Today is Nov 1, 2026, the Year of the Fire Horse

Chinese Year Animals
木

Wood Element in the Chinese Zodiac

木 mù · Growth, generosity and creativity

In Chinese tradition Wood stands for spring, growth and new beginnings. People of the Wood element are described as generous, imaginative and fond of helping others grow, and they are said to struggle when they are boxed in or asked to stand still. A year carries the Wood element when it ends in 4 or 5, so the latest Wood years were 2025, 2034 and 2035.

  • Wood
  • Spring
  • East

Wood at a Glance

Chinese
木 mù
Years end in
4 or 5
Color
Green
Direction
East
Season
Spring
Heavenly stems
甲 Jiǎ, 乙 Yǐ
Feeds
Fire
Controls
Earth

The Twelve Wood Signs

Each of the 12 animals has a Wood year. Pick one for its personality, years and Lunar New Year dates.

Wood Years, 1900 to 2035

Every year ending in 4 or 5, with its animal. The Chinese year begins on Lunar New Year, so the year runs from the date shown into the next calendar year.

  1. 1904Wood DragonFrom Feb 16, 1904
  2. 1905Wood SnakeFrom Feb 4, 1905
  3. 1914Wood TigerFrom Jan 26, 1914
  4. 1915Wood RabbitFrom Feb 14, 1915
  5. 1924Wood RatFrom Feb 5, 1924
  6. 1925Wood OxFrom Jan 24, 1925
  7. 1934Wood DogFrom Feb 14, 1934
  8. 1935Wood PigFrom Feb 4, 1935
  9. 1944Wood MonkeyFrom Jan 25, 1944
  10. 1945Wood RoosterFrom Feb 13, 1945
  11. 1954 Chinese zodiacWood HorseFrom Feb 3, 1954
  12. 1955 Chinese zodiacWood GoatFrom Jan 24, 1955
  13. 1964 Chinese zodiacWood DragonFrom Feb 13, 1964
  14. 1965 Chinese zodiacWood SnakeFrom Feb 2, 1965
  15. 1974 Chinese zodiacWood TigerFrom Jan 23, 1974
  16. 1975 Chinese zodiacWood RabbitFrom Feb 11, 1975
  17. 1984 Chinese zodiacWood RatFrom Feb 2, 1984
  18. 1985 Chinese zodiacWood OxFrom Feb 20, 1985
  19. 1994 Chinese zodiacWood DogFrom Feb 10, 1994
  20. 1995 Chinese zodiacWood PigFrom Jan 31, 1995
  21. 2004 Chinese zodiacWood MonkeyFrom Jan 22, 2004
  22. 2005 Chinese zodiacWood RoosterFrom Feb 9, 2005
  23. 2014 Chinese zodiacWood HorseFrom Jan 31, 2014
  24. 2015 Chinese zodiacWood GoatFrom Feb 19, 2015
  25. 2024 Chinese zodiacWood DragonFrom Feb 10, 2024
  26. 2025 Chinese zodiacWood SnakeFrom Jan 29, 2025
  27. 2034Wood TigerFrom Feb 19, 2034
  28. 2035Wood RabbitFrom Feb 8, 2035

Every Chinese zodiac year with its dates

Wood Years and Wood Animals Are Not the Same

Two different things share the name. The year element follows the last digit of the birth year, so any animal can be a Wood animal: a Wood Tiger, a Wood Dragon, a Wood Pig. The animal's own element never changes. the Tiger and the Rabbit are always Wood, whatever year they are born.

When the two match, as in the Wood Tiger and the Wood Rabbit, tradition says the Wood nature is doubled.

Traits of the Wood Element

Strengths

  • Generous
  • Creative
  • Cooperative
  • Growth-minded

Challenges

  • Overextended
  • Impatient with limits
  • Stubborn in a cause

These are traditional descriptions of the element, and every sign adds its own character.

How Wood Relates to the Other Elements

  • Water feeds WoodIn the generating cycle, Water supports Wood.
  • Wood feeds FireWood in turn supports Fire.
  • Wood controls EarthIn the controlling cycle, Wood holds Earth in check.
  • Metal controls WoodMetal is the element that keeps Wood in balance.

The Five Elements

Wood Element FAQ

What years are Wood years in the Chinese zodiac?

Years that end in 4 or 5. Recent Wood years include 2024, 2025, 2034 and 2035. Each Chinese year begins on Lunar New Year, so a birth in January or early February may belong to the year before.

What animals are Wood signs?

Every animal has Wood years. They are the Wood Rat, Wood Ox, Wood Tiger and so on through the Wood Pig, and each comes round every 60 years. The animals whose own, fixed element is Wood are the Tiger and Rabbit.

What is the difference between a Wood year and a Wood animal?

The element of a year follows its last digit, so any animal can be a Wood animal in the right year. The animal's own element never changes: the Tiger and the Rabbit are always Wood. They are two separate things.

What does Wood mean in Chinese astrology?

In Chinese tradition Wood stands for spring, growth and new beginnings. Its color is green, its direction is east and its season is spring.

What element feeds and controls Wood?

Water feeds Wood, and Wood feeds Fire. Metal controls Wood, and Wood controls Earth.