Year of the Dragon: Chinese Zodiac Sign, Personality, Compatibility
The dragon is a revered creature in Chinese astrology and culture. Like the mythical animal, people born under the fifth zodiac animal sign of the Chinese lunar calendar are powerful, responsible, and full of life. They are warriors and protectors, although as children, they can come off as self-centered. Once they mature and realize their life goals, however, Dragons will come into their full might.
The fact that a person was born in the year of the Dragon affects their work, love, and luck in traditional Chinese culture. In addition, each year’s horoscope will be auspicious or inauspicious for different signs, depending on whether the sign clashes or cooperates with the year. For example, you risk offending the Guardian God of the year if it’s your zodiac birth year (Ben Ming Nian).
Chinese Zodiac Years for Dragon
In the lunar calendar, each of the 12 zodiac signs governs a single year that begins with the Chinese New Year, until the whole 12-year cycle starts again. The most recent year of the Dragon was 2012, and the next one is coming up in 2024. Our Chinese zodiac calculator can tell you if you were born in the year of the Dragon.
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Read moreChart of Dragon Years, Dates, and Elements
Dragon Year | Start of the Lunar Year | End of the Lunar Year | Element |
|---|---|---|---|
1928 | February 23, 1928 | February 9, 1929 | Earth |
1940 | February 9, 1940 | January 26, 1941 | Metal |
1952 | January 27, 1952 | February 13, 1953 | Water |
1964 | February 13, 1964 | February 1, 1965 | Wood |
1976 | January 31, 1976 | February 17, 1977 | Fire |
1988 | February 17, 1988 | February 5, 1989 | Earth |
2000 | February 5, 2000 | January 23, 2001 | Metal |
2012 | January 23, 2012 | February 9, 2013 | Water |
2024 | February 10, 2024 | January 25, 2025 | Wood |
2036 | January 28, 2036 | February 14, 2037 | Fire |
Dragon Zodiac: Personality and Traits
Dragons are direct, hardworking, and competitive. They’re used to leading in any situation. People naturally gravitate towards Dragons, who are natural motivators, although they themselves tend to be self-motivated, with a sense of mission. At the same time, there’s something almost wild about this zodiac, which, if without control, can grow into a disagreeable, at times even violent, temperament.
The Dragon is powerful and decisive; a proud zodiac animal with great potential to succeed, but also the potential for destruction.
The worst fate that can befall a Dragon is if they don’t have work. Like the Snake, they can be quite restless. All of a Dragon’s talents and inborn power will be used for destruction if they don’t burn off the excess energy that this zodiac sign contains. Without the Northern Star of a life goal, the Dragon’s like a vehicle without fuel— destined to languish by the wayside no matter how powerful it could have been.
If they find a goal to strive towards, however, there’s nothing that the Dragon cannot accomplish. At their best, Dragons can shoulder the weight of their whole family—or even the whole world—on their shoulders. Goals also help the Dragon grow into a more thoughtful being, one that doesn’t simply rely on their brawn.
Male Dragons
Male Dragons are generous and magnanimous. They will have plenty of friends as a result. They know what they want in life, which applies both to work and to love. Male Dragons are a spiritual group and wish to find a romantic partner who sees past their worldly possessions and can commune with them in an elevated realm.
Female Dragons
Female Dragons are majestic and confident, although their egos may be too much for others. They often sport avant-garde fashion, but they could care less if others approve of their look. Dragon women will rise meteorically at work, which at times leads them to relegate love to the back burner. Whether that’s a wise choice depends on each individual, in the end.
Dragon and the Five Elements
The Chinese five-element theory classifies everything, including the zodiac signs, into five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Dragon is governed by earth, but you can also be considered a Dragon of five elements, with different traits, depending on the year of your birth. If you were born in 2000, for example, you’re a Metal Dragon.
Element | Year | Personality |
|---|---|---|
Metal | 1940, 2000 | Metal Dragons are open and generous, although they can be a bit simple-minded at times. They are prone to emotional outbursts and can be very capricious, which makes them hard for some to be around. Fortunately, Metal Dragons also tend to have good luck and are, therefore, often joyful, counterbalancing their more temperamental side. |
Water | 1952, 2012 | Water Dragons are ambitious and goal-oriented. They won’t be satisfied with the run-of-the-mill lifestyle but will instead work with tenacity towards something that may prove years in the making. They’re humorous and are probably the most successful Dragons in terms of love. All’s well as long as they don’t burn out from their load! |
Wood | 1964, 2024 | Compared to other Dragons, Wood Dragons are less likely to be the center of attention. They don’t talk as much or come across as very charismatic. But the Wood Dragon is a diamond in the rough—with time and considerable effort at self-cultivation, they’re primed to brighten the entire night sky, no matter where they are. |
Fire | 1976, 2036 | Fire Dragons tend to be rather good-looking, no matter if they’re men or women. This can open doors for Fire Dragons, but it’ll be their incredible work ethic and their ability to gauge the situation that’ll help them go far in life. The only drawback is that, at times, they can appear less principled or too self-interested, which can rub some people the wrong way. |
Earth | 1928, 1988 | Earth Dragons are optimistic and proactive. More so than other Dragons, the Earth Dragon triumphs through endurance. They are loving and compassionate, and they consider themselves at least partially responsible for making the world a better place, which could prove too burdensome. Living your own purpose, Earth Dragons, is the best you can offer to the world. |
Lucky Things for Dragons
Chinese zodiac Dragons are governed by the element of earth. Therefore, colors, numbers, directions, and timing that are associated with the earth element are lucky for them, while those associated with wood are riskier for Dragons. You can find a list of lucky and unlucky things for the Dragon below.
Lucky Things
Lucky numbers: 6, 8
Lucky colors: Cyan Blue, Purple
Lucky directions: West, Northeast
Lucky flowers: Bamboo, Cyclamen
Things to Avoid
Unlucky numbers: 4, 9
Unlucky colors: Black, Red
Unlucky directions: East, Northwest
Other unlucky items and things to be avoided: Dog-shaped charms, keeping a pet dog.
Compatibility: Best and Worst Matches for Dragon
Each zodiac sign has its best and worst matches, according to complex calculations involving the five elements system and the characteristics of the signs.
The Dragon is an independent creature, which makes them, at times, less inclined to look for a romantic partner. Nonetheless, the Dragon’s powerful and confident demeanor attracts others to them.
The Rat, the Monkey, and the Rooster are the Dragon’s best matches, as well as the zodiac signs most likely to catch the Dragon’s attention. All three pairings can create happy unions characterized by love, common interest, and joy.
The Dog and the Rabbit are the worst matches for the Dragon. The Dog tends to undermine the Dragon, while the Dragon can turn into a bully with the sweet-natured Rabbit.
Most Compatible: Rat, Monkey, and Rooster
The best zodiac matches for the Dragon are the Rat, the Monkey, and the Rooster. While each is different from the Dragon in its own way (there’s no one quite as unique as the Dragon, after all), these three zodiac signs complement the Dragon perfectly.
The Rat seems inconspicuous next to the mighty Dragon, but it turns out they’re precisely what the Dragon needs in a partner. The Rat trusts the Dragon unconditionally and leaves the latter plenty of space to realize their grandest dreams. On the other hand, the Rat feels safe and protected by the Dragon, which gives them a chance to thrive.
The Monkey is as logical as the Dragon, yet it’s clever and romantic to boot. While the Dragon often forgets to pause and smell the roses on their grand pursuits, the Monkey takes great pleasure in the small joys in life. They remind the Dragon that the journey is more important than the destination, which the Dragon truly appreciates.
It’s refreshing for the Dragon to find someone as independent as themselves in the Rooster. Both are capable, yet the Rooster is an excellent communicator who never allows any disagreement the time to fester. In some way, the Rooster is like a phoenix, the other mythical creature in Chinese culture, and a true complement to the Dragon.
Least Compatible: Dog, Rabbit
Not everyone can handle the Dragon because as powerful as the Dragon is, they can be hard to live with. The Dog subtracts, rather than adds to the Dragon’s life, while the Rabbit ends up cowering to the Dragon’s domineering personality, making both bad matches for the Dragon.
The Dragon is usually principled and by the book, while the Dog is wily and will sometimes resort to tactics in the gray zone. The Dragon frowns upon that and, in the best-case scenario, can extract themselves from this union before the Dog’s choices come to affect the Dragon’s life, too. These two just don’t seem to walk the same path!
Most see the Dragon as a protective soul, but not the Rabbit. For some reason, the Rabbit finds the Dragon too intimidating and will often feel under scrutiny. This leads the Dragon to act in precisely this way, wondering if the Rabbit partner has done something wrong. No one should have to live under another’s thumb, not even if that thumb belongs to the mighty Dragon.
Best Jobs and Careers for Dragon
Careers that require a high-level oversight are perfect for the Dragon, as they excel at big-picture decisions. Architecture and design are both good choices. In addition, the Dragon’s honorable nature makes them perfect candidates for law enforcement, the military, and even politics.
Dragons would never shy away from a good fight, especially one that aligns with their morals and beliefs. For that reason, no one is better suited to work in the military and law enforcement. They won’t hesitate to pour their life’s work into making this world a better place. The same applies to politics, although the upright Dragon can find some aspects of this career unsavory.
The Dragon is also fiercely independent and creative. Doing something just for a paycheck is against their nature. Architecture and other types of design give Dragons the freedom they need to express their grand and unique visions in life while also allowing them the independence that they prefer.
Health and Lifestyle Advice
Dragons can’t be bothered with details at times, which could lead to small discomforts left unchecked for too long. Make a habit of taking care of your body, mental health, and soul, Dragon, so that you can be healthy enough to give your all to working towards your goals, which will benefit the whole world, right?
While the Dragon doesn’t care about money, they still prefer an elegant and orderly life. That takes money, which the Dragon sometimes forgets. Therefore, they’re advised to work, save, and invest with prudence so that a lack of funds doesn’t detract from the more important goals they have.
Dragon and the 12 Zodiac Animals (Origin Story)
Most of the animals among the Chinese zodiac signs are ordinary creatures that we’ve all seen. But the Dragon is a revered mythical creature, one that should have rightfully been No. 1, ahead of the more ordinary zodiac animals. Why did the Dragon only place fifth?
The story that explains the order is legendary in China. The Jade Emperor, who is emperor of the heavens, ordered a race across the celestial river to determine the zodiac signs. The Dragon could have won in a split second with its mythical power, but on the way to the race, the Dragon saw a village suffering a drought.
The Jade Emperor had given the Dragon responsibility of producing rain before, which the Dragon thought was more important than any race. By the time the Dragon had given the village the rain, it could only take fifth place, but what an honorable loss!
Famous People Born in the Year of the Dragon
The Dragon is born to be admired, so it’s not surprising that many famous people were born in the Dragon year. Here’s a list of famous Dragons.
Joan of Arc
Julius Caesar
Jeff Bezos
Boris Johnson
Abraham Lincoln
Vladimir Putin
Bruce Lee
Charles Darwin
Rihanna
John Lennon
Shakira