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Updated 2026-11-01

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The Metal Dragon Year

What it means to be born in a Metal Dragon year in the Tibetan-Mongolian (zurkhai) tradition — the Dragon's nature shaped by the element of Metal. tradition

Metal Dragon years: 1940, 2000. The next Metal Dragon year is 2060.
Dragon, Tibetan painting — Field Museum, Chicago
Dragon, Tibetan painting — Field Museum, ChicagoImage: Hottentot · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

The Dragon

Bold, charismatic, ambitious and lucky. The Dragon is one of the twelve animal signs (jil) that, paired with the five elements, make up the 60-year cycle.

The element of Metal

Metal governs discipline, precision, strength, clarity and resolve; its season is autumn and its direction is the west. Metal (also called Iron) is the contracting, refining energy — it gives a sign focus, integrity and willpower, though it can harden into rigidity.

Dragon carved in stone, Xi’an — zurkhai shares its cycle of twelve animals with the Chinese calendar
Dragon carved in stone, Xi’an — zurkhai shares its cycle of twelve animals with the Chinese calendarImage: Will Clayton · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Metal Dragon: the blend

A Dragon born in a Metal Dragon year carries the Dragon's nature — bold, charismatic, ambitious and lucky — under the influence of Metal, the element of discipline, precision, strength, clarity and resolve. Metal (also called Iron) is the contracting, refining energy — it gives a sign focus, integrity and willpower, though it can harden into rigidity.

Years of the Metal Dragon

1940turns 86 in 2026
2000turns 26 in 2026

Frequently asked

What years are Metal Dragon years?
The Metal Dragon pairing falls on 1940, 2000 and recurs every 60 years.
What is a person born in a Metal Dragon year like?
A Dragon born in a Metal Dragon year carries the Dragon's nature — bold, charismatic, ambitious and lucky — under the influence of Metal, the element of discipline, precision, strength, clarity and resolve. Metal (also called Iron) is the contracting, refining energy — it gives a sign focus, integrity and willpower, though it can harden into rigidity.
How does the Tibetan element–animal cycle work?
Tibetan astrology overlays a 12-year cycle of animals with a 5-element cycle (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water). Each element governs two consecutive years, so 12 animals × 5 elements form a 60-year cycle before the same animal+element pairing repeats. Every year therefore carries both an animal and an element — 2026 is the Fire Horse. The system blends indigenous Bon astrology, Chinese-derived element/animal astrology, and Indian Kalachakra star astrology.

The Dragon in the other elements

Wood Dragon Fire Dragon Earth Dragon Water Dragon

More on the Dragon sign → · What is zurkhai? →

Animal/element traits and yearly outlooks are presented as traditional belief, not fact, and vary between astrologers and lineages.