Wood Snake Chinese Zodiac
木蛇 mù shé
A Wood Snake was born in a Snake year ending in 4 or 5: 1905, 1965, 2025 and 2085. Wood softens the guarded Snake. The Wood Snake is described as thoughtful and artistic, with the Snake's insight and a more open, sociable side than the other Snakes.
- Wood
- Snake
- Yin
Wood Snake at a Glance
- Years
- 1905, 1965, 2025 and 2085
- Year element
- Wood 木 (years ending in 4 or 5)
- Snake's own element
- Fire
- Yin or Yang
- Yin
- Year names
- 乙巳
- Next Wood Snake year
- 2085
The Wood Snake, the Most Open of the Snakes
Snakes are known in Chinese tradition for keeping their thoughts to themselves. The Wood Snake is the one that lets people in, mixing the Snake’s sharp judgment with a taste for art, books and company.
The 1965 Wood Snakes were the first Gen X births and turn 61 in 2026. The newest are 2025 babies, who celebrate a first birthday in 2026.
Which Years Are Wood Snake Years?
The most recent Wood Snake year began on Jan 29, 2025 and ended on Feb 16, 2026; the next comes in 2085. Born in January or February? Compare your birthday with the Begins column.
| Year | Begins | Ends | Year name | Sound element | Age in 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1905 | Feb 4, 1905 | Jan 24, 1906 | 乙巳 | 覆灯火 | 120 or 121 |
| 1965 Chinese zodiac | Feb 2, 1965 | Jan 20, 1966 | 乙巳 | 覆灯火 | 60 or 61 |
| 2025 Chinese zodiac | Jan 29, 2025 | Feb 16, 2026 | 乙巳 | 覆灯火 | 0 or 1 |
| 2085 | The next cycle, beyond the dates on this site | ||||
The sound element (Na Yin) is a second element that the sexagenary year name carries, and it is shown in Chinese. Find any other year on the Chinese zodiac years chart.
Wood Snake Strengths and Challenges
Strengths of the Wood Snake
- Perceptive
- Creative
- Sociable
Challenges of the Wood Snake
- Secretive
- Self-doubting
- Overthinks
Wood Snake in Love and at Work
In Love
Deep and devoted, and slowly more willing to open up.
At Work
Strong in research, design, writing and careful planning.
The Five Kinds of Snake
The Snake's own element is always Fire; the birth year adds the second. For the Wood Snake, Wood feeds Fire, so the year supports the Snake's nature.
| Type | Years | With the Snake's Fire |
|---|---|---|
| Wood Snake | 1905, 1965, 2025, 2085 | Wood feeds Fire |
| Fire Snake Chinese zodiac | 1917, 1977, 2037 | Doubled |
| Earth Snake Chinese zodiac | 1929, 1989, 2049 | Fire feeds Earth |
| Metal Snake Chinese zodiac | 1941, 2001, 2061 | Fire restrains Metal |
| Water Snake Chinese zodiac | 1953, 2013, 2073 | Water restrains Fire |
Wood Snake Compatibility
Compatibility follows the animal, not the element. Tradition favors the Ox, Rooster and Monkey for the Snake, and the Pig is its enemy sign.
2026, the Fire Horse Year: Steady
No formal link to the Horse in the traditional rules.
2027, the Fire Goat Year: Steady
No formal link to the Goat in the traditional rules.
Other Wood Signs
All twelve animals have a Wood year. Each is a different mix.
- Wood Rat Chinese zodiac1924, 1984
- Wood Ox Chinese zodiac1925, 1985
- Wood Tiger Chinese zodiac1974, 2034
- Wood Rabbit Chinese zodiac1975, 2035
- Wood Dragon Chinese zodiac1964, 2024
- Wood Horse Chinese zodiac1954, 2014
- Wood Goat Chinese zodiac1955, 2015
- Wood Monkey Chinese zodiac1944, 2004
- Wood Rooster Chinese zodiac1945, 2005
- Wood Dog Chinese zodiac1934, 1994
- Wood Pig Chinese zodiac1935, 1995
Wood Snake Chinese Zodiac FAQ
What is a Wood Snake?
A Wood Snake is someone born in a Snake year that ends in 4 or 5. Wood Snake years include 1905, 1965, 2025 and 2085. Tradition describes the Wood Snake as perceptive, creative and sociable.
What years are Wood Snake years?
1905, 1965, 2025 and 2085. The 2025 year ran from Jan 29, 2025 to Feb 16, 2026.
Is the Snake a Wood sign?
The Snake's own element is Fire, which never changes. Wood is the element of the birth year, so a Wood Snake carries both. The two are different things.
How old is a Wood Snake?
The most recent Wood Snake years are 1965 and 2025. In 2026 someone born in 2025 turns 1.
When is the next Wood Snake year?
2085. Snake years return every 12 years and each element every 60.