1989 Chinese Zodiac: Year of the Earth Snake
己巳 · 蛇 Shé
1989 is the Year of the Earth Snake. The Chinese year ran from Feb 6, 1989 to Jan 26, 1990, so anyone born in that span is an Earth Snake. Born in January or early February? Lunar New Year fell on Feb 6, 1989, and earlier births belong to the Earth Dragon year.
- Snake
- Earth
- Yin
Born in 1989?
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.
1989 at a Glance
- Animal
- Snake 蛇 shé
- Element
- Earth
- Yin or Yang
- Yin
- Year name
- 己巳 · sound element 大林木
- Begins
- Monday, Feb 6, 1989
- Ends
- Jan 26, 1990
- Age in 2026
- 36 or 37
- Next Snake year
- 2001
1989 Earth Snake: The Last Sign of the 1980S
The 1989 Snake year opened on Feb 6, 1989 and ran to Jan 26, 1990, so a few January 1990 birthdays are Earth Snakes rather than Horses. Births before Feb 6, 1989 are Earth Dragons.
Each animal also names a two-hour stretch of the day in Chinese tradition, and the Snake’s is 9 to 11 in the morning. The year name 己巳 carries the sound element 大林木, “wood of the great forest.” 1989 Snakes turn 37 in 2026.
Born in January or Early February 1989?
The Chinese year does not start on January 1. Lunar New Year 1989 was on Monday, Feb 6, 1989, so births before that date belong to the year before.
| Born | Sign | Year name |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 to Feb 5, 1989 | Earth Dragon | 戊辰 |
| Feb 6, 1989 to Jan 26, 1990 | Earth Snake | 己巳 |
So someone born on Feb 5, 1989 is an Earth Dragon, and someone born on Feb 6, 1989 is an Earth Snake. Dates are in China Standard Time.
What Is an Earth Snake?
An Earth Snake combines the Snake with the element of the birth year. 1989 ends in 9, which gives Earth. The element repeats every 60 years, so other Earth Snake years include 1929.
How Old Is a 1989 Snake, and When Is the Next Snake Year?
Someone born in 1989 turns 37 in 2026 and 38 in 2027. The last Snake year was 1977, and the next is 2001. Your own sign year, called 本命年 (běnmìngnián), comes every 12 years. These are the Snake years a 1989 Snake lives through:
- 1989Earth SnakeBornThis page
- 2001 Chinese zodiacMetal SnakeTurns 12
- 2013 Chinese zodiacWater SnakeTurns 24
- 2025 Chinese zodiacWood SnakeTurns 36
1989 Snake Compatibility: Best and Hardest Matches
Compatibility follows the animal, not the element. Tradition favors the signs in the Snake's trine group and its Secret Friend, and is cautious about the opposite sign and the harm pair.
The 1989 Snake in 2026 and 2027
How the traditional rules link the Snake to the next two years, and how old a 1989 Snake will be.
2026, the Fire Horse Year: Steady
Turns 37. No formal link to the Horse in the traditional rules.
2027, the Fire Goat Year: Steady
Turns 38. No formal link to the Goat in the traditional rules.
Nearby Years
The years just before and after 1989, and the other years of the decade.
- 1987 Chinese zodiacFire RabbitJan 29, 1987 to Feb 16, 1988
- 1988 Chinese zodiacEarth DragonFeb 17, 1988 to Feb 5, 1989
- 1989Earth SnakeFeb 6, 1989 to Jan 26, 1990
- 1990 Chinese zodiacMetal HorseJan 27, 1990 to Feb 14, 1991
- 1991 Chinese zodiacMetal GoatFeb 15, 1991 to Feb 3, 1992
Want every year on one sheet? Download the Chinese zodiac years chart PDF (A4, 1900 to 2035, with Lunar New Year dates).
1980 Chinese zodiac1981 Chinese zodiac1982 Chinese zodiac1983 Chinese zodiac1984 Chinese zodiac1985 Chinese zodiac1986 Chinese zodiac1987 Chinese zodiac1988 Chinese zodiac1989All Chinese zodiac years
1989 Chinese Zodiac FAQ
What Chinese zodiac is 1989?
1989 is the Year of the Earth Snake. The Chinese year ran from Feb 6, 1989 to Jan 26, 1990.
What element is the 1989 Chinese zodiac?
Earth. A year's element follows its last digit: 9 gives Earth. The Snake's own fixed element is Fire, which is a different thing.
What Chinese zodiac is January 1989?
Lunar New Year 1989 fell on Monday, Feb 6, 1989. Born from January 1 to Feb 5, 1989, you are an Earth Dragon. From Feb 6, 1989, you are an Earth Snake.
How old is someone born in 1989?
In 2026 they turn 37, or are 36 before their birthday. In 2027 they turn 38. Chinese tradition often counts age differently, adding one year at birth.
When is the next Snake year after 1989?
2001, the Year of the Metal Snake, begins on Jan 24, 2001.