Dragon strengths in tradition
- Energetic and enthusiastic
- Confident and decisive
- Ambitious and visionary
- Generous with its energy
2012 Chinese zodiac: Year of the Water Dragon
The 2012 Chinese year ran from Monday 23 January 2012 to Saturday 9 February 2013.
Its sign is the Yang Water Dragon: 壬辰 (Rén-chén) in the 60-year cycle.
Born 1–22 January 2012? Then you belong to the previous Chinese year: the Metal Rabbit of 2011.
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:
- 23 January – 3 February 2012: Water Dragon by Chinese New Year, Metal Rabbit by Lichun.
- 4 February 2012 (Lichun day): by Lichun, Metal Rabbit before 18:22 China time and Water Dragon from then on; by Chinese New Year, Water Dragon.
- 4 February 2013 (Lichun day): by Lichun, Water Dragon before 00:13 China time and Water Snake from then on; by Chinese New Year, Water Dragon.
- 5–9 February 2013: Water Dragon by Chinese New Year, Water Snake by Lichun.
Dates and times in China time. The Chinese zodiac calculator converts them for your birthplace and shows both counts.
The Water Dragon in Chinese astrology
A Water Dragon is associated with a calmer, more perceptive style, pairing the Dragon's vision with flexibility and insight.
The Dragon is the fifth Chinese zodiac animal and the only mythical one, associated in tradition with vitality, ambition and natural authority. Water is the element of depth and adaptability, linked in Chinese tradition with winter, intuition and quiet wisdom.
Dragon challenges in tradition
- Can be proud or domineering
- Impatient with slower people
- Sets very high standards
- Dislikes taking advice
Traditions, not predictions. The Dragon in love and at work · The five elements
Other Dragon years
The Water Dragon every 60 years
← 2011 Metal Rabbit · 2013 Water Snake → · All years 1900–2100
Questions and answers
What Chinese zodiac is 2012?
2012 is the Year of the Water Dragon (yang Water, 壬辰 Rén-chén), from 23 January 2012 to 9 February 2013. Anyone born 1–22 January 2012 belongs to the previous Chinese year, the Metal Rabbit.
What element is 2012 in the Chinese zodiac?
Water, in its yang form: the year’s Heavenly Stem is 壬 (Rén). Water years are years ending in 2 or 3 – counted by the Chinese year, which begins in late January or February.
I was born in January 2012 — which animal am I?
If you were born before 23 January 2012, the date of Chinese New Year, your sign is the Metal Rabbit of the 2011 Chinese year; from 23 January 2012 on, it is the Water Dragon. Four Pillars (BaZi) astrology counts from Lichun instead (4 February 2012, 18:22 China time).
When was Chinese New Year 2012?
It was on Monday 23 January 2012 (China time). The next one, on Sunday 10 February 2013, began the Year of the Water Snake.