1978 Chinese zodiac —
the Earth Horse
| Animal sign | Horse 午 — the Earth Horse |
|---|---|
| Element | Yang Earth (戊) |
| 1978 Horse year | Feb 7, 1978 – Jan 27, 1979 |
| Born Jan 1 – Feb 6, 1978 | Fire Snake of 1977 |
| Korean saju year | Starts at Ipchun, Feb 4, 1978 |
| Best matches | Goat, Tiger, Dog |
| Next Horse year | 2038 (Earth Horse) |
| Age in 2026 | 48 (Korean age 49) |
People born between Feb 7, 1978 and Jan 27, 1979 are an Earth Horse. The Earth Horse is the steadiest Horse — still quick, but sensible about money and commitments.
Born in January or early February 1978?
The 1978 Horse year began at Chinese New Year on Feb 7, 1978. If you were born from January 1 to Feb 6, 1978, your sign is the Fire Snake of 1977. The year ended on Jan 27, 1979, so birthdays in early 1979 up to that date still count as Horses.
The Korean saju year starts at Ipchun
In Korean saju (the Four Pillars), the year pillar changes at Ipchun, the start of spring — Feb 4, 1978 at about 13:21 Korea time — not at Lunar New Year. A birthday from Feb 4 to Feb 6, 1978 is already 戊午 (Earth Horse) in a saju chart but still a Snake by Lunar New Year. Why saju starts the year at Ipchun →
The Earth Horse personality
The Earth Horse is the steadiest Horse — still quick, but sensible about money and commitments. Earth brings steadiness, patience and practical sense.
Horses are bright, active and fast. They hate being tied down and are always half a step toward the next new thing. Strengths: energy and enthusiasm; quick decisions; warmth that lifts a group. Watch for: restlessness; moods that swing with circumstances; losing interest before the finish.
Compatibility
Best matches for the Horse: Goat (96/100), Tiger (84/100), Dog (84/100). Hardest: Rat (32), Ox (45). All twelve Horse matches →
Age
People born in the 1978 Horse year turn 48 in 2026 (49 in Korean age) and 49 in 2027. The same Earth Horse returns every sixty years — 1918 and 2038.
Horse years
1930 Metal · 1942 Water · 1954 Wood · 1966 Fire · 1978 Earth · 1990 Metal · 2002 Water · 2014 Wood · 2026 Fire
The Horse in 2027
The Year of the Fire Goat gives the Horse 95/100 — an excellent year. Read the 2027 forecast →
Questions about the 1978 zodiac
What Chinese zodiac animal is 1978?
1978 is the Year of the Horse — the Earth Horse (戊午). The Horse year runs from Feb 7, 1978 to Jan 27, 1979: it starts at Chinese New Year, not on January 1.
Is someone born in January 1978 a Horse?
Only if the birthday falls on or after Feb 7, 1978, when the Horse year began. From January 1 to Feb 6, 1978, the sign is still the Fire Snake of 1977.
What element is the 1978 Horse?
Earth. The year stem 戊 is yang earth, so everyone born in the 1978 Horse year is an Earth Horse. Earth brings steadiness, patience and practical sense.
When is the next Year of the Horse?
2038 — the Earth Horse. The Earth Horse itself comes back every sixty years — 1918 and 2038.
Who is the Horse most compatible with?
The Horse’s best matches are the Goat (96/100), the Tiger (84/100) and the Dog (84/100); the hardest are the Rat (32) and the Ox (45).
Nearby years
← 1977 Fire Snake · 1979 Earth Goat → · All years and the calculator
