---
title: "Chinese zodiac animal and element for a year"
method: GET
path: "/chinese/zodiac"
tags: ["chinese"]
---

# Chinese zodiac animal and element for a year

`GET /chinese/zodiac`

## Request

- Base URL: `https://api.openephemeris.com`
- URL: `https://api.openephemeris.com/chinese/zodiac`
- Auth: one of:
  - HTTP bearer
  - API key in header `X-OpenEphemeris-API-Key`
  - API key in header `X-API-Key`
  - API key in header `X-Service-Key`

Quick lookup of the Chinese zodiac animal, element, and Yin/Yang polarity for any Gregorian year. Also returns the year's Heavenly Stem and Earthly Branch.

The 12-animal cycle: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig.

The 5-element cycle: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water (each element governs two consecutive years).

**Metering**: 1 unit per call.

## Query parameters

- `year` integer, required: Gregorian year to look up.
- `format` string: Response format: json (full) or llm (compact).

## Headers

- `authorization` string, nullable
- `X-API-Key` string, nullable
- `X-OpenEphemeris-API-Key` string, nullable
- `apikey` string, nullable

## Response `200`

Zodiac animal, element, polarity, and stem/branch.

- ZodiacResponse: Chinese zodiac animal + element response.
  - `animal` string, required
  - `branch` object, required: Year's Earthly Branch
  - `element` string, required
  - `polarity` string, required: Yin or Yang
  - `stem` object, required: Year's Heavenly Stem
  - `success` boolean
  - `year` integer, required

## Other responses

- `422`: Validation error (missing or out-of-range year).

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/openephemeris/apis/open-ephemeris-api.md) · [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/openephemeris/apis/open-ephemeris-api/llms.txt) · [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc.dev/openephemeris/apis/open-ephemeris-api/revisions/d195a769cb89?raw)