1963 Chinese Zodiac: Year of the Water Rabbit
癸卯 · 兔 Tù
1963 is the Year of the Water Rabbit (also called the Bunny). The Chinese year ran from Jan 25, 1963 to Feb 12, 1964, so anyone born in that span is a Water Rabbit. Born in January or early February? Lunar New Year fell on Jan 25, 1963, and earlier births belong to the Water Tiger year.
- Rabbit
- Water
- Yin
Born in 1963?
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.
1963 at a Glance
- Animal
- Rabbit 兔 tù
- Element
- Water
- Yin or Yang
- Yin
- Year name
- 癸卯 · sound element 金箔金
- Begins
- Friday, Jan 25, 1963
- Ends
- Feb 12, 1964
- Age in 2026
- 62 or 63
- Next Rabbit year
- 1975
The 1963 Water Rabbit
Rabbit lanterns (兔子灯) are a favorite at the Lantern Festival that closes the New Year season, pulled along the street on little wheels. A 1963 Rabbit turns 63 in 2026.
Lunar New Year 1963 fell early, on Jan 25, 1963, and the year lasted until Feb 12, 1964, so a 1964 birthday before mid-February is still a Water Rabbit.
Born in January or Early February 1963?
The Chinese year does not start on January 1. Lunar New Year 1963 was on Friday, Jan 25, 1963, so births before that date belong to the year before.
| Born | Sign | Year name |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 to Jan 24, 1963 | Water Tiger | 壬寅 |
| Jan 25, 1963 to Feb 12, 1964 | Water Rabbit | 癸卯 |
So someone born on Jan 24, 1963 is a Water Tiger, and someone born on Jan 25, 1963 is a Water Rabbit. Dates are in China Standard Time.
What Is a Water Rabbit?
A Water Rabbit combines the Rabbit with the element of the birth year. 1963 ends in 3, which gives Water. The element repeats every 60 years, so other Water Rabbit years include 1903 and 2023.
How Old Is a 1963 Rabbit, and When Is the Next Rabbit Year?
Someone born in 1963 turns 63 in 2026 and 64 in 2027. The last Rabbit year was 1951, and the next is 1975. Your own sign year, called 本命年 (běnmìngnián), comes every 12 years. These are the Rabbit years a 1963 Rabbit lives through:
- 1963Water RabbitBornThis page
- 1975 Chinese zodiacWood RabbitTurns 12
- 1987 Chinese zodiacFire RabbitTurns 24
- 1999 Chinese zodiacEarth RabbitTurns 36
- 2011 Chinese zodiacMetal RabbitTurns 48
- 2023 Chinese zodiacWater RabbitTurns 60 · full cycle (花甲)
- 2035Wood RabbitTurns 72
1963 Rabbit Compatibility: Best and Hardest Matches
Compatibility follows the animal, not the element. Tradition favors the signs in the Rabbit's trine group and its Secret Friend, and is cautious about the opposite sign and the harm pair.
The 1963 Rabbit in 2026 and 2027
How the traditional rules link the Rabbit to the next two years, and how old a 1963 Rabbit will be.
2026, the Fire Horse Year: Needs Care
Turns 63. Link to the Horse: Break (破太岁).
2027, the Fire Goat Year: Supported
Turns 64. Link to the Goat: Trine partner (三合).
Nearby Years
The years just before and after 1963, and the other years of the decade.
- 1961 Chinese zodiacMetal OxFeb 15, 1961 to Feb 4, 1962
- 1962 Chinese zodiacWater TigerFeb 5, 1962 to Jan 24, 1963
- 1963Water RabbitJan 25, 1963 to Feb 12, 1964
- 1964 Chinese zodiacWood DragonFeb 13, 1964 to Feb 1, 1965
- 1965 Chinese zodiacWood SnakeFeb 2, 1965 to Jan 20, 1966
Want every year on one sheet? Download the Chinese zodiac years chart PDF (A4, 1900 to 2035, with Lunar New Year dates).
1960 Chinese zodiac1961 Chinese zodiac1962 Chinese zodiac19631964 Chinese zodiac1965 Chinese zodiac1966 Chinese zodiac1967 Chinese zodiac1968 Chinese zodiac1969 Chinese zodiacAll Chinese zodiac years
1963 Chinese Zodiac FAQ
What Chinese zodiac is 1963?
1963 is the Year of the Water Rabbit (also called the Bunny). The Chinese year ran from Jan 25, 1963 to Feb 12, 1964.
What element is the 1963 Chinese zodiac?
Water. A year's element follows its last digit: 3 gives Water. The Rabbit's own fixed element is Wood, which is a different thing.
What Chinese zodiac is January 1963?
Lunar New Year 1963 fell on Friday, Jan 25, 1963. Born from January 1 to Jan 24, 1963, you are a Water Tiger. From Jan 25, 1963, you are a Water Rabbit.
How old is someone born in 1963?
In 2026 they turn 63, or are 62 before their birthday. In 2027 they turn 64. Chinese tradition often counts age differently, adding one year at birth.
When is the next Rabbit year after 1963?
1975, the Year of the Wood Rabbit, begins on Feb 11, 1975.