The Dragon: powerful, lucky and visionary

The story of the Dragon

Everyone expected the Dragon to win the Great Race, since it can fly. It came fifth, because it stopped to make rain for a village in drought, and then blew a struggling Rabbit to shore. The Dragon’s power is always at its best when used to help.

Personality

Dragons are confident, energetic and larger than life. They dream big and have the drive to make those dreams real. In Chinese culture the Dragon is a symbol of good fortune and imperial power, and Dragon years are traditionally popular years to have a baby.

In love

In love, the Dragon is ardent, loyal and generous. They want a partner who matches their fire and is proud to stand beside them, but who also has a life and ambitions of their own.

At work

Dragons excel as leaders, founders, performers and pioneers. They are happiest when the stakes are high and the vision is big.

Something to watch

The Dragon can be proud, impatient or demanding when others cannot keep up. Slowing down to listen makes their natural authority even stronger.

Friends, secret friend and clash

• Friend group: the Dragon shares its sea green colour on the wheel with the Rat and the Monkey. Together they are the Thinkers, and they understand each other easily.
• Secret friend: the Rooster. This quiet, loyal bond is shown by a matching jewel on the inner ring.
• Clash: the Dog, directly opposite on the wheel. The two pull in opposite directions, which can mean friction, or real growth if both are willing to learn.

You can read more in Friend groups, secret friends and clashes.

Element and season

The Dragon’s own fixed element is Earth, and it is a Yang sign. It belongs to spring on the wheel. Every Dragon year also carries a year element, which changes in a ten-year cycle, so a Fire Dragon and a Water Dragon share the same heart but show it differently. See The five elements for how the elements work.

Lucky things

Traditionally, the Dragon’s lucky numbers are 1, 6 and 7, its lucky colours are gold, silver and grey, and its lucky flowers are bleeding-heart vine and larkspur.

Dragon years

Your animal changes at Lunar New Year, not on 1 January. If you were born in January or early February, check the dates below carefully: you may belong to the animal before.

Year	Starts	Ends
Earth Dragon	23 January 1928	9 February 1929
Metal Dragon	8 February 1940	26 January 1941
Water Dragon	27 January 1952	13 February 1953
Wood Dragon	13 February 1964	1 February 1965
Fire Dragon	31 January 1976	17 February 1977
Earth Dragon	17 February 1988	5 February 1989
Metal Dragon	5 February 2000	23 January 2001
Water Dragon	23 January 2012	9 February 2013
Wood Dragon	10 February 2024	28 January 2025