Chinese zodiac · 3 of 12
寅 The Tiger
The Tiger is the zodiac's brave heart. Its branch 寅 (Yín) begins the Chinese solar year at Li Chun, the Start of Spring, when yang energy pushes up through the soil. Tigers carry that same surge: bold, generous and ready to act before the plan is finished.
- Branch
- 寅 Yín
- Fixed element
- Wood
- Polarity
- Yang
- Direction
- East-northeast (ENE)
- Hours
- 3 – 5 am
- Solar month starts
- about 4 Feb (Start of Spring)
Tiger years and their elements
Each Tiger year also carries one of the five elements, so a Tiger 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1926 | 丙寅 Yang Fire Tiger | 4 Feb 1926 | 5 Feb 1927 |
| 1938 | 戊寅 Yang Earth Tiger | 4 Feb 1938 | 5 Feb 1939 |
| 1950 | 庚寅 Yang Metal Tiger | 4 Feb 1950 | 4 Feb 1951 |
| 1962 | 壬寅 Yang Water Tiger | 4 Feb 1962 | 4 Feb 1963 |
| 1974 | 甲寅 Yang Wood Tiger | 4 Feb 1974 | 4 Feb 1975 |
| 1986 | 丙寅 Yang Fire Tiger | 4 Feb 1986 | 4 Feb 1987 |
| 1998 | 戊寅 Yang Earth Tiger | 4 Feb 1998 | 4 Feb 1999 |
| 2010 | 庚寅 Yang Metal Tiger | 4 Feb 2010 | 4 Feb 2011 |
| 2022 | 壬寅 Yang Water Tiger | 4 Feb 2022 | 4 Feb 2023 |
Tiger personality
These are the traits tradition associates with the Tiger. Your full BaZi chart, especially your Day Master, shapes you more than your year animal alone.
- Courageous and protective
- Warm, generous and direct
- Natural leaders who inspire others
- Energetic starters of new projects
Watch out for: Tigers can be impatient and take risks without counting the cost. They may clash with authority and find it hard to finish what they started with such enthusiasm.
Tiger at work
Tigers shine where courage and leadership count: entrepreneurship, sales, emergency services, advocacy and anything that involves starting something new. These are traditional associations; your Day Master and the rest of your chart matter more.
Tiger compatibility
The Pig is the Tiger's six-harmony partner, while the Horse and Dog complete its three-harmony group. The Monkey is its opposite, so Tiger–Monkey pairings need humour and give-and-take.
| Relationship | Sign | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Six harmony (六合) | Pig | The closest natural match; easy teamwork. |
| Three harmony (三合) | Horse and Dog | Allies who share goals and energy. |
| Clash (六冲) | Monkey | Opposite sign; needs patience and clear talk. |
| Harm (六害) | Snake | Prone to small misunderstandings. |
Feng shui tips for the Tiger
The Tiger's branch is Yang Wood. Living plants, wooden furniture and greens support it, and Water (blue, glass, a small fountain) feeds it. Its direction is East-northeast. Tigers benefit from a clear, open space to move; a cluttered entrance frustrates them more than most signs.
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 Tiger in 2026 and 2027
The Fire Horse year sits in the Tiger's three-harmony group (寅午戌), so the Tiger finds allies this year. It is a good time to collaborate, launch a project with partners or take on a visible role.
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.