Jade
Observatory
23 September 2026
huǒ · 火 · one of the Five Phases
Fire zodiac years end in 6 or 7 after the Chinese New Year boundary. Recent examples are 1997, 2006, 2007, 2016, 2017, 2026; Snake and Horse carry fixed Fire. Fire adds expression, enthusiasm and visibility. In a sign portrait it draws attention to how an animal takes the initiative or shares its convictions, while impatience marks the point where enthusiasm runs ahead of listening.
A Fire year gives each animal a different emphasis. Compare two contrasting examples, then open any of the twelve types below for its own reading and exact occurrence years.
The Fire Rat makes its observations more openly, giving a usually watchful animal a lively, persuasive voice. Fire's expressive symbolism shifts the emphasis from quietly spotting an opportunity to rallying others around it. The tension is between the Rat's instinct to keep options available and an enthusiasm that wants to announce a decision before every detail has been checked.
Fire brings the Goat's creativity further into view, adding warmth and a greater willingness to express a personal preference. Quiet resilience becomes more openly spirited, and encouragement is offered with feeling rather than restraint. The tension is sensitivity to the response: a bold expression may still be followed by worry about whether it was welcomed or understood.
One element, several result coordinates
In a complete zodiac result, Fire may belong to the year's heavenly stem, the animal's fixed earthly-branch coordinate, the day master, or the separate Na Yin association. The label should always be read with that position.
Its place in both cycles
Generating and controlling are directional relationships. Neither one is a compatibility score by itself.
The year-name coordinate
A year-stem element always has a Yin or Yang form. These are the two stems that make Fire appear in a complete year name.
A separate branch coordinate
These animal branches carry Fire in every occurrence. Their year-stem element still changes through all five phases.
The element across all twelve animals
The stem element repeats for two consecutive years, then moves on. Across sixty years, Fire meets every animal exactly once.
Exact calendar records
Each year opens at Chinese New Year, not 1 January.
Yang Fire · 丙子
Begins19 February 1996→Ends6 February 1997
Yin Fire · 丁丑
Begins7 February 1997→Ends27 January 1998
Yang Fire · 丙戌
Begins29 January 2006→Ends17 February 2007
Yin Fire · 丁亥
Begins18 February 2007→Ends6 February 2008
Yang Fire · 丙申
Begins8 February 2016→Ends27 January 2017
Yin Fire · 丁酉
Begins28 January 2017→Ends15 February 2018
Yang Fire · 丙午
Begins17 February 2026→Ends5 February 2027
Yin Fire · 丁未
Begins6 February 2027→Ends25 January 2028
