Water Snake (癸巳): personality and meaning in the Chinese zodiac
The Water Snake, 癸巳, deepens the Snake's understanding of people and of what is hidden. The tradition reads it as the most intuitive of the five Snakes.
Heavenly stem and earthly branch: 癸巳
Years: 1953, 2013
Character
癸巳 sets 癸, yin water, the rain, over the Snake's fire. Water restrains fire, so the tradition reads this as a pair in which the stem tempers its branch: rain on a summer evening, cooling passion into reflection.
People born in a Water Snake year are read as perceptive, wise and composed, with a talent for understanding people and situations quickly. They are thoughtful and strategic. The tradition's shadow for the Water Snake is secrecy and overthinking — seeing so much that it doubts what to do — and a long memory for a hurt.
In love and at work
In love the Water Snake is read as intuitive, devoted and deeply loyal, a partner who understands without being told. At work it suits research, psychology, strategy, writing and the arts. The tradition suggests the Water Snake let go of an old grievance to make room for something new.
A question to take with you
Which old hurt are you still carrying — and what would change if you set it down?
Updated October 28, 2026