The 12 Chinese Zodiac Animals & Earthly Branches

As the First Earthly Branch (子), the Rat marks the exact midnight pivot where Yin reaches its extremity and the first spark of Yang rebirth awakens beneath winter ice. In BaZi, Zi houses pure, unmixed Gui Yin Water (癸水), bestowing razor-sharp adaptability, commercial alertness, and intellectual agility.

Chou (丑) is the Second Earthly Branch—moist late-winter soil that serves as the Treasury of Metal (金库) and the threshold of spring. Housing Ji Earth (己), Gui Water (癸), and Xin Metal (辛), the Ox embodies quiet endurance, compounding wealth stewardship, and unshakeable fidelity.

Yin (寅) inaugurates the solar year at Start of Spring (立春 · 315° solar longitude). Containing Jia Yang Wood (甲), Bing Yang Fire (丙), and Wu Yang Earth (戊), the Tiger is the powerhouse of pioneering courage, executive initiative, and the Birth Stage of Fire.

Seated at Due East on the Vernal Equinox, Mao (卯) contains pure, unmixed Yi Yin Wood (乙木). It governs diplomacy, design mastery, strategic foresight, and the art of winning complex negotiations without firing a shot.

Chen (辰) is the Fifth Earthly Branch—moist alluvial spring Earth that serves as the Great Reservoir of Water (水库). Containing Wu Earth (戊), Yi Wood (乙), and Gui Water (癸), the Dragon bridges heaven and earth with visionary ambition and ecosystem-building power.

Though classified under Fire in the seasonal cycle, Si (巳) houses Yang Fire (丙), Yang Metal (庚), and Yang Earth (戊)—making it the classical Birth Stage of Metal (金之长生) and a Traveling Horse branch. Snake natives combine calm analytical poise with transformative strategic execution.

Wu (午) occupies Due South at the Summer Solstice zenith. Housing Ding Fire (丁) and Ji Earth (己), the Horse embodies speed, transparency, chivalrous enthusiasm, and leadership gravity as a cardinal General Star (将星) and Peach Blossom branch.

Wei (未) is warm late-summer garden Earth and the Treasury of Wood (木库), housing Ji Earth (己), Ding Fire (丁), and Yi Wood (乙). Goat individuals blend artistic refinement, community harmony, and quiet inner resilience.

Shen (申) opens the Autumn season at Start of Autumn (立秋). Housing Geng Yang Metal (庚), Ren Yang Water (壬), and Wu Yang Earth (戊), the Monkey is both the Thriving Seat of Metal and the Birthplace of Yang Water—producing extraordinary problem-solving speed, polymath versatility, and Traveling Horse mobility.

Seated at Due West on the Autumnal Equinox, You (酉) contains pure, unalloyed Xin Yin Metal (辛金). As a cardinal Peach Blossom and General Star branch, Rooster governs precision, aesthetic perfection, financial auditing, and eloquent clarity.

Xu (戌) is late-autumn dry mountain Earth and the Treasury of Fire (火库), housing Wu Earth (戊), Xin Metal (辛), and Ding Fire (丁). Dog individuals are the guardians of ethics, fiduciary loyalty, and philosophical truth.

Completing the twelve-branch cycle at Start of Winter (立冬), Hai (亥) houses Ren Yang Water (壬) and Jia Yang Wood (甲)—serving as the Birth Stage of Wood (木之长生). Pig individuals unite intellectual breadth, epicurean warmth, and magnanimous wisdom.