1988 Chinese zodiac —
the Earth Dragon
| Animal sign | Dragon 辰 — the Earth Dragon |
|---|---|
| Element | Yang Earth (戊) |
| 1988 Dragon year | Feb 17, 1988 – Feb 5, 1989 |
| Born Jan 1 – Feb 16, 1988 | Fire Rabbit of 1987 |
| Korean saju year | Starts at Ipchun, Feb 4, 1988 |
| Best matches | Rooster, Monkey, Rat |
| Next Dragon year | 2036 (Fire Dragon) |
| Age in 2026 | 38 (Korean age 39) |
People born between Feb 17, 1988 and Feb 5, 1989 are an Earth Dragon. The Earth Dragon is steady and strategic, more patient and more practical than other Dragons.
Born in January or early February 1988?
The 1988 Dragon year began at Chinese New Year on Feb 17, 1988. If you were born from January 1 to Feb 16, 1988, your sign is the Fire Rabbit of 1987. The year ended on Feb 5, 1989, so birthdays in early 1989 up to that date still count as Dragons.
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, 1988 at about 23:36 Korea time — not at Lunar New Year. A birthday from Feb 4 to Feb 16, 1988 is already 戊辰 (Earth Dragon) in a saju chart but still a Rabbit by Lunar New Year. In Korea, Seollal (Lunar New Year) fell on Feb 18, 1988, one day after the Chinese date, because the new moon arrived just before midnight in China and just after it in Korea (why the dates differ). Why saju starts the year at Ipchun →
The Earth Dragon personality
The Earth Dragon is steady and strategic, more patient and more practical than other Dragons. Both the year stem and the Dragon’s own branch are Earth, so the Earth character is doubled this year. Earth brings steadiness, patience and practical sense.
Dragons think on a large scale and live in a world of their own design. They are at their most powerful when they feel recognized. Strengths: vision and ambition; confidence that inspires others; generosity once they commit. Watch for: pride that finds it hard to back down; impatience with details; sensitivity to criticism.
Compatibility
Best matches for the Dragon: Rooster (88/100), Monkey (84/100), Rat (72/100). Hardest: Dog (41), Pig (42). All twelve Dragon matches →
Age
People born in the 1988 Dragon year turn 38 in 2026 (39 in Korean age) and 39 in 2027. The same Earth Dragon returns every sixty years — 1928 and 2048.
Dragon years
1928 Earth · 1940 Metal · 1952 Water · 1964 Wood · 1976 Fire · 1988 Earth · 2000 Metal · 2012 Water · 2024 Wood
The Dragon in 2027
The Year of the Fire Goat gives the Dragon 81/100 — a favorable year. Read the 2027 forecast →
Questions about the 1988 zodiac
What Chinese zodiac animal is 1988?
1988 is the Year of the Dragon — the Earth Dragon (戊辰). The Dragon year runs from Feb 17, 1988 to Feb 5, 1989: it starts at Chinese New Year, not on January 1.
Is someone born in January 1988 a Dragon?
Only if the birthday falls on or after Feb 17, 1988, when the Dragon year began. From January 1 to Feb 16, 1988, the sign is still the Fire Rabbit of 1987.
What element is the 1988 Dragon?
Earth. The year stem 戊 is yang earth, so everyone born in the 1988 Dragon year is an Earth Dragon. Earth brings steadiness, patience and practical sense.
When is the next Year of the Dragon?
2036 — the Fire Dragon. The Earth Dragon itself comes back every sixty years — 1928 and 2048.
Who is the Dragon most compatible with?
The Dragon’s best matches are the Rooster (88/100), the Monkey (84/100) and the Rat (72/100); the hardest are the Dog (41) and the Pig (42).
Nearby years
← 1987 Fire Rabbit · 1989 Earth Snake → · All years and the calculator
