Can Chi Calculator (Vietnamese Zodiac Animal & Element)
Enter your birth year to find your Can Chi — the Heavenly Stem (Can) and Earthly Branch (Chi) from the Vietnamese/Chinese sexagenary calendar. The result shows two numeric indices; use the reference tables below to read the full name. Animal index (Chi): 0=Tý/Rat, 1=Sửu/Ox, 2=Dần/Tiger, 3=Mão/Rabbit, 4=Thìn/Dragon, 5=Tỵ/Snake, 6=Ngọ/Horse, 7=Mùi/Goat, 8=Thân/Monkey, 9=Dậu/Rooster, 10=Tuất/Dog, 11=Hợi/Pig Stem index (Can): 0=Giáp/Wood+, 1=Ất/Wood-, 2=Bính/Fire+, 3=Đinh/Fire-, 4=Mậu/Earth+, 5=Kỷ/Earth-, 6=Canh/Metal+, 7=Tân/Metal-, 8=Nhâm/Water+, 9=Quý/Water- Example: 1990 → animal_index=6 (Ngọ/Horse), stem_index=6 (Canh/Metal+) → Canh Ngọ.
Fill in the fields above and click Calculate to see your results.
How to use
To find your Vietnamese or Chinese traditional calendar year name (Can Chi), simply enter your four-digit birth year in the Birth Year field. This calculator applies the standard 60-year sexagenary cycle formula used in the Vietnamese and Chinese lunisolar calendar. The output shows three numbers: Animal Index (Chi, 0–11), Stem Index (Can, 0–9), and Position in the 60-Year Cycle (0–59). Cross-reference Animal Index with the Chi table (e.g., 4 = Thìn/Dragon) and Stem Index with the Can table (e.g., 6 = Canh/Metal+) to get the full two-character year name such as Canh Thìn. This is a purely arithmetic conversion — no astrological interpretation is made.
How it's calculated
Animal Index (Chi)
0=Tý/Rat, 1=Sửu/Ox, 2=Dần/Tiger, 3=Mão/Rabbit, 4=Thìn/Dragon, 5=Tỵ/Snake, 6=Ngọ/Horse, 7=Mùi/Goat, 8=Thân/Monkey, 9=Dậu/Rooster, 10=Tuất/Dog, 11=Hợi/Pig
Stem Index (Can)
0=Giáp/Wood+, 1=Ất/Wood-, 2=Bính/Fire+, 3=Đinh/Fire-, 4=Mậu/Earth+, 5=Kỷ/Earth-, 6=Canh/Metal+, 7=Tân/Metal-, 8=Nhâm/Water+, 9=Quý/Water-
Position in 60-Year Cycle
Position within the 60-year sexagenary cycle (0–59)
Examples
1990 → animal_index=6 (Ngọ/Horse), stem_index=6 (Canh/Metal+) → Canh Ngọ
- Birth Year:1,990
Result
- Position in 60-Year Cycle:6
- Stem Index (Can):6
- Animal Index (Chi):6
Entering 1990 yields an Animal Index of 6 (Horse) and a Stem Index of 6 (Metal+). This means 1990 is the year of the Metal Horse (Canh Ngọ).
2000 → animal_index=4 (Thìn/Dragon), stem_index=6 (Canh/Metal+) → Canh Thìn
- Birth Year:2,000
Result
- Position in 60-Year Cycle:16
- Stem Index (Can):6
- Animal Index (Chi):4
2000 is the year Canh Thìn in the 60-year sexagenary cycle. Animal Index 4 = Thìn (Dragon), the 5th earthly branch. Stem Index 6 = Canh, the 7th heavenly stem (Metal+). The cycle position is 16, meaning this is the 17th year of the current 60-year cycle starting from 1984.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Can Chi?
How do I read my Can Chi from the index?
Why does the cycle repeat every 60 years?
How accurate is this for birthdays early in the year?
CalcVault Editorial Team
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The CalcVault Editorial Team is a group of finance, health, and mathematics specialists dedicated to producing accurate, bilingual calculator content for Vietnamese and global small business owners. Every formula on CalcVault undergoes rigorous source verification against authoritative bodies including the IRS, CFPB, CDC, WHO, and NIST before publication. Our process includes independent peer review, structured fact-checking, and scheduled content audits to ensure every calculator remains up-to-date with the latest regulatory and scientific standards. We are committed to editorial independence from our advertising partners.
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