Courage, pride and a big presence
In China the tiger was long seen as the king of the beasts and a guardian against harm, and the sign carries that weight. Chinese astrology links the Tiger with bravery, confidence, generosity and a strong wish for independence.
Folk descriptions picture a natural leader who acts fast, speaks up for the underdog and dislikes being told what to do. The tradition also names the risks: impatience, a quick temper and a taste for taking chances without a plan.
Its fixed element is Wood, the element of growth and upward energy. The Tiger hour runs from 3 am to 5 am, when tigers were said to be at their most active.
Third across the river
In the race legend the Tiger was a powerful swimmer, but the river's current kept pushing it downstream. It had to fight the water the whole way across.
That struggle cost it time, and it reached the bank third, behind the Rat and the Ox. Tellers like the detail because it fits the Tiger's image: strong and determined, finishing through sheer effort rather than tricks.
Tigers by element
Wood Tiger (as in the year that began in 1974): Wood doubled, since Wood is also the Tiger's fixed element. Described as open-minded, friendly and creative, a Tiger more interested in teamwork than in winning alone.
Fire Tiger (1986): the most dramatic Tiger, linked with passion, optimism and a love of action. Tradition sees it as hard to ignore in any group.
Earth Tiger (1998): steadier and more realistic than other Tigers, described as fair-minded and willing to think before leaping.
Metal Tiger (2010): pictured as the most intense and competitive version, confident and blunt, with strong ambitions.
Water Tiger (2022): the calmest Tiger, linked with intuition, flexibility and a good ear for other people's views.
The Tiger's traditional matches
The Tiger shares a harmony group with the Horse and the Dog. This trine is associated with idealism, loyalty and a sense of justice, and tradition reads the three as natural allies.
The Pig is the Tiger's secret friend, an easygoing partner for a restless sign. The Monkey is its clash sign, directly across the wheel; folk astrology contrasts the Tiger's straightforward force with the Monkey's clever maneuvering. Our compatibility calculator shows how tradition reads any pair.
Tiger years and the early February problem
Below this text, the site lists every Tiger year with its exact first and last day. These dates come from our own calculation of Lunar New Year, not from a copied chart.
Tiger years can start as early as late January or as late as mid February. People born in that window should check the exact date, because a birth before the New Year makes them an Ox. The Chinese zodiac calculator does the check for you, and you can compare it with your Western sign on the fire signs page if you are an Aries, Leo or Sagittarius.