The Five Elements

Unlike Western astrology, Chinese astrology has five, not four, elements. These are based on the five planets that were visible to the ancient Chinese astronomers. The elements are:
water (ruled by Mercury)
metal (ruled by Venus)
fire (ruled by Mars)
wood (ruled by Jupiter)
earth (ruled by Saturn)

Each of these elements can manifest itself either positively or negatively.

Dominant Element
Each year is ruled by a different element. The element that rules a person's year of birth is called the dominant element. When you consider that every year is also ruled by one of the 12 animal signs, you can calculate that each combination of animal and element occurs only once ever 60 years (12*5=60). For instance, the year 1901 was an ox/metal year. The next ox/metal year was 1961 and the next one will be in 2021. This is referred to as the 60-year cycle.

Natural Element
In addition, each animal sign is considered to have its own, natural element. This is always the same, regardless of a person's year of birth. Only four (water, wood, metal, and fire) of the five elements are natural elements.

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ButtonEarth

Positive:
peaceful methodical stable patient enduring just receptive supportive practical objective logical

Negative:
smothering confining anxious pessimistic slow narrow-minded rigid overly cautious stubborn conservative

ButtonWater

Positive:
artistic expressive nurturing sensitive understanding sympathetic gentle caring flexible nonconfrontational persuasive

Negative:
illogical fearful stressed nervous overly sensitive subjective manipulative fickle passive dependent overimaginative

ButtonFire

Positive:
cheerful passionate honorable loving charismatic dynamic exciting courageous decisive inventive optimistic

Negative:
destructive cruel impatient tempestuous excessive reckless demanding radical headstrong exploitative ambitious

ButtonMetal

Positive:
protective visionary prosperous resolute inspirational controlled determined romantic conviction strength

Negative:
inflexible harsh longing homesick self-righteous single-minded competive solitary cantankerous melancholic opinionated

ButtonWood

Positive:
compassionate resourceful community minded cooperative expansive inspired sociable extroverted problem solving ethical practical

Negative:
frustrated bad tempered impatient dissipated unexpressive excessive violent angry pessimistic temperamental susceptible