Born in 1936: the Rat
A Yang Fire Rat 🐀
Rats are sharp observers who spot an opportunity before anyone else and act on it. They are thrifty, sociable, and quick to solve a practical problem. As a Fire-element year, 1936 adds a dynamic, warm and a little restless streak to the usual Rat character.
The 1936 lunar year ran from January 24, 1936 to February 11, 1937. If you were born on or after January 24, 1936 you are a Rat; if you were born earlier in 1936, you belong to the previous year's sign, the Pig.
What the Fire element adds
Fire is the element of summer, energy and passion. A Fire year turns the volume up — more drive, more warmth, more willingness to take a risk — but also a shorter fuse and less patience for slow, routine work.
The full 60-year cycle pairs each of the 12 animals with each of the 5 elements, so a Fire Rat year comes around only once every 60 years — the last one before 1936 was 1876, and the next is 1996. People born in it are said to combine quick-witted and resourceful with the element's dynamic nature. Its Yin/Yang polarity is fixed as Yang for every Rat year. See the Fire element and the full Fire Rat profile.
1936 at a glance
| Animal | 🐀 Rat (鼠) |
|---|---|
| Element | Fire |
| Polarity | Yang |
| Best match | Ox |
| Hardest match | Horse |
| Lucky numbers | 2, 3 |
| Lucky colors | blue, gold, green |
Rat compatibility
In the traditional chart, a 1936 Rat gets on best with the Ox (the "secret friend" pairing), and also with Dragon and Monkey. The hardest pairing is the Horse, six years apart in the cycle. See the full Rat compatibility table.
Your zodiac years
The Rat returns every 12 years, so someone born in 1936 is back in their own zodiac year in 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984 and so on. Tradition calls this your běnmìngnián — despite being "your" year, it is thought to clash with Tài Suì (the God of Age) and to carry a higher chance of setbacks, so many people wear red through it for protection.
Other Rat years
1948 1960 1972 1984 1996 2008 2020 2032 2044
Full Rat personality profile → Rat compatibility with every sign →
Know your exact birth date? Use the calculator for your full combination →
Frequently asked questions
What Chinese zodiac sign is 1936?
1936 is the year of the Rat (Fire Rat, Yang polarity). Anyone born on or after January 24, 1936 is a Rat; a birthday earlier in 1936 belongs to the previous sign, the Pig.
What element is the 1936 zodiac year?
1936 is a Fire-element year. Fire is the element of summer, energy and passion. A Fire year turns the volume up — more drive, more warmth, more willingness to take a risk — but also a shorter fuse and less patience for slow, routine work.
Who is a 1936 Rat most compatible with?
Best matches are the Ox (the "secret friend"), plus the Dragon and Monkey. The hardest match is the Horse.
Is 1936 a lucky year to be born in?
Chinese tradition does not rank whole years as lucky or unlucky to be born in — every animal has strengths and weaknesses. The one combination widely treated with caution is the Fire Horse, and 1936 is not a Fire Horse year.