1978 Chinese Zodiac: Year of the Earth Horse
戊午 · 马 Mǎ
1978 is the Year of the Earth Horse. The Chinese year ran from Feb 7, 1978 to Jan 27, 1979, so anyone born in that span is an Earth Horse. Born in January or early February? Lunar New Year fell on Feb 7, 1978, and earlier births belong to the Fire Snake year.
- Horse
- Earth
- Yang
Born in 1978?
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.
1978 at a Glance
- Animal
- Horse 马 mǎ
- Element
- Earth
- Yin or Yang
- Yang
- Year name
- 戊午 · sound element 天上火
- Begins
- Tuesday, Feb 7, 1978
- Ends
- Jan 27, 1979
- Age in 2026
- 47 or 48
- Next Horse year
- 1990
1978 Earth Horse: Fourth Own Sign Year
2026 is a Horse year, so people born in 1978 reach their fourth own sign year (本命年) as they turn 48. Tradition treats it as a year for care, not one to fear.
The 1978 year began on Feb 7, 1978 and ended on Jan 27, 1979. For its sound element, 戊午 takes 天上火, the sun’s fire overhead, a fitting image for the Horse.
Born in January or Early February 1978?
The Chinese year does not start on January 1. Lunar New Year 1978 was on Tuesday, Feb 7, 1978, so births before that date belong to the year before.
| Born | Sign | Year name |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 to Feb 6, 1978 | Fire Snake | 丁巳 |
| Feb 7, 1978 to Jan 27, 1979 | Earth Horse | 戊午 |
So someone born on Feb 6, 1978 is a Fire Snake, and someone born on Feb 7, 1978 is an Earth Horse. Dates are in China Standard Time.
What Is an Earth Horse?
An Earth Horse combines the Horse with the element of the birth year. 1978 ends in 8, which gives Earth. The element repeats every 60 years, so other Earth Horse years include 1918.
How Old Is a 1978 Horse, and When Is the Next Horse Year?
Someone born in 1978 turns 48 in 2026 and 49 in 2027. The last Horse year was 1966, and the next is 1990. Your own sign year, called 本命年 (běnmìngnián), comes every 12 years. These are the Horse years a 1978 Horse lives through:
- 1978Earth HorseBornThis page
- 1990 Chinese zodiacMetal HorseTurns 12
- 2002 Chinese zodiacWater HorseTurns 24
- 2014 Chinese zodiacWood HorseTurns 36
- 2026 Chinese zodiacFire HorseTurns 48
1978 Horse Compatibility: Best and Hardest Matches
Compatibility follows the animal, not the element. Tradition favors the signs in the Horse's trine group and its Secret Friend, and is cautious about the opposite sign and the harm pair.
The 1978 Horse in 2026 and 2027
How the traditional rules link the Horse to the next two years, and how old a 1978 Horse will be.
2026, the Fire Horse Year: Own Sign Year
Turns 48. Link to the Horse: Own sign year (本命年), Punishment (刑太岁).
2027, the Fire Goat Year: Supported
Turns 49. Link to the Goat: Secret Friend (六合).
Nearby Years
The years just before and after 1978, and the other years of the decade.
- 1976 Chinese zodiacFire DragonJan 31, 1976 to Feb 17, 1977
- 1977 Chinese zodiacFire SnakeFeb 18, 1977 to Feb 6, 1978
- 1978Earth HorseFeb 7, 1978 to Jan 27, 1979
- 1979 Chinese zodiacEarth GoatJan 28, 1979 to Feb 15, 1980
- 1980 Chinese zodiacMetal MonkeyFeb 16, 1980 to Feb 4, 1981
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 zodiac1974 Chinese zodiac1975 Chinese zodiac1976 Chinese zodiac1977 Chinese zodiac19781979 Chinese zodiacAll Chinese zodiac years
1978 Chinese Zodiac FAQ
What Chinese zodiac is 1978?
1978 is the Year of the Earth Horse. The Chinese year ran from Feb 7, 1978 to Jan 27, 1979.
What element is the 1978 Chinese zodiac?
Earth. A year's element follows its last digit: 8 gives Earth. The Horse's own fixed element is Fire, which is a different thing.
What Chinese zodiac is January 1978?
Lunar New Year 1978 fell on Tuesday, Feb 7, 1978. Born from January 1 to Feb 6, 1978, you are a Fire Snake. From Feb 7, 1978, you are an Earth Horse.
How old is someone born in 1978?
In 2026 they turn 48, or are 47 before their birthday. In 2027 they turn 49. Chinese tradition often counts age differently, adding one year at birth.
When is the next Horse year after 1978?
1990, the Year of the Metal Horse, begins on Jan 27, 1990.