Chinese Zodiac Compatibility
Pick two animals to see how the tradition groups them. The answer comes from their positions on the twelve-year cycle, not from an opinion about the two people.
Dragon and Snake
No traditional link
Traditional interpretation
Most pairs of animals carry no traditional grouping at all. The tradition simply has nothing to say here, which is not the same as saying the pairing is poor — an absence of symbolism is an absence of symbolism.
Why they are grouped this way: Neither four nor six positions apart, and not among the fixed harmony or harm pairs.
All sixty-six pairs at a glance
Read a row across to a column. Every combination of the twelve animals is here, including the majority that carry no traditional grouping.
| First sign | Rat | Ox | Tig | Rab | Dra | Sna | Hor | Goa | Mon | Roo | Dog | Pig |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rat | 同 | 六 | · | · | 三 | · | 冲 | 害 | 三 | · | · | · |
| Ox | 六 | 同 | · | · | · | 三 | 害 | 冲 | · | 三 | · | · |
| Tiger | · | · | 同 | · | · | 害 | 三 | · | 冲 | · | 三 | 六 |
| Rabbit | · | · | · | 同 | 害 | · | · | 三 | · | 冲 | 六 | 三 |
| Dragon | 三 | · | · | 害 | 同 | · | · | · | 三 | 六 | 冲 | · |
| Snake | · | 三 | 害 | · | · | 同 | · | · | 六 | 三 | · | 冲 |
| Horse | 冲 | 害 | 三 | · | · | · | 同 | 六 | · | · | 三 | · |
| Goat | 害 | 冲 | · | 三 | · | · | 六 | 同 | · | · | · | 三 |
| Monkey | 三 | · | 冲 | · | 三 | 六 | · | · | 同 | · | · | 害 |
| Rooster | · | 三 | · | 冲 | 六 | 三 | · | · | · | 同 | 害 | · |
| Dog | · | · | 三 | 六 | 冲 | · | 三 | · | · | 害 | 同 | · |
| Pig | · | · | 六 | 三 | · | 冲 | · | 三 | 害 | · | · | 同 |
- 三 Three Harmonies
- 六 Secret friend
- 冲 Clash
- 害 Harm
- 同 Same sign
- · No traditional link
The four groupings
Each animal has exactly two trine partners, one secret friend, one clash and one harm — thirty of the sixty-six possible pairs. The punishment layer is different: it overlaps the others rather than replacing them, so a pair can be a secret friend and a punishment at the same time. These are closed lists, not judgements, and most pairs carry no grouping at all.
Three Harmonies 三合
Four groups of three, each set four positions apart on the cycle. Read as similarity — members want the same things.
Secret friends 六合
Six fixed pairs. Read as complement rather than likeness — each is said to supply what the other lacks.
Clashes 六冲
Animals directly opposite, six positions apart. Contrasting instincts about pace and risk — friction, not hostility.
Harms 六害
Six fixed pairs, a separate and milder layer than the clash: small misreadings rather than one collision.
Punishments 三刑
The layer that overlaps the others: a pair can be a harmony and a punishment at once. Two of these groups hold three animals; 子卯 holds two.
Self-punishment 自刑 — four animals said to punish themselves when doubled