1952 Chinese Zodiac: Year of the Water Dragon
壬辰 · 龙 Lóng
1952 is the Year of the Water Dragon. The Chinese year ran from Jan 27, 1952 to Feb 13, 1953, so anyone born in that span is a Water Dragon. Born in January or early February? Lunar New Year fell on Jan 27, 1952, and earlier births belong to the Metal Rabbit year.
- Dragon
- Water
- Yang
Born in 1952?
Enter your birth date to check, down to the exact Lunar New Year.
Month and day are optional. Add them if you were born in January or February. See January and February Chinese zodiac.
1952 at a Glance
- Animal
- Dragon 龙 lóng
- Element
- Water
- Yin or Yang
- Yang
- Year name
- 壬辰 · sound element 长流水
- Begins
- Sunday, Jan 27, 1952
- Ends
- Feb 13, 1953
- Age in 2026
- 73 or 74
- Next Dragon year
- 1964
The 1952 Water Dragon
Lunar New Year 1952 fell on Jan 27, 1952. Births from January 1 to Jan 26, 1952 belong to the Metal Rabbit year; from Jan 27, 1952 on, the year is the Water Dragon’s.
Its year name 壬辰 carries the sound element 长流水, “long-flowing water,” in Chinese tradition, so the year element and the sound element are both Water. 1952 Dragons turn 74 in 2026, and their next Dragon year, 2036, comes when they turn 84.
Born in January or Early February 1952?
The Chinese year does not start on January 1. Lunar New Year 1952 was on Sunday, Jan 27, 1952, so births before that date belong to the year before.
| Born | Sign | Year name |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 to Jan 26, 1952 | Metal Rabbit | 辛卯 |
| Jan 27, 1952 to Feb 13, 1953 | Water Dragon | 壬辰 |
So someone born on Jan 26, 1952 is a Metal Rabbit, and someone born on Jan 27, 1952 is a Water Dragon. Dates are in China Standard Time.
What Is a Water Dragon?
A Water Dragon combines the Dragon with the element of the birth year. 1952 ends in 2, which gives Water. The element repeats every 60 years, so other Water Dragon years include 2012.
How Old Is a 1952 Dragon, and When Is the Next Dragon Year?
Someone born in 1952 turns 74 in 2026 and 75 in 2027. The last Dragon year was 1940, and the next is 1964. Your own sign year, called 本命年 (běnmìngnián), comes every 12 years. These are the Dragon years a 1952 Dragon lives through:
- 1952Water DragonBornThis page
- 1964 Chinese zodiacWood DragonTurns 12
- 1976 Chinese zodiacFire DragonTurns 24
- 1988 Chinese zodiacEarth DragonTurns 36
- 2000 Chinese zodiacMetal DragonTurns 48
- 2012 Chinese zodiacWater DragonTurns 60 · full cycle (花甲)
- 2024 Chinese zodiacWood DragonTurns 72
- 2036Fire DragonTurns 84
1952 Dragon Compatibility: Best and Hardest Matches
Compatibility follows the animal, not the element. Tradition favors the signs in the Dragon's trine group and its Secret Friend, and is cautious about the opposite sign and the harm pair.
The 1952 Dragon in 2026 and 2027
How the traditional rules link the Dragon to the next two years, and how old a 1952 Dragon will be.
2026, the Fire Horse Year: Steady
Turns 74. No formal link to the Horse in the traditional rules.
2027, the Fire Goat Year: Steady
Turns 75. No formal link to the Goat in the traditional rules.
Nearby Years
The years just before and after 1952, and the other years of the decade.
- 1950 Chinese zodiacMetal TigerFeb 17, 1950 to Feb 5, 1951
- 1951 Chinese zodiacMetal RabbitFeb 6, 1951 to Jan 26, 1952
- 1952Water DragonJan 27, 1952 to Feb 13, 1953
- 1953 Chinese zodiacWater SnakeFeb 14, 1953 to Feb 2, 1954
- 1954 Chinese zodiacWood HorseFeb 3, 1954 to Jan 23, 1955
Want every year on one sheet? Download the Chinese zodiac years chart PDF (A4, 1900 to 2035, with Lunar New Year dates).
1950 Chinese zodiac1951 Chinese zodiac19521953 Chinese zodiac1954 Chinese zodiac1955 Chinese zodiac1956 Chinese zodiac1957 Chinese zodiac1958 Chinese zodiac1959 Chinese zodiacAll Chinese zodiac years
1952 Chinese Zodiac FAQ
What Chinese zodiac is 1952?
1952 is the Year of the Water Dragon. The Chinese year ran from Jan 27, 1952 to Feb 13, 1953.
What element is the 1952 Chinese zodiac?
Water. A year's element follows its last digit: 2 gives Water. The Dragon's own fixed element is Earth, which is a different thing.
What Chinese zodiac is January 1952?
Lunar New Year 1952 fell on Sunday, Jan 27, 1952. Born from January 1 to Jan 26, 1952, you are a Metal Rabbit. From Jan 27, 1952, you are a Water Dragon.
How old is someone born in 1952?
In 2026 they turn 74, or are 73 before their birthday. In 2027 they turn 75. Chinese tradition often counts age differently, adding one year at birth.
When is the next Dragon year after 1952?
1964, the Year of the Wood Dragon, begins on Feb 13, 1964.