Chinese zodiac sign 5 of 12
Year of the Dragon: personality, love and years
Ambitious and self-assured, it is considered the most auspicious sign in China. Years of the Dragon: 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, and 2024.
Dragon
- Yang
- Fixed element: Earth
- In Chinese
- 龙 (lóng)
- Hour of the Dragon
- 7–9 a.m.
The next Dragon year, the Year of the Fire Dragon, begins on January 28, 2036.
Years of the Dragon with elements and dates
A Year of the Dragon begins on Chinese New Year, not on January 1. If your birthday is in January or February, check your date against the table or enter it in the calculator.
| Year | Sign | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 1928 | Earth Dragon | 01/23/1928 – 02/09/1929 |
| 1940 | Metal Dragon | 02/08/1940 – 01/26/1941 |
| 1952 | Water Dragon | 01/27/1952 – 02/13/1953 |
| 1964 | Wood Dragon | 02/13/1964 – 02/01/1965 |
| 1976 | Fire Dragon | 01/31/1976 – 02/17/1977 |
| 1988 | Earth Dragon | 02/17/1988 – 02/05/1989 |
| 2000 | Metal Dragon | 02/05/2000 – 01/23/2001 |
| 2012 | Water Dragon | 01/23/2012 – 02/09/2013 |
| 2024 | Wood Dragon | 02/10/2024 – 01/28/2025 |
Dragon personality
The Dragon is the sign of people who think big. It has plenty of energy, courage and self-belief, and its enthusiasm is contagious. It loves big projects and the kind of challenges that make others hesitate. It takes the lead naturally and rarely waits for anyone's permission.
That confidence has a price. The Dragon can be impatient with slower people, has high expectations and doesn't like having its opinion questioned. It says things straight, sometimes too sharply. When something doesn't work out, it takes it harder than it shows, because failure doesn't fit the picture it has of itself.
Strengths
- Energy and courage
- Vision and ambition
- A gift for leadership
- Honesty
Weaknesses
- Pride
- Impatience
- Trouble admitting a mistake
The Dragon in love
In love the Dragon is passionate, generous and fond of grand gestures. It draws attention and rarely lacks admirers, but it only truly falls for someone it admires. It needs a partner with a mind of their own who won't disappear in its shadow, yet still appreciates its efforts. Routine and a lack of admiration can drive it away.
The Dragon at work and with money
At work the Dragon is happiest in a role that gives it influence: entrepreneur, manager, politician, artist, architect or inventor. It brings energy, courage and vision, and in a crisis it takes charge. It copes less well with micromanagement, detailed paperwork and carrying out other people's ideas.
The Dragon in the five elements
The same sign looks a little different in each element. Your element comes from your birth year, and the years next to each description link to their own pages.
Wood gives the Dragon imagination and openness. The Wood Dragon is creative, curious about the world and glad to share its ideas, and it cooperates better than other Dragons. It cares less about power and more about building something. Details and small tasks bore it quickly, though.
Fire Dragon
1976The Fire Dragon is one of the most charismatic combinations in the Chinese zodiac. Fire amplifies its ambition and confidence, so it acts on a grand scale and wins over crowds with ease. It is honest and brave. When someone stands in its way it can explode, and it is slow to accept that it isn't always right.
Earth is the Dragon's fixed element, and the Earth Dragon combines big ambitions with realism. It is composed, manages people and money well, and inspires trust and respect. Instead of promising miracles, it plans them step by step. It demands a lot of itself and others, and accepts other people's ideas only after long discussions.
The Metal Dragon is the most determined Dragon. Metal strengthens its willpower and sense of justice, so it won't back down from anything it believes is right. It is honest, direct and unshakable in a crisis. But it can be domineering, and it takes opposition as a personal insult.
Water teaches the Dragon patience. The Water Dragon is calmer and more diplomatic than its relatives, so it pursues its vision with finesse rather than force. It takes criticism better and can give way when that serves the cause. Sometimes, though, it waits too long before making a decision.
Dragon compatibility: best and worst matches
Trine
The Rat and the Monkey complement the Dragon with cleverness and flexibility. The Rat helps it turn a vision into a plan, and the Monkey matches its energy and inventiveness.
Secret friend
The Rooster admires the Dragon's ambition and takes care of the details the Dragon misses. In return the Dragon gives it courage and the spotlight.
Opposite sign
The Dog stands opposite the Dragon. It values modesty and principles, so it reads the Dragon's confidence as arrogance, while its criticism wears the Dragon down.
Dragon lucky numbers and colors
- Lucky numbers
- 1, 6 and 7
- Lucky colors
- gold, silver and grayish white
This is what popular Chinese tradition says. Different sources list slightly different numbers and colors, so treat them as a fun fact, not a rule.
The Chinese zodiac is a cultural tradition more than two thousand years old, not a science. We calculate the dates and signs precisely, but read the personality descriptions as food for thought, not as a prophecy.
Frequently asked questions
What years are Dragon years in the Chinese zodiac?
Dragon years since 1924 are 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, and 2024. The Dragon comes back every 12 years, each time with a different element. The year begins on Chinese New Year, so people born in January and early February may still have the previous year's sign.
When is the next Year of the Dragon?
The next Dragon year, the Year of the Fire Dragon, begins on January 28, 2036.
What are the Dragon's personality traits?
The Dragon is seen as ambitious, confident and charismatic. It thinks big, has a gift for leadership and is honest to a fault. Its weaker side is pride, impatience and difficulty admitting a mistake.
Who is the Dragon most compatible with?
By Chinese tradition the Dragon gets along best with the other signs of its trine: the Rat and Monkey. Its secret friend is the Rooster, and its opposite sign is the Dog. Tradition expects the most friction from that last pairing, though it doesn't rule the relationship out.
What are the Dragon's lucky numbers and colors?
By popular Chinese tradition the Dragon's lucky numbers are 1, 6 and 7, and its lucky colors are gold, silver and grayish white. Sources give slightly different sets, so treat them as a fun fact, not a rule.
Is the Dragon yin or yang?
The Dragon is always yang, because all Dragon years are even numbers. Yang is outward energy: active, direct and quick to get things started. The Dragon's fixed element is Earth, though from one Dragon year to the next it takes on each of the five elements in turn.
Your AI forecast for the Year of the Fire Horse
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