Chinese Zodiac: Rabbit
Yin-yang: Yin
Symbolic qualities
- graceful
- diplomatic
- sensitive
- peaceable
The Rabbit is the symbol of grace that values harmony and tact. It softens the atmosphere and notices fine details. Its shadow side is pushing its own wishes aside to avoid conflict.
The inward, receptive, nurturing side. In yin years the element is expressed in a calmer, deeper way.
Cultural note
Chinese and East Asian tales tell of a rabbit working on the Moon, remembered together with the moon at the Mid-Autumn Festival. The rabbit is therefore an image of calm grace and night-time intuition.
Things you might reflect on
- What does a peaceful environment look like to you?
- Is there a place where you could voice your own wish gently?
- How do you draw a boundary while keeping your sensitivity?
Years it falls on
Each year begins at Lunar New Year; the date varies between 21 January and 20 February.
- 1903 · Water · 29 January 1903
- 1915 · Wood · 14 February 1915
- 1927 · Fire · 2 February 1927
- 1939 · Earth · 19 February 1939
- 1951 · Metal · 6 February 1951
- 1963 · Water · 25 January 1963
- 1975 · Wood · 11 February 1975
- 1987 · Fire · 29 January 1987
- 1999 · Earth · 16 February 1999
- 2011 · Metal · 3 February 2011
- 2023 · Water · 22 January 2023
- 2035 · Wood · 8 February 2035
- 2047 · Fire · 26 January 2047
- 2059 · Earth · 12 February 2059
- 2071 · Metal · 31 January 2071
- 2083 · Water · 17 February 2083
- 2095 · Wood · 5 February 2095
This animal with the five elements
In the tradition the year's element adds a tone to the animal's character. It is a cultural reading and does not define a person.
- Wood Rabbit
- The rabbit doubled in its own element: grace and generosity stand out and sensitivity runs deep. It builds a soft climate around it.
- Fire Rabbit
- Wood feeds fire: warmth, creativity and charm. Sociable and cheerful, but needs to know when to withdraw once tired.
- Earth Rabbit
- Wood holds earth: a practical, settled rabbit looking for stability. Its tact leans on a concrete order.
- Metal Rabbit
- Metal trims wood: fine but firm. It draws its boundaries more clearly; its courtesy becomes clear without turning hard.
- Water Rabbit
- Water feeds wood: intuition and empathy run very deep. Sensitivity can be a richness or a load; room to rest matters.
The five elements
- Wood
- Growth, flexibility and generosity. Wood symbolises the energy that puts out new shoots and makes room for others.
- Fire
- Passion, warmth and visibility. Fire symbolises the energy that spreads enthusiasm but needs to be kept in balance.
- Earth
- Balance, patience and nourishment. Earth symbolises the energy that holds things together and gives a sense of security.
- Metal
- Clarity, resolve and essence. Metal symbolises the energy that clears away the unnecessary and polishes what matters.
- Water
- Intuition, adaptability and depth. Water symbolises the energy that finds its way by flowing around obstacles.
The twelve animals
For entertainment and self-reflection. Year animals are presented as cultural history and character symbolism; they do not tell you what a year holds.
The images on this page were generated with AI.