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Updated 2026-06-25

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.

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.

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.