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Updated 2026-11-01

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The Metal Rooster Year

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

Metal Rooster years: 1921, 1981, 2041. The next Metal Rooster year is 2041.
Rooster — the Bird (Hen) of the 12 animals
Rooster — the Bird (Hen) of the 12 animalsImage: Jebulon · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

The Rooster

Observant, hardworking, confident and meticulous. The Rooster 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.

A hen — the sign is called Bird, Hen or Rooster
A hen — the sign is called Bird, Hen or RoosterImage: Stephen Mierendorf · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

Metal Rooster: the blend

A Rooster born in a Metal Rooster year carries the Rooster's nature — observant, hardworking, confident and meticulous — 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 Rooster

1921turns 105 in 2026
1981turns 45 in 2026
2041turns -15 in 2026 · current/next

Frequently asked

What years are Metal Rooster years?
The Metal Rooster pairing falls on 1921, 1981, 2041 and recurs every 60 years.
What is a person born in a Metal Rooster year like?
A Rooster born in a Metal Rooster year carries the Rooster's nature — observant, hardworking, confident and meticulous — 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 Rooster in the other elements

Wood Rooster Fire Rooster Earth Rooster Water Rooster

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

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