Years of the Dragon include 2036, 2024, 2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964, 1952... People born in Dragon years usually possess natural courage, tenacity, and intelligence, often displaying enthusiasm and confidence.
2024 is the Year of the Wood Dragon, beginning on February 10th, 2024 (Chinese New Year) and concluding on January 28th, 2025 (Chinese New Year's Eve).
In Chinese culture, the Dragon holds a significant place as an auspicious and extraordinary creature, unparalleled in talent and excellence. It symbolizes power, nobility, honor, luck, and success.
Content Preview
Find Out if You Were Born in a Dragon Year
The Dragon is the fifth animal sign in the Chinese zodiac cycle. If you were born in 2024, 2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964, 1952, then your Chinese zodiac sign is Dragon.
The Chinese zodiac year is usually said to start from Chinese New Year, whose date ranges from late January to mid-February. Therefore, if you were born in January or February in one of the above years, you might be a Dragon, or possibly a Rabbit.
You can use our free Chinese zodiac sign calculator tool to find your zodiac animal sign or see the table below.
| Dragon Years | Dates | Element |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | February 10, 2024 – January 28, 2025 | Wood Dragon |
| 2012 | January 23, 2012 – February 9, 2013 | Water Dragon |
| 2000 | February 5, 2000 – January 23, 2001 | Gold Dragon |
| 1988 | February 17, 1988 – February 5, 1989 | Earth Dragon |
| 1976 | January 31, 1976 – February 17, 1977 | Fire Dragon |
| 1964 | February 13, 1964 – February 1, 1965 | Wood Dragon |
| 1952 | January 27, 1952 – February 13, 1953 | Water Dragon |
| 1940 | February 8, 1940 – January 26, 1941 | Gold Dragon |
Zodiac Dragons' Personality
In Chinese culture, the dragons are majestic and powerful. They could lead the world due to their dominant nature and ambitious spirit. The emperors of ancient China often regarded themselves as the Dragon, the Son of Heaven.
Gifted with innate courage, tenacity, and intelligence, Dragons are usually enthusiastic and confident. They are not afraid of challenges, and willing to take risks. They strive to break away from traditional norms and pave the way for a brighter future.
Wood, Fire, Earth, Gold, and Water Dragons
In Chinese element theory, each zodiac sign is associated with one of five elements: Gold (Metal), Wood, Water, Fire, or Earth. So there are five types of Dragons, each with different characteristics. A person's characteristics are decided by their birth year's zodiac animal sign and element.
| Element of Dragon | Personality |
|---|---|
| Wood Dragon (1964, 2024) | Introverted, less enthusiastic, and lacking in good relationships |
| Fire Dragon (1916, 1976) | Smart and easygoing, agile and flexible |
| Earth Dragon (1928, 1988) | Smart, ambitious, and hardworking |
| Gold Dragon (1940, 2000) | Natural and straightforward, talent and desire to be seen |
| Water Dragon (1952, 2012) | Persevering, farsighted, and vigorous |
Dragons Horoscope Predictions and Lucky Color for 2025
Overall, it looks like a pretty steady year for Dragon people, without too many ups and downs at first. In the second half of the year, opportunities will arise. It's important to stay focused on your goals and keep pushing forward without getting sidetracked by others. Just take your time to understand everything before making any decisions.
- Career: In 2025, your career is gearing up for some action. Try to keep your vision long-term and avoid getting stuck in one place. If you have a particular skill and want to change your current situation, focus on doing what you love and excel at. This not only helps you feel valued but also lays a solid foundation for your future. If opportunities don't come knocking, keep working hard in your current role and continue to improve yourself.
- Wealth: Your financial situation in 2025 will be quite stable, with a slight improvement compared to previous years. If you're starting a business, you might face some challenges, but don't stress too much. You have supportive people around you, and as long as you put in a good effort, help will come your way. Focus on both increasing your income and managing your expenses, and everything will start heading in a positive direction.
- Relationships: Your love life looks stable in 2025. You'll have the chance to meet someone special. Consider starting as friends—it could lead to something wonderful! If you're already in a relationship, any conflicts that arise can be handled well, as long as you both share the same goals and are willing to be understanding.
- Health: Health-wise, you're looking great in 2025! You'll have plenty of energy at work, and even if you catch a cold now and then, you'll recover quickly. If you've been worried about your health, the changes in your life will help you eat well and sleep soundly, leading to better overall well-being. However, if you're often on the go or doing physical labor, make sure to balance your workload and rest. Being in good shape will open up more possibilities for the future.
Lucky color: brown, yellow, and cream
Check out Monthly Predictions for Dragons
12 Chinese Zodiac Signs' Horoscope and Lucky Color for 2024
According to the Chinese horoscope, the luckiest zodiac signs in 2024 are Monkeys, Roosters, and Pigs. Following closely behind are Tigers, Rabbits, Snakes, Monkeys, Roosters, and Dogs. If you're born in the Year of the Rat, Ox, Dragon, Horse, Goat, or Dog, you might need to brace yourself for various challenges and make more effort than in 2023 to achieve your goals..
Click a zodiac sign below to check out your general horoscope and lucky colors for 2024.
- Rat
- OX
- Tiger
- Rabbit
- Dragon
- Snake
- Horse
- Goat
- Monkey
- Rooster
- Dog
- Pig
Dragons' Horoscope and Lucky Color for 2024
2024 is Dragon people's benmingnian (本命年 běn mìng nián /bnn-ming-nyen/ 'origin of life year')
Dragons, in your 'birth year', you are believed to offend Tai Sui (/tie-sway/), the God of Age in Chinese mythology, and you may face certain restrictions and difficulties due to the clash with Tai Sui's energy. You're advised to be more careful about all aspects of your lives in 2024. It's better for you to pay special attention to competition in the workplace and remain diligent and dedicated, besides, take good care of your body.
In 2024, red and purple are predicted to bring luck or avoid trouble for Dragons. You may dress in red or purple to invoke this luck, including outer clothing, bags, shoes, underwear, and even socks. Additionally, red/purple colored-glaze auspicious decorations are considered good for promoting financial fortunes.
If you want to wear accessories in 2024, you are suggested to avoid choosing the shapes of zodiac animals in opposition to the Dragon, i.e. Rabbit, Dog, and Dragon.
Lucky color for 2024: yellow, red
Read more on How to Make Good Luck in Your Zodiac Year (Benmingnian) Easily.
Lucky Things for Dragon People
Things that will bring Dragons luck:
- Lucky numbers: 1, 6 and 7
- Lucky days: the 1st and 16th of any Chinese lunar calendar month
- Lucky colors: gold, silver, grayish white
- Lucky flowers: bleeding-heart glory bower, dragon flowers
- Lucky direction: east, north, south
- Lucky months: the 3rd, 4th, and 7th Chinese lunar months.
Things that Dragons should avoid:
- Unlucky colors: blue, green
- Unlucky numbers: 3 and 8
- Unlucky direction: northwest
- Unlucky months: the 5th and 6th Chinese lunar months
Dragons' Love Compatibility
Each zodiac sign has its unique characteristics. Love compatibility according to the Chinese zodiac takes into account the characteristics of each animal. Only those whose characteristics match each other well can be good partners. See below the compatibility of the Dragon with other signs.
- Best with: Rat, Monkey, or Rooster
- Worst with: Dog
Want to know if she/he is compatible with you? Use our zodiac love compatibility calculator below. Or you can check the 12 Chinese zodiac signs' love compatibility in detail.
What're the Best-Suited Careers for Dragons?
Dragons like to embrace challenges and take risks. Jobs that allow them to test themselves are good choices. Some good careers include: journalist, teacher, teacher, lawyer, engineer, architect, broker and sales person.
Famous Dragon Year People:
- Charles Darwin: born on February 12, 1809, an Earth Dragon
- Bruce Lee: born on November 27, 1940, a Gold Dragon
- John Lennon: born on October 9, 1940, a Gold Dragon
- Vladimir Putin: born on October 7, 1952, a Water Dragon
Why is the Dragon an Auspicious Sign in China?
Different from in Western culture, a Dragon in Chinese culture is a mythical, auspicious, and supreme being/creature. In Chinese mythology, Dragons have great power to control wind and rain, soar through the skies, and turn over rivers and seas, as well as bringing prosperity to the world.
Being a believed benefit to farming in an agricultural society, dragons are considered mighty mascots, communicating between heaven, earth, and humans to bring good weather and hence plentiful harvests and/or a boom in wealth.
Therefore, in ancient times, emperors were regarded as real dragons and the sons of Heaven, and Chinese people were assumed to the descendants of dragons. To worship dragons' dignity and divinity, China's ancients put the Dragon in the Chinese zodiac, and it has long been the most popular zodiac animal in China. Many Chinese couples choose to have a baby in a year of the Dragon.
Why Is the Dragon Ranked Fifth in the Chinese Zodiac?
According to one of many myths, the Jade Emperor held a race and decreed that the order of the animals in the Chinese zodiac would be decided by who crossed the finish line in the first 12 places. It would seem a matter of common sense that the mighty Dragon would be deserving of first place, however he did not achieve this. He came after the Rabbit, Tiger, Ox, and Rat. Why was this?...
When Dragon was on his way to the finish line, he found a village suffering from a very serious drought — even its plants and crops did not grow, and a great number of people were in famine. So, he flew across the clouds and opened his mouth to make rain and solved their hardship.
Dragon continued on in the race, but after a while, he saw another village threatened by a flood. He stopped without hesitation and opened his mouth to absorb the water. His efforts and powers moved the flood waters to the sea, and the disaster at the village was averted.
As Dragon hurried on his way towards the race's end, he saw that Rabbit was being chased by a wolf. In order to deal with the wolf and save Rabbit, he let Rabbit go on ahead. So, by generously helping those he met on the way, as is always his nature, Dragon came in after Rabbit in the zodiac race.