The Earth Element
One of the five elements of the Chinese zodiac, keyed to the last digit of your birth year.
Earth is the element of the harvest, stability and realism. An Earth year makes an animal steadier and more dependable, focused on security and the long game, though it can also make it slower to change course.
People described as grounded, practical and patient carry the Earth influence. It steadies and grounds whichever animal it lands on, producing the most grounded and security-minded version of that sign. A Earth year comes every 10 years but a Earth-plus-a-given-animal combination only once every 60.
Earth years (1930–2044)
1938 1939 1948 1949 1958 1959 1968 1969 1978 1979 1988 1989 1998 1999 2008 2009 2018 2019 2028 2029 2038 2039
The Earth element with each animal
- Earth Rat — 1948, 2008
- Earth Ox — 1949, 2009
- Earth Tiger — 1938, 1998
- Earth Rabbit — 1939, 1999
- Earth Dragon — 1988
- Earth Snake — 1989
- Earth Horse — 1978, 2038
- Earth Goat — 1979, 2039
- Earth Monkey — 1968, 2028
- Earth Rooster — 1969, 2029
- Earth Dog — 1958, 2018
- Earth Pig — 1959, 2019
Frequently asked questions
What years are Earth years in the Chinese zodiac?
Earth years are those ending in 8 or 9. In the modern range that means 1938, 1939, 1948, 1949, 1958, 1959, 1968, 1969, 1978, 1979 and so on.
What does the Earth element mean?
Earth is the element of the harvest, stability and realism. An Earth year makes an animal steadier and more dependable, focused on security and the long game, though it can also make it slower to change course.
Is Earth a lucky element?
No element is luckier than another. Each shapes an animal differently — Earth makes a sign the most grounded and security-minded version of itself.