelings and plans.
| Relationship | Sign | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Six harmony (六合) | Monkey | The closest natural match; easy teamwork. |
| Three harmony (三合) | Ox and Rooster | Allies who share goals and energy. |
| Clash (六冲) | Pig | Opposite sign; needs patience and clear talk. |
| Harm (六害) | Tiger | Prone to small misunderstandings. |
Feng shui tips for the Snake
The Snake is Yin Fire, supported by Wood and calmed by Earth. Warm lighting, a few red or purple accents and natural wood suit it. Its direction is South-southeast. Snakes value privacy, so a bedroom away from the front door suits them well.
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 Snake in 2026 and 2027
The Fire Horse year shares the Snake's Fire element, which brings energy and visibility. Be careful not to overheat: pace your workload and make room for rest.
2027 (Fire Goat) is broadly neutral for your sign.
Clash, harm and harmony pairings follow fixed traditional rules. They describe tendencies to be aware of, not fixed outcomes.