1974 Chinese Zodiac: Year of the Wood Tiger
甲寅 · 虎 Hǔ
1974 is the Year of the Wood Tiger. The Chinese year ran from Jan 23, 1974 to Feb 10, 1975, so anyone born in that span is a Wood Tiger. Born in January or early February? Lunar New Year fell on Jan 23, 1974, and earlier births belong to the Water Ox year.
- Tiger
- Wood
- Yang
Born in 1974?
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.
1974 at a Glance
- Animal
- Tiger 虎 hǔ
- Element
- Wood
- Yin or Yang
- Yang
- Year name
- 甲寅 · sound element 大溪水
- Begins
- Wednesday, Jan 23, 1974
- Ends
- Feb 10, 1975
- Age in 2026
- 51 or 52
- Next Tiger year
- 1986
1974 Wood Tiger
In the classic novel Water Margin, the hero Wu Song kills a man-eating tiger with his bare hands, one of the best-known tiger scenes in Chinese storytelling.
The 1974 year began early, on Jan 23, 1974, and ended on Feb 10, 1975, so a birthday in early February 1975 is still a Wood Tiger. 1974 Tigers turn 52 in 2026.
Born in January or Early February 1974?
The Chinese year does not start on January 1. Lunar New Year 1974 was on Wednesday, Jan 23, 1974, so births before that date belong to the year before.
| Born | Sign | Year name |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 to Jan 22, 1974 | Water Ox | 癸丑 |
| Jan 23, 1974 to Feb 10, 1975 | Wood Tiger | 甲寅 |
So someone born on Jan 22, 1974 is a Water Ox, and someone born on Jan 23, 1974 is a Wood Tiger. Dates are in China Standard Time.
What Is a Wood Tiger?
A Wood Tiger combines the Tiger with the element of the birth year. 1974 ends in 4, which gives Wood. The element repeats every 60 years, so other Wood Tiger years include 1914 and 2034.
How Old Is a 1974 Tiger, and When Is the Next Tiger Year?
Someone born in 1974 turns 52 in 2026 and 53 in 2027. The last Tiger year was 1962, and the next is 1986. Your own sign year, called 本命年 (běnmìngnián), comes every 12 years. These are the Tiger years a 1974 Tiger lives through:
- 1974Wood TigerBornThis page
- 1986 Chinese zodiacFire TigerTurns 12
- 1998 Chinese zodiacEarth TigerTurns 24
- 2010 Chinese zodiacMetal TigerTurns 36
- 2022 Chinese zodiacWater TigerTurns 48
- 2034Wood TigerTurns 60 · full cycle (花甲)
1974 Tiger Compatibility: Best and Hardest Matches
Compatibility follows the animal, not the element. Tradition favors the signs in the Tiger's trine group and its Secret Friend, and is cautious about the opposite sign and the harm pair.
The 1974 Tiger in 2026 and 2027
How the traditional rules link the Tiger to the next two years, and how old a 1974 Tiger will be.
2026, the Fire Horse Year: Supported
Turns 52. Link to the Horse: Trine partner (三合).
2027, the Fire Goat Year: Steady
Turns 53. No formal link to the Goat in the traditional rules.
Nearby Years
The years just before and after 1974, and the other years of the decade.
- 1972 Chinese zodiacWater RatFeb 15, 1972 to Feb 2, 1973
- 1973 Chinese zodiacWater OxFeb 3, 1973 to Jan 22, 1974
- 1974Wood TigerJan 23, 1974 to Feb 10, 1975
- 1975 Chinese zodiacWood RabbitFeb 11, 1975 to Jan 30, 1976
- 1976 Chinese zodiacFire DragonJan 31, 1976 to Feb 17, 1977
Want every year on one sheet? Download the Chinese zodiac years chart PDF (A4, 1900 to 2035, with Lunar New Year dates).
1970 Chinese zodiac1971 Chinese zodiac1972 Chinese zodiac1973 Chinese zodiac19741975 Chinese zodiac1976 Chinese zodiac1977 Chinese zodiac1978 Chinese zodiac1979 Chinese zodiacAll Chinese zodiac years
1974 Chinese Zodiac FAQ
What Chinese zodiac is 1974?
1974 is the Year of the Wood Tiger. The Chinese year ran from Jan 23, 1974 to Feb 10, 1975.
What element is the 1974 Chinese zodiac?
Wood. A year's element follows its last digit: 4 gives Wood. The Tiger's own fixed element is Wood, which is a different thing.
What Chinese zodiac is January 1974?
Lunar New Year 1974 fell on Wednesday, Jan 23, 1974. Born from January 1 to Jan 22, 1974, you are a Water Ox. From Jan 23, 1974, you are a Wood Tiger.
How old is someone born in 1974?
In 2026 they turn 52, or are 51 before their birthday. In 2027 they turn 53. Chinese tradition often counts age differently, adding one year at birth.
When is the next Tiger year after 1974?
1986, the Year of the Fire Tiger, begins on Feb 9, 1986.