The Snake's place in the 12-year cycle
Tỵ (Snake) is the sixth sign in the 12-year cycle, following the Dragon and preceding the Horse. In East Asian folk culture, the Snake is often viewed through two lenses: a symbol of wisdom, renewal, and sharp intuition (owing to its ability to shed its skin), and also a figure of mystery, sometimes tinged with unease. In Vietnam, the Snake also appears in numerous legends and folk beliefs, reflecting a mix of reverence and wariness.
Personality traits of the Snake
In folk tradition, people born in the Year of the Snake are often described as intelligent, perceptive, and possessing sharp intuition. They tend to observe carefully before acting, rarely reveal their full thoughts to others, and often excel at analyzing problems thoroughly. In their careers, Snakes are traditionally believed to suit fields requiring strategic thinking, research, or analysis - such as finance, law, or science.
On the other hand, Snake personalities are also said to be overly guarded at times, occasionally suspicious, and slow to extend trust to others from the outset. In relationships, Snakes tend to love deeply but discreetly, valuing loyalty and disliking displays of emotion for show. These traits are cultural generalizations and should not be applied rigidly to every Snake-born person.
The Five Element (Ngũ Hành) association
The Tỵ branch belongs to the Fire (Hỏa) element - representing inner passion, even though the Snake's outward demeanor often appears cool and still. This is the fixed element of the Tỵ branch itself; a specific person's Nạp Âm destiny element (for example, Kỷ Tỵ, Tân Tỵ, or Quý Tỵ) still needs to be determined from the full Heavenly Stem and Earthly Branch of the exact birth year.
Compatibility groups: Tam Hợp and Tứ Hành Xung
Within the Tam Hợp system, Tỵ belongs to the Tỵ - Dậu - Sửu group (forming a Metal trine). Snake-born individuals are therefore traditionally seen as compatible and in tune with those born under Dậu (Rooster) and Sửu (Ox), in friendship, work, and marriage alike.
Conversely, Tỵ falls within the Tứ Hành Xung group of Dần - Thân - Tỵ - Hợi, meaning the Snake is traditionally considered to clash with Dần (Tiger), Thân (Monkey), and Hợi (Pig). The Tỵ-Hợi pairing is often cited as a classic example of a directly opposing pair on the Earthly Branch wheel. Still, this should only be treated as a reference point, not an absolute measure of any relationship.
Recent Snake birth years
People born in the Year of the Snake include those born in 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025, with the next Snake year being 2037. Each Snake year carries its own Heavenly Stem (Kỷ Tỵ, Tân Tỵ, Quý Tỵ, Ất Tỵ, Đinh Tỵ, and so on), creating differences in Nạp Âm destiny element even among those who share the Snake sign.
Quick-Reference Table: the Rắn sign
| Aspect | Content |
|---|---|
| Animal | Rắn |
| Element of the branch | Hỏa |
| Hour range | 9h-11h |
| Best-matched trio | Dậu, Sửu |
| Clashing group of four | Dần, Thân, Hợi |
| Harm pair | Dần |
*Số liệu trong bảng khớp với kết quả các công cụ tra cứu trên Nhật Nguyệt.*
