Prepare to pounce! The competitive, crafty Tiger is swift and aggressive, never shying away from a challenge. This Chinese astrology sign can be unnerving but also exciting.
All about the Year of the Tiger!
Year of the Tiger in the Chinese zodiac
1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022
The personality of the Tiger in Chinese astrology
Restless, anxious and unpredictable, Tigers can be as cruel as they are kind. It ain’t easy being one of nature’s most fearsome predators! Tigers’ presence is at times unsettling, but it’s also exciting. Perhaps it’s their hint of danger. Competitive Tigers love a good power game. They know what they want, and will plot and obsess until they get it. Like a tiger circling its prey, teasing the victim before making a deadly pounce, cunning Tigers have killer instincts.
Extremely driven, they take failure badly, and obsess over hard-to-reach goals. While they do achieve the impossible, it’s often at a high price. Still, most Tigers won’t back down from a challenge. They’re too afraid of losing their place at the top of the food chain. Obsessing over this, however, can make Tigers come across as threatened, rather than confident. Learning to relax and be satisfied with what they have is an important Tiger lesson.
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The Tiger is ruled by the planet Uranus
Didn’t see that coming? The tricky Tiger is perfectly paired with its ruler Uranus, the planet of radical change, rebellion and innovation. Tigers will pounce from left field, striking when you least expect it. Often hiding in plain sight, this Chinese zodiac sign specializes in the element of surprise. Uranus makes this clever animal archetype witty and wild. You just never know what a Tiger will say or do next! Their sense of humor can be offbeat, leaning toward sarcasm and satire, endlessly entertained by “stupid human tricks.”
Much like Aquarius, the Tiger’s counterpart in Western astrology, the Tiger can be an extreme individual, insistent on marching to their own beat. Although Aquarius is the sign of groups and Tigers tend to be solitary (gathering in rare groups called a streak #funfact), the Western Water Bearer is still very much “their own person.”
Tiger, tiger, burning bright? Uranus is the planet of genius, and this incandescent big cat can’t hide their stripes or striking energy. Even when they’re quiet, Tigers exude a palpable presence–you can feel their eyes following you, tracking your moves. Nothing escapes the Tiger’s observation, so remember that before you share sensitive information that they may feast on later. In the wild, Tigers hunt at night, and many people born in the Year of the Tiger prefer to prowl into the wee hours or rise before the Sun does. The lion may “sleep tonight” but the eye of the Tiger can see in the dark, making these people among the most innovative visionaries of their time.
The “Animal Planets” (Chinese astrology planetary rulers)
Rat: Jupiter
Ox: Saturn
Tiger: Uranus
Rabbit: Neptune
Dragon: Mars
Snake: Venus
Horse: Mercury
Sheep: Moon
Monkey: Sun
Rooster: Mercury
Dog: Venus
Pig: Pluto
Other traits of the Tiger Chinese astrology sign
Western Sign: Aquarius
Who is the Tiger compatible with? Horse, Dog
Famous Tigers (these celebrities were born in a Year of the Tiger) : Drake, Lady Gaga, Lindsay Lohan, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Demi Moore, Tom Cruise, Ryan Seacrest, Victoria Beckham, Leonardo Dicaprio, Jay Leno, Lil Kim, Steve Carell, Anthony Kiedis, Axl Rose, Jon Stewart, Mischa Barton, Rosie O’Donnell, Paula Abdul, Alanis Morissette, Robert Pattinson, Shawn Mendes, Jaden Smith, Khalid, Bradley Cooper, Jimmy Fallon, Emilia Clarke, Jack Harlow, Mr. Beast, Shawn Mendes
The 5 Elements of Chinese Astrology
The Chinese zodiac is divided into five key elements of nature, or Wu Xing: wood, water, metal, fire and earth. Each lunar year is governed by a different element.
Years Ending in are ruled by:
0-1: Metal
2-3: Water
4-5: Wood
6-7: Fire
8-9: Earth
Years of the Tiger and their element
1914: Wood Tiger
1926: Fire Tiger
1938: Earth Tiger
1950: Metal Tiger
1962: Water Tiger
1974: Wood Tiger
1986: Fire Tiger
1998: Earth Tiger
2010: Metal Tiger
2022: Water Tiger
Not a Tiger? Find your Chinese zodiac sign and element using the calculator below:
Find your Chinese Zodiac sign
Find your Chinese/lunar year zodiac sign
Learn which animal archetype ruled over the 12-month lunar year that you were born:
Find our elemental year (metal, water, wood, fire or earth)
Every decade is divided into two-year blocks, each ruled by an element:
The Chinese zodiac sign that governs your birth year can tell you a lot about your personality, interests, romantic compatibility and career path. Learn more about your Chinese zodiac in the Chinese astrology section of Astrostyle.
Feature art by Rosie Dienhart