Chinese calendar


The lunisolar Chinese calendar


How it works: The first combination of Heavenly stem and Earthly branch is 甲子, then it goes 乙丑, 丙寅, 丁卯, and so on taking the next from each respective row. When you reach the end of the 10 first Heavenly stems, just go back to the beginning and you start again with 甲戌, and so on until you have all 60 and end up back at the start. Each one of these combinations is a cycle.

Generally the Japanese use the Kun yomi reading of the combination to name the concerned year.

Heavenly Stems
Earthly Branches
Kanji English On’yomi Kun’yomi Kanji English On’yomi Kun’yomi
甲 Yang Wood kō kinoe 子 Rat shi ne
乙 Yin Wood otsu kinoto 丑 Ox chū ushi
丙 Yang Fire hei hinoe 寅 Tiger in tora
丁 Yin Fire tei hinoto 卯 Rabbit bō u
戊 Yang Earth bo tsuchinoe 辰 Dragon shin tatsu
己 Yin Earth ki tsuchinoto 巳 Snake shi mi
庚 Yang Metal kō kanoe 午 Horse go uma
辛 Yin Metal shin kanoto 未 Goat mi (or) bi hitsuji
壬 Yang Water jin mizunoe 申 Monkey shin saru
癸 Yin Water ki mizunoto 酉 Rooster yū tori
戌 Dog jutsu inu
亥 Pig gai i
Conversion Table between Cyclical years and Western years


No.
Heavenly stem
Earthly branch
Year
1804–1863
1864–1923
1924–1983
1984–2043
1 甲 Yang Wood 子 Rat 甲子 Feb 11 1804 – Jan 30 1805 Feb 8 1864 – Jan 26 1865 Feb 05 1924 – Jan 23 1925 Feb 02 1984 – Feb 19 1985
2 乙 Yin Wood 丑 Ox 乙丑 Jan 31 1805 – Feb 17 1806 Jan 27 1865 – Feb 14 1866 Jan 24 1925 – Feb 12 1926 Feb 20 1985 – Feb 08 1986
3 丙 Yang Fire 寅 Tiger 丙寅 Feb 18 1806 – Feb 6 1807 Feb 15 1866 – Feb 4 1867 Feb 13 1926 – Feb 01 1927 Feb 09 1986 – Jan 28 1987
4 丁 Yin Fire 卯 Rabbit 丁卯 Feb 7 1807 – Jan 27 1808 Feb 5 1867 – Jan 24 1868 Feb 02 1927 – Jan 21 1928 Jan 29 1987 – Feb 16 1988
5 戊 Yang Earth 辰 Dragon 戊辰 Jan 28 1808 – Feb 13 1809 Jan 15 1868 – Feb 10 1869 Jan 22 1928 – Feb 08 1929 Feb 17 1988 – Feb 05 1989
6 己 Yin Earth 巳 Snake 己巳 Feb 14 1809 – Feb 3 1810 Feb 11 1869 – Jan 30 1870 Feb 09 1929 – Jan 28 1930 Feb 06 1989 – Jan 26 1990
7 庚 Yang Metal 午 Horse 庚午 Feb 4 1810 – Jan 24 1811 Jan 31 1870 – Feb 18 1871 Jan 29 1930 – Feb 16 1931 Jan 27 1990 – Feb 14 1991
8 辛 Yin Metal 未 Goat 辛未 Jan 25 1811 – Feb 12 1812 Feb 19 1871 – Feb 8 1872 Feb 17 1931 – Feb 05 1932 Feb 15 1991 – Feb 03 1992
9 壬 Yang Water 申 Monkey 壬申 Feb 13 1812 – Jan 31 1813 Feb 9 1872 – Jan 28 1873 Feb 06 1932 – Jan 24 1933 Feb 04 1992 – Jan 22 1993
10 癸 Yin Water 酉 Rooster 癸酉 Feb 1 1813 – Feb 19 1814 Jan 29 1873 – Feb 16 1874 Jan 25 1933 – Feb 13 1934 Jan 23 1993 – Feb 09 1994
11 甲 Yang Wood 戌 Dog 甲戌 Feb 20 1814 – Feb 8 1815 Feb 17 1874 – Feb 5 1875 Feb 14 1934 – Feb 02 1935 Feb 10 1994 – Jan 30 1995
12 乙 Yin Wood 亥 Pig 乙亥 Feb 9 1815 – Jan 28 1816 Feb 6 1875 – Jan 25 1876 Feb 04 1935 – Jan 23 1936 Jan 31 1995 – Feb 18 1996
13 丙 Yang Fire 子 Rat 丙子 Jan 29 1816 – Jan 16 1817 Jan 26 1876 – Feb 12 1877 Jan 24 1936 – Feb 10 1937 Feb 19 1996 – Feb 06 1997
14 丁 Yin Fire 丑 Ox 丁丑 Jan 17 1817 – Feb 4 1818 Feb 13 1877 – Feb 1 1878 Feb 11 1937 – Jan 30 1938 Feb 07 1997 – Jan 27 1998
15 戊 Yang Earth 寅 Tiger 戊寅 Feb 5 1818 – Jan 25 1819 Feb 2 1878 – Jan 21 1879 Jan 31 1938 – Feb 18 1939 Jan 28 1998 – Feb 15 1999
16 己 Yin Earth 卯 Rabbit 己卯 Jan 26 1819 – Feb 13 1820 Jan 22 1879 – Feb 9 1880 Feb 19 1939 – Feb 07 1940 Feb 16 1999 – Feb 04 2000
17 庚 Yang Metal 辰 Dragon 庚辰 Feb 13 1820 – Feb 2 1821 Feb 10 1880 – Jan 29 1881 Feb 08 1940 – Jan 26 1941 Feb 05 2000 – Jan 23 2001
18 辛 Yin Metal 巳 Snake 辛巳 Feb 3 1821 – Jan 22 1822 Jan 30 1881 – Feb 17 1882 Jan 27 1941 – Feb 14 1942 Jan 24 2001 – Feb 11 2002
19 壬 Yang Water 午 Horse 壬午 Jan 23 1822 – Feb 10 1823 Feb 18 1882 – Feb 7 1883 Feb 15 1942 – Feb 04 1943 Feb 12 2002 – Jan 31 2003
20 癸 Yin Water 未 Goat 癸未 Feb 11 1823 – Jan 30 1824 Feb 8 1883 – Jan 27 1884 Feb 05 1943 – Jan 24 1944 Feb 01 2003 – Jan 21 2004
21 甲 Yang Wood 申 Monkey 甲申 Jan 30 1824 – Feb 17 1825 Jan 28 1884 – Feb 14 1885 Jan 25 1944 – Feb 12 1945 Jan 22 2004 – Feb 08 2005
22 乙 Yin Wood 酉 Rooster 乙酉 Feb 18 1825 – Feb 6 1826 Feb 15 1885 – Feb 3 1886 Feb 13 1945 – Feb 01 1946 Feb 09 2005 – Jan 28 2006
23 丙 Yang Fire 戌 Dog 丙戌 Feb 7 1826 – Jan 26 1827 Feb 4 1886 – Jan 23 1887 Feb 02 1946 – Jan 21 1947 Jan 29 2006 – Feb 17 2007
24 丁 Yin Fire 亥 Pig 丁亥 Jan 27 1827 – Feb 14 1828 Jan 24 1887 – Feb 11 1888 Jan 22 1947 – Feb 09 1948 Feb 18 2007 – Feb 03 2008
25 戊 Yang Earth 子 Rat 戊子 Feb 14 1828 – Feb 3 1829 Feb 12 1888 – Jan 30 1889 Feb 10 1948 – Jan 28 1949 Feb 07 2008 – Jan 25 2009
26 己 Yin Earth 丑 Ox 己丑 Feb 4 1829 – Jan 24 1830 Jan 31 1889 – Jan 20 1890 Jan 29 1949 – Feb 16 1950 Jan 26 2009 – Feb 13 2010
27 庚 Yang Metal 寅 Tiger 庚寅 Jan 25 1830 – Feb 12 1831 Jan 21 1890 – Feb 08 1891 Feb 17 1950 – Feb 05 1951 Feb 14 2010 – Feb 02 2011
28 辛 Yin Metal 卯 Rabbit 辛卯 Feb 13 1831 – Feb 1 1832 Feb 09 1891 – Jan 29 1892 Feb 06 1951 – Jan 26 1952 Feb 03 2011 – Jan 22 2012
29 壬 Yang Water 辰 Dragon 壬辰 Feb 2 1832 – Feb 19 1833 Jan 30 1892 – Feb 16 1893 Jan 27 1952 – Feb 13 1953 Jan 23 2012 – Feb 09 2013
30 癸 Yin Water 巳 Snake 癸巳 Feb 20 1833 – Feb 8 1834 Feb 17 1893 – Feb 5 1894 Feb 14 1953 – Feb 02 1954 Feb 10 2013 – Jan 30 2014
31 甲 Yang Wood 午 Horse 甲午 Feb 9 1834 – Jan 28 1835 Feb 6 1894 – Jan 25 1895 Feb 03 1954 – Jan 23 1955 Jan 31 2014 – Feb 18 2015
32 乙 Yin Wood 未 Goat 乙未 Jan 29 1835 – Feb 16 1836 Jan 26 1895 – Feb 12 1896 Jan 24 1955 – Feb 11 1956 Feb 19 2015 – Feb 07 2016
33 丙 Yang Fire 申 Monkey 丙申 Feb 17 1836 – Feb 4 1837 Feb 13 1896 – Feb 01 1897 Feb 12 1956 – Jan 30 1957 Feb 08 2016 – Jan 27 2017
34 丁 Yin Fire 酉 Rooster 丁酉 Feb 5 1837 – Jan 25 1838 Feb 02 1897 – Jan 21 1898 Jan 31 1957 – Feb 17 1958 Jan 28 2017 – Feb 15 2018
35 戊 Yang Earth 戌 Dog 戊戌 Jan 26 1838 – Feb 13 1839 Jan 22 1898 – Feb 09 1899 Feb 18 1958 – Feb 07 1959 Feb 16 2018 – Feb 04 2019
36 己 Yin Earth 亥 Pig 己亥 Feb 14 1839 – Feb 2 1840 Feb 10 1899 – Jan 30 1900 Feb 08 1959 – Jan 27 1960 Feb 05 2019 – Jan 24 2020
37 庚 Yang Metal 子 Rat 庚子 Feb 3 1840 – Jan 22 1841 Jan 31 1900 – Feb 18 1901 Jan 28 1960 – Feb 14 1961 Jan 25 2020 – Feb 11 2021
38 辛 Yin Metal 丑 Ox 辛丑 Jan 23 1841 – Feb 9 1842 Feb 19 1901 – Feb 07 1902 Feb 15 1961 – Feb 04 1962 Feb 12 2021 – Jan 31 2022
39 壬 Yang Water 寅 Tiger 壬寅 Feb 10 1842 – Jan 29 1843 Feb 08 1902 – Jan 28 1903 Feb 05 1962 – Jan 24 1963 Feb 01 2022 – Jan 21 2023
40 癸 Yin Water 卯 Rabbit 癸卯 Jan 30 1843 – Feb 17 1844 Jan 29 1903 – Feb 15 1904 Jan 25 1963 – Feb 12 1964 Jan 22 2023 – Feb 09 2024
41 甲 Yang Wood 辰 Dragon 甲辰 Feb 18 1844 – Feb 6 1845 Feb 16 1904 – Feb 03 1905 Feb 13 1964 – Feb 01 1965 Feb 10 2024 – Jan 28 2025
42 乙 Yin Wood 巳 Snake 乙巳 Feb 7 1845 – Jan 26 1846 Feb 04 1905 – Jan 24 1906 Feb 02 1965 – Jan 20 1966 Jan 29 2025 – Feb 16 2026
43 丙 Yang Fire 午 Horse 丙午 Jan 27 1846 – Feb 14 1847 Jan 25 1906 – Feb 12 1907 Jan 21 1966 – Feb 08 1967 Feb 17 2026 – Feb 05 2027
44 丁 Yin Fire 未 Goat 丁未 Feb 15 1847 – Feb 4 1848 Feb 13 1907 – Feb 01 1908 Feb 09 1967 – Jan 29 1968 Feb 06 2027 – Jan 25 2028
45 戊 Yang Earth 申 Monkey 戊申 Feb 5 1848 – Jan 23 1849 Feb 02 1908 – Jan 21 1909 Jan 30 1968 – Feb 16 1969 Jan 26 2028 – Feb 12 2029
46 己 Yin Earth 酉 Rooster 己酉 Jan 24 1849 – Feb 11 1850 Jan 22 1909 – Feb 09 1910 Feb 17 1969 – Feb 05 1970 Feb 13 2029 – Feb 02 2030
47 庚 Yang Metal 戌 Dog 庚戌 Feb 12 1850 – Jan 31 1851 Feb 10 1910 – Jan 29 1911 Feb 06 1970 – Jan 26 1971 Feb 03 2030 – Jan 22 2031
48 辛 Yin Metal 亥 Pig 辛亥 Feb 1 1851 – Feb 19 1852 Jan 30 1911 – Feb 17 1912 Jan 27 1971 – Feb 14 1972 Jan 23 2031 – Feb 10 2032
49 壬 Yang Water 子 Rat 壬子 Feb 20 1852 – Feb 7 1853 Feb 18 1912 – Feb 05 1913 Feb 15 1972 – Feb 02 1973 Feb 11 2032 – Jan 30 2033
50 癸 Yin Water 丑 Ox 癸丑 Feb 8 1853 – Jan 28 1854 Feb 06 1913 – Jan 25 1914 Feb 03 1973 – Jan 22 1974 Jan 31 2033 – Feb 18 2034
51 甲 Yang Wood 寅 Tiger 甲寅 Jan 29 1854 – Feb 16 1855 Jan 26 1914 – Feb 13 1915 Jan 23 1974 – Feb 10 1975 Feb 19 2034 – Feb 07 2035
52 乙 Yin Wood 卯 Rabbit 乙卯 Feb 17 1855 – Feb 5 1856 Feb 14 1915 – Feb 02 1916 Feb 11 1975 – Jan 30 1976 Feb 08 2035 – Jan 27 2036
53 丙 Yang Fire 辰 Dragon 丙辰 Feb 6 1856 – Jan 25 1857 Feb 03 1916 – Jan 22 1917 Jan 31 1976 – Feb 17 1977 Jan 28 2036 – Feb 14 2037
54 丁 Yin Fire 巳 Snake 丁巳 Jan 26 1857 – Feb 13 1858 Jan 23 1917 – Feb 10 1918 Feb 18 1977 – Feb 06 1978 Feb 15 2037 – Feb 03 2038
55 戊 Yang Earth 午 Horse 戊午 Feb 14 1858 – Feb 2 1859 Feb 11 1918 – Jan 31 1919 Feb 07 1978 – Jan 27 1979 Feb 04 2038 – Jan 23 2039
56 己 Yin Earth 未 Goat 己未 Feb 3 1859 – Jan 22 1860 Feb 01 1919 – Feb 19 1920 Jan 28 1979 – Feb 15 1980 Jan 24 2039 – Feb 11 2040
57 庚 Yang Metal 申 Monkey 庚申 Jan 23 1860 – Feb 9 1861 Feb 20 1920 – Feb 07 1921 Feb 16 1980 – Feb 04 1981 Feb 12 2040 – Jan 31 2041
58 辛 Yin Metal 酉 Rooster 辛酉 Feb 10 1861 – Jan 29 1862 Feb 08 1921 – Jan 27 1922 Feb 05 1981 – Jan 24 1982 Feb 01 2041 – Jan 21 2042
59 壬 Yang Water 戌 Dog 壬戌 Jan 30 1862 – Feb 17 1863 Jan 28 1922 – Feb 15 1923 Jan 25 1982 – Feb 12 1983 Jan 22 2042 – Feb 09 2043
60 癸 Yin Water 亥 Pig 癸亥 Feb 18 1863 – Feb 7 1864 Feb 16 1923 – Feb 04 1924 Feb 13 1983 – Feb 01 1984 Feb 10 2043 – Jan 29 2044