The Rat is associated with the Wood element in the 60-year cycle year 1984.
The year 1984 was a Wood Rat year, commonly called Jiazi in the traditional sexagenary cycle. Jia is the first heavenly stem and Zi is the earthly branch associated with the Rat, producing the cycle’s opening combination.
Chinese calendrical years begin at Lunar New Year rather than on January 1. Thus, a person born in early 1984 may belong to the preceding sign depending on the date of Lunar New Year and the calendrical system being used.
The 60-year cycle combines ten heavenly stems with twelve earthly branches. Because the two cycles realign every 60 years, another Wood Rat year occurred in 1924 and will occur again in 2044.