1974 Chinese Zodiac: Year of the Wood Tiger

1974 is the Year of the Wood Tiger — a Yang Wood year. The animal sign is the Tiger, the third of the 12-animal cycle.

1974 carries the Wood element (Yang Wood). Element is set by the year's heavenly stem and cycles every 10 years, so the full Wood Tiger combination returns only once every 60 years.

Those born in 1974, the Year of the Tiger, are traditionally described as brave, confident, and competitive. With the Wood element added, growth, generosity, and cooperation are emphasised.

The Tiger is traditionally most compatible with the Horse, Dog, Pig.

Almost — but the Chinese zodiac year starts at Chinese New Year (late January or early February), not January 1. So someone born in early 1974, before that year's Chinese New Year, is actually a Ox (the 1973 sign). If your birthday is in late January or early February, enter your full date of birth in the Age Calculator to confirm your exact sign.