TL;DR: Tỵ (Snake) is the 6th of the 12 zodiac branches, and the branch element is Fire; folk tradition links the Snake with wisdom and mystery. In the folk compatibility tables, Tỵ matches Rooster (Dậu) and Ox (Sửu) as a three-harmony trio and Monkey (Thân) as a six-harmony pair; it is unfavourable with Pig (Hợi, clash) and Tiger (Dần, harm, punishment). Monkey (Thân) is a six-harmony partner but also shares a punishment group and the four-clash group with Tỵ, so the tables disagree on this pair. Recent lunar birth years: 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025, next 2037.
What is 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.
What are the 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.
What is 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.
What is the Snake's compatibility in 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.
What are 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 Snake sign
| Aspect | Content |
|---|---|
| Animal | Snake |
| Element of the branch | Fire |
| Hour range | 9h-11h |
| Best-matched trio | Dậu, Sửu |
| Clashing group of four | Dần, Thân, Hợi |
| Harm pair | Dần |
Figures in this table match the results of the lookup tools on Nhật Nguyệt.
