I always knew that there were 12 Chinese zodiac signs—rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig—which repeat on a 12-year cycle. But my understanding of the Chinese Zodiac became so much more nuanced when I learned about Chinese Zodiac Elements. These elements—wood, fire, earth, metal and water—give us even more information about the year.
For example, I was born in 1989, the Year of the Earth Snake. 2025 is also a Year of the Snake, but it’s the Year of the Wood Snake. While Earth Snakes (like me and Taylor Swift) have more solo executive flair, Wood Snakes are known for leading teams with a vision. But those are just two examples. Let’s take a deep dive into the theories behind the elements, what each one means and answer the question: “What is my Chinese zodiac element?”