What element am I? Chinese zodiac birth year, 1970 to 2012

Looking for your element? Start with your birth year. Here is the whole chart, 1970 to 2012.

Year element by birth year

Quick note first: the Chinese year turns around 4 February. So if you were born in January, you belong to the year before. Sorry, January people.

1970 to 1979 - 1970: Blade Metal - 1971: Jewel Metal - 1972: Ocean Water - 1973: Rain Water - 1974: Tree Wood - 1975: Vine Wood - 1976: Sun Fire - 1977: Lamp Fire - 1978: Mountain Earth - 1979: Field Earth

1980 to 1989 - 1980: Blade Metal - 1981: Jewel Metal - 1982: Ocean Water - 1983: Rain Water - 1984: Tree Wood - 1985: Vine Wood - 1986: Sun Fire - 1987: Lamp Fire - 1988: Mountain Earth - 1989: Field Earth

1990 to 1999 - 1990: Blade Metal - 1991: Jewel Metal - 1992: Ocean Water - 1993: Rain Water - 1994: Tree Wood - 1995: Vine Wood - 1996: Sun Fire - 1997: Lamp Fire - 1998: Mountain Earth - 1999: Field Earth

2000 to 2009 - 2000: Blade Metal - 2001: Jewel Metal - 2002: Ocean Water - 2003: Rain Water - 2004: Tree Wood - 2005: Vine Wood - 2006: Sun Fire - 2007: Lamp Fire - 2008: Mountain Earth - 2009: Field Earth

2010 to 2012 - 2010: Blade Metal - 2011: Jewel Metal - 2012: Ocean Water

Notice the pattern? Ten year elements, on a loop. Blade Metal, Jewel Metal, Ocean Water, Rain Water, Tree Wood, Vine Wood, Sun Fire, Lamp Fire, Mountain Earth, Field Earth. Then back to Blade Metal.

Okay but here is the twist

Everyone born in 1998 shares Mountain Earth. Every single one of them. Your whole class at school, your group chat, that one teacher. Same year element.

So the year element is not really yours. It is the year's.

Here is the thing BAAK actually reads: the element of the day you were born. That one changes day to day, so it is personal. Ten possible day elements, and from that plus the rest of your chart you land in one of ten types.

The ten day elements

These are the ones that make you, you. Not Blade Metal just because of the year on your passport.

• Tree Wood
• Vine Wood
• Sun Fire
• Lamp Fire
• Mountain Earth
• Field Earth
• Blade Metal
• Jewel Metal
• Ocean Water
• Rain Water

Same ten names, different job. The year one is shared by millions of people. The day one is yours.

Wait, so which one am I?

Both. But the day one is the one that actually reads like you.

And those ten day elements turn into ten cartoon types. Maybe you are a FOX: You see the flaw before the room sees the rule. Maybe PEACH: You make things, and the making is the point. Maybe MOTHLIGHT: You notice the signal nobody is listening for.

There are ten, and you can argue about yours with your friends immediately.

How to find yours

Put your birthday into BAAK. It reads the chart, finds your day element, and gives you your type. Ten seconds, no birth time needed, free.

Two people born the same year will get different types. That is the whole point. The year is the group costume, the day is you.

*From the Chinese calendar. For fun.