Heavenly Stems
Glossary · Last updated: 2026-07-26
The ten Heavenly Stems (天干) form a cycle used with Earthly Branches. Together they name years, months, days, and hours in the Chinese sexagenary calendar.
Each stem carries yin or yang polarity and an element flavor (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water). That is how you get a Water Dragon year vs a Wood Dragon year.
Example: see it on a birth date
The ten heavenly stems pair with the twelve earthly branches. May 24, 2021 shows the Year of the Metal Ox.
The stem cycle is the element beside that animal year. It is not the Western sun sign Gemini.
Enter your own date on the Zodiac Sign Calculator.
Element colors
Popular Chinese zodiac apps often show an element color on your birth year. That comes from the stem portion of the year pillar.
Related
Main reading and tools
These are the main reading and calculator pages. Use them for a daily note, a birth-sign tool, or a pair check.
- Today's Horoscope hubAll twelve Western sun-sign daily pages, plus links to the seven-tradition reader.
- Horoscope & Zodiac CompatibilityTwo birth dates for Western, Chinese, and Indian Vedic pairing, plus every sun-sign hub.
- Zodiac Sign CalculatorWestern sun sign from birth date, with element, modality, and ruler.
- Rising Sign CalculatorIndian Vedic Lagna estimate when you have birth date, time, and place.
- Moon Sign CalculatorIndian Vedic Janma Rashi and nakshatra when birth time and city are available.