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Updated 2026-11-01

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The Water Rabbit Year

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

Water Rabbit years: 1903, 1963, 2023. The next Water Rabbit year is 2083.
Tolai hare — the hare of the Mongolian steppe and the Gobi
Tolai hare — the hare of the Mongolian steppe and the GobiImage: Kudaibergen Amirekul · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The Rabbit

Gentle, diplomatic, artistic and prudent. The Rabbit is one of the twelve animal signs (jil) that, paired with the five elements, make up the 60-year cycle.

The element of Water

Water governs wisdom, adaptability, intuition, communication and depth; its season is winter and its direction is the north. Water is the flowing, descending energy — it gives a sign insight, diplomacy and resilience, though it can slip into hesitation or secrecy.

Mountain hare in its white winter coat
Mountain hare in its white winter coatImage: Estormiz · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

Water Rabbit: the blend

A Rabbit born in a Water Rabbit year carries the Rabbit's nature — gentle, diplomatic, artistic and prudent — under the influence of Water, the element of wisdom, adaptability, intuition, communication and depth. Water is the flowing, descending energy — it gives a sign insight, diplomacy and resilience, though it can slip into hesitation or secrecy.

Years of the Water Rabbit

1903turns 123 in 2026
1963turns 63 in 2026
2023turns 3 in 2026

Frequently asked

What years are Water Rabbit years?
The Water Rabbit pairing falls on 1903, 1963, 2023 and recurs every 60 years.
What is a person born in a Water Rabbit year like?
A Rabbit born in a Water Rabbit year carries the Rabbit's nature — gentle, diplomatic, artistic and prudent — under the influence of Water, the element of wisdom, adaptability, intuition, communication and depth. Water is the flowing, descending energy — it gives a sign insight, diplomacy and resilience, though it can slip into hesitation or secrecy.
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 Rabbit in the other elements

Wood Rabbit Fire Rabbit Earth Rabbit Metal Rabbit

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

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