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Updated 2026-06-25

The Metal Rat Year

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

Metal Rat years: 1900, 1960, 2020. The next Metal Rat year is 2080.

The Rat

Clever, resourceful, charming and thrifty. The Rat 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.

Metal Rat: the blend

A Rat born in a Metal Rat year carries the Rat's nature — clever, resourceful, charming and thrifty — 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 Rat

1900turns 126 in 2026
1960turns 66 in 2026
2020turns 6 in 2026

Frequently asked

What years are Metal Rat years?
The Metal Rat pairing falls on 1900, 1960, 2020 and recurs every 60 years.
What is a person born in a Metal Rat year like?
A Rat born in a Metal Rat year carries the Rat's nature — clever, resourceful, charming and thrifty — 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 Rat in the other elements

Wood Rat Fire Rat Earth Rat Water Rat

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

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