Rat strengths in tradition
- Quick-witted and alert
- Resourceful with what is at hand
- Adapts easily to change
- Sociable and charming
1936 Chinese zodiac: Year of the Fire Rat
The 1936 Chinese year ran from Friday 24 January 1936 to Wednesday 10 February 1937.
Its sign is the Yang Fire Rat: 丙子 (Bǐng-zǐ) in the 60-year cycle.
Born 1–23 January 1936? Then you belong to the previous Chinese year: the Wood Pig of 1935.
Chinese New Year or Lichun?
Most calendars change the animal at Chinese New Year. Four Pillars (BaZi) astrology starts the year at Lichun, the Start of Spring, instead. For births around the turn of the year the two counts differ:
- 24 January – 4 February 1936: Fire Rat by Chinese New Year, Wood Pig by Lichun.
- 5 February 1936 (Lichun day): by Lichun, Wood Pig before 07:29 China time and Fire Rat from then on; by Chinese New Year, Fire Rat.
- 4 February 1937 (Lichun day): by Lichun, Fire Rat before 13:25 China time and Fire Ox from then on; by Chinese New Year, Fire Rat.
- 5–10 February 1937: Fire Rat by Chinese New Year, Fire Ox by Lichun.
Dates and times in China time. The Chinese zodiac calculator converts them for your birthplace and shows both counts.
The Fire Rat in Chinese astrology
A Fire Rat is traditionally the most energetic and outspoken Rat, quick to act and eager for adventure.
The Rat is the first of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals, associated in tradition with quick wits, resourcefulness and an eye for opportunity. Fire is the element of warmth and energy, linked in Chinese tradition with summer, passion and outward expression.
Rat challenges in tradition
- Restless when things slow down
- Holds on tightly to resources
- Tends to overthink risks
- May put cleverness before candour
Traditions, not predictions. The Rat in love and at work · The five elements
Questions and answers
What Chinese zodiac is 1936?
1936 is the Year of the Fire Rat (yang Fire, 丙子 Bǐng-zǐ), from 24 January 1936 to 10 February 1937. Anyone born 1–23 January 1936 belongs to the previous Chinese year, the Wood Pig.
What element is 1936 in the Chinese zodiac?
Fire, in its yang form: the year’s Heavenly Stem is 丙 (Bǐng). Fire years are years ending in 6 or 7 – counted by the Chinese year, which begins in late January or February.
I was born in January 1936 — which animal am I?
If you were born before 24 January 1936, the date of Chinese New Year, your sign is the Wood Pig of the 1935 Chinese year; from 24 January 1936 on, it is the Fire Rat. Four Pillars (BaZi) astrology counts from Lichun instead (5 February 1936, 07:29 China time).
When was Chinese New Year 1936?
It was on Friday 24 January 1936 (China time). The next one, on Thursday 11 February 1937, began the Year of the Fire Ox.