Our Chatswood Year of the Horse design
2026 is the Year of the Horse in the Chinese lunar calendar, the seventh animal of the twelve zodiacs. According to folklore, the Fire Horse of 2026 was transformed by the Heavenly River into the image of the Jade Horse, representing vitality, courage and progress. It embodies the vigorous spirit of the dragon horse – full of strength, brilliance and resilience – and is a symbol of health, kindness, great aspirations and unceasing life. The horse has long held a significant place in Chinese culture and is associated with auspicious idioms such as 'success comes with the horse’s arrival.'
In Tianli Zu's paper-cut work, the horse is portrayed as a celestial spiritual creature. Captured mid-stride, youthful and radiant, its mane flows like a dragon amid fiery clouds, while its tail unfurls as a cloud of prosperity. To reflect the Taoist wisdom of water and fire in balance, patterns of ruyi, coins, water, peonies and plants intertwine across its body, symbolising abundance, harmony and transformation. Stepping into the New Year with curiosity and enthusiasm, its bright eye shines with vitality and hope.
Horses in Chinese culture have long symbolised loyalty, perseverance, ability, wisdom, talent and achievement. Since the Shang Dynasty, they were revered as noble animals, depicted in ritual vessels and oracle bones as companions of kings and warriors. The 'spirit of the dragon horse' (longma jingshen 龙马精神) represents relentless striving, self-improvement and upward progress. Ancestors believed the dragon horse to be benevolent, the spirit of the Yellow River, and an incarnation of the descendants of Yan and Huang – embodying the core spirit and highest moral values of the Chinese nation. The term 'thousand-li horse' (qianlima 千里马) was used for individuals with exceptional potential, a legacy that continues in the zodiac horse, which also embodies spiritual and transformative qualities.
This zodiac Horse embraces this cultural heritage while reimagining the horse as a luminous, powerful and auspicious being. It carries the radiance of fire, a metaphor for passion, energy and speed; the nourishment of water; and the purity of nature. It represents freedom, ascension, wisdom, balance and prosperity.
The colours deepen this symbolism: red for joy, vitality and yang energy, and jade-green for renewal, yin energy and harmony – honouring tradition while embracing the transformative spirit of modern times.
People born in the Year of the Horse are independent, optimistic, energetic, adventurous and quick-witted, often attracting others with their natural charisma. They thrive on freedom and excel in new challenges. While their restlessness and impatience can be challenging, these traits drive creativity and resilience, reflecting the spirited essence of the zodiac animal. People born in the Year of the Horse: 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, and 2026.
Artist - Tianli Zu
Good fortune motifs
Fire
Evokes mythical beings ablaze with flame patterns, radiating strength and vitality. In the Five Elements, fire – generated by wood – represents wisdom, illumination, transformation and the enduring force of civilisation.
Wood (plants)
Embodies growth, renewal and harmony. Traditional papercuts often adorn figures with plants, expressing a vision of balance and interconnectedness between humanity and nature, symbolising vitality, creativity and flourishing life.
Auspicious Water
Symbolises wisdom, adaptability and grace. Rooted in ancient philosophy, it mediates Yin and Yang, shaping all transformations. As life’s essential source, water embodies nourishment, renewal and the continuity of existence.
Ruyi
An ancient auspicious symbol representing power, peace and happiness. In Chinese, the word ‘ruyi’ is a homophone for ‘as you wish.’ In Buddhist tradition, the ruyi takes the form of a sacred flower, embodying humanity’s profound longing for the fulfillment of wishes and aspirations.
Auspicious Cloud
Represent holiness and good fortune. In Chinese, the word for ‘cloud’ (yun) is a homophone for ‘luck’. A lucky cloud forming the ho’tail further emphasises its spiritual nature.
Coins
Are often associated with wealth. In Chinese tradition, however, ancient coins also symbolise harmony: the round shape represents Heaven, while the square center signifies Earth.