Quick Answer: What Is the 2016 Chinese Zodiac Sign?
The 2016 Chinese zodiac (生肖, shēngxiào) sign is the Fire Monkey for births from February 8, 2016 through January 27, 2017, inclusive. The traditional year name is Bing-Shen (丙申, Bǐng-Shēn).[1][2]
- Before Lunar New Year. January 1–February 7, 2016 belongs to the Wood Goat year.[1]
- Year name. Bing supplies Fire. Shen supplies the Monkey.[3][4]
- Following year. The Fire Rooster begins January 28, 2017.[2]
The lunar date determines the festival-year sign. Some Four Pillars charts use Start of Spring (立春, Lìchūn) to change the year instead.[3]
A birthday on the eve of Lunar New Year still belongs to the outgoing sign. In 2016 that makes February 7 a Goat date. A 2017 birthday can also belong to the Fire Monkey when it falls in the first 27 days of January.
2016 Fire Monkey Birth Dates
| Gregorian date of birth | Lunar New Year sign |
|---|---|
| January 1–February 7, 2016 | 木羊 |
| February 8, 2016–January 27, 2017 | 火猴 |
| January 28–December 31, 2017 | 火雞 |
For a birth on February 6, 2016, check what the lookup is designed to do. A lunar calendar still places that date in the Goat year, while a solar-term chart has already changed to the Monkey because Start of Spring fell on February 4.[1][3][4]
How Bing-Shen Names the Fire Monkey
Bing is the Heavenly Stem (天干, tiāngān) associated with Yang Fire (阳火, yáng huǒ) in Wuxing (五行, wǔxíng). Shen is the Earthly Branch (地支, dìzhī) for Monkey (猴, hóu). The same Gan-Zhi (干支, gānzhī) pairing reappears every 60 years. The 1956 Fire Monkey year had the same name.[3][4]
Traditional Na Yin (纳音, nà yīn) groups the Fire Monkey and the following Fire Rooster as Fire at the Foot of the Mountain (山下火, Shān Xià Huǒ). The Fire Monkey label reads Bing and Shen separately. The longer label groups the 2016 and 2017 stem-and-branch combinations.[4][5]
Fire Monkey Folk Associations and a 2016 Stamp
Fire Monkey profiles often emphasize alertness and expressiveness. Animal compatibility charts commonly pair the Monkey with the Rat and Dragon in broader Monkey compatibility profiles. One 2016 profile lists 4 and 9 as lucky numbers and white as a lucky color.[4][6][7]
On a 2016 U.S. Lunar New Year stamp, two prominent red-orange peony blooms carry a wish for honor and prosperity. The same print includes a smaller cut-paper design of a monkey. The monkey identifies the year. The flowers add a festival wish.[8]
What Fire Monkey Readings Discuss in 2026 and 2027
A year-specific reading for 2026 emphasizes curiosity and attention in school. In 2027, that style of horoscope discusses adapting to changes in familiar routines. A separate animal-pairing chart describes the Monkey’s connection with the 2027 Goat as neutral. These traditions ask different questions about the same birth sign.[4][6]
FAQs About the 2016 Chinese Zodiac
Is January 27, 2017 still a Fire Monkey birthday?
Yes. It is the last date of the Monkey lunar year. January 28 begins the Fire Rooster year.[2]
Is a 2004 Monkey also a Fire Monkey?
The same Monkey branch returns after 12 years. The 2004 year is Wood Monkey, while 2016 is Fire Monkey.[3][4]
Do the Fire Monkey and Fire Rooster have the same stem?
Bing is the Fire Monkey stem. Ding is the Fire Rooster stem. They share the Fire element and one Na Yin name.[2][4][5]
資料來源
[1] Hong Kong Observatory. 2016 Gregorian–lunar calendar conversion table
[2] Hong Kong Observatory. 2017 Gregorian–lunar calendar conversion table
[3] Hong Kong Observatory（香港天文台）。What year is it today?（今天是甚麼年？）
[4] Zodiac Almanac. 2016 Fire Monkey stem, branch and 2027 pairing
[5] Liao Zhong. Wuxing Jingji, digital edition
[6] TravelChinaGuide. 2016 Fire Monkey associations and dated readings
[7] China Highlights. Chinese zodiac compatibility chart
[8] U.S. Postal Service. Year of the Monkey stamp announcement