1987 Chinese Zodiac: The Year of the Fire Rabbit

Detail	1987
Animal	Rabbit (兔)
Element	Fire, yin
Stem and branch	Ding Mao (丁卯)
Year starts	January 29, 1987
Year ends	February 16, 1988
Year before	1986, Fire Tiger
Year after	1988, Earth Dragon

Born in January or February 1987?

The Chinese year does not start on January 1. It starts at Chinese New Year, which follows the Moon and usually falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice, somewhere between January 21 and February 20. In 1987 it fell on January 29 (China time), so the Rabbit starts with births on that day and everyone born before it in 1987 is still a Fire Tiger. If your birthday sits close to the line, the Chinese zodiac calculator checks the exact date for you.

The Rabbit in Chinese astrology

Gentle and diplomatic, the Rabbit is the most conflict-averse of the twelve in Chinese astrology. Rabbit people are described as refined and observant, with an eye for beauty and a gift for making a space feel calm. They are read as good listeners and careful with words, the type to smooth over a disagreement before it hardens. Others experience them as courteous, discreet and easy to be around.

The blind spots follow from the same gentleness. A Rabbit may avoid hard conversations, say yes when the answer is no, and carry quiet resentment instead of naming it. Caution can slide into indecision, and a sensitivity to tone makes harsh criticism linger. If you are a Rabbit, the old advice is to keep your sense of tact but practice saying the plain thing early, while it is still small. Friends often describe Rabbits as the ones who remember small details, such as a favorite tea or a difficult anniversary, and who show care through thoughtful gestures.

The Fire Rabbit

Fire is the element of passion, drive and visibility in Chinese astrology. Tradition links it to summer, to heat and light, and reads a Fire year as adding enthusiasm, courage and a taste for leadership to the animal it colors. Fire people are described as expressive, warm and quick to act. The classical shadow is impatience and a short temper, along with a habit of burning through energy faster than it returns. Fire turns up the volume on whatever the animal already is.

Fire brings the Rabbit out of the shadows. In the classical portrait this is the most expressive and passionate of the gentle sign: still tactful and tasteful, but readier to speak up, perform or lead. It wears feeling openly, and is often described as charming, creative and emotionally intense. Mood swings, and a flash of temper that surprises the Rabbit as much as anyone, are the usual risks. Channeling the energy into art or conversation, and taking solitude when emotions run high, is the standard counsel. The Fire Rabbit often has a gift for the well-timed word, which it spends best on encouragement.

The same pairing of element and animal returns every sixty years, so 1927 and 2047 are Fire Rabbit years as well. The other fire year next to 1987 is 1986, a Fire Tiger, because each element lasts two years, one yang and one yin.

Rabbit compatibility

Tradition groups the twelve animals into four trines of three. The Rabbit shares its trine with the Goat and the Pig, the pairings read as the easiest. Its secret friend, a second close match, is the Dog, while the Rooster, six places away on the wheel, is read as its clash. These are tendencies of the tradition, not verdicts on any couple.

Tender, loyal and considerate, the Rabbit values a peaceful home and gentle manners. Rabbits prefer a slow courtship, show affection through small kindnesses and want to feel emotionally safe before they commit. They can be shy of conflict and may need encouragement to share what bothers them. A Rabbit flourishes with a partner who is kind, consistent and willing to ask how things are going.

The Rabbit at work

Tact, aesthetics and negotiation are the Rabbit's strengths, so the sign suits roles where they matter. Rabbits have a good eye for quality and a conservative approach to money: they save, avoid big gambles and prefer a stable income. The weak point is putting off decisions that carry risk, so that a good chance passes while the Rabbit weighs it.

Other Rabbit years

The Rabbit comes back every twelve years, each time with the next element: 1939 Earth Rabbit, 1951 Metal Rabbit, 1963 Water Rabbit, 1975 Wood Rabbit, 1987 Fire Rabbit (this page), 1999 Earth Rabbit, 2011 Metal Rabbit, 2023 Water Rabbit.

Your Western sign

Your Chinese sign comes from your birth year. Western astrology works from the sky on the day you were born instead: your Sun sign follows the date, and your Moon sign and rising sign also need the time and place. Two people born in 1987 share the Rabbit and can still have any of the twelve Western Sun signs. Draw your free birth chart to see your Sun, Moon and rising sign together, or look up your Sun sign by date with the zodiac sign dates calculator.

All twelve animals, the five elements and every year from 1930 to 2030 are listed in Chinese zodiac years.