i think the chinese is off because it is not the year that tells what the person is like but it is something called the DAYMASTER. the daymaster is the equivalent of the sun sign in western astro, while the BAZI chart is equivalent to the natal chart.
Bill Gates and Warren Buffet are both Ren Water Daymasters.
http://www.baziforlove.com/daymaster.htm
Here's mine...
Xin Metal is represented by fine jewellery, small knives, diamonds and glittering gold. Think Cartier, Bulgari and Swiss Army knife and you're not far off. Xin Metal people are inherently talkative and attention seeking. Wallflower is the consummate opposite of the Xin Metal person - indeed, if you're dating a quiet Xin Metal, then something's wrong with them! All Xin Metal's exhibit some measure of vanity, be it intellectual,or physical. The Xin Metal person is always thinking and their mind needs constant stimulation and occupation. They come in-born with a superiority complex, and can be quite bourgeois in their ways, loving the fine things in life.
The Xin Metal woman can be a challenge to handle - ice princess, snobbish, and egalitarian, these are some of the words that describe the Xin Metal woman. The Xin Metal woman has absolutely no tolerance for fools, and an even lower tolerance for a lack of class. She demands intellectual stimulation and places a high premium on her man being her equal, if not better than her. She will not get off her high-horse on this matter so either catch up, or don't even bother to put yourself in contention for her affections. The Xin Metal woman can talk dirty with the best of them, but at the same time, presents the image of purity and propriety. Romance is integral to succeeding with the Xin Metal woman - wine and dine her, put a little glamour and spectacle in your courtship, display some intelligence in your romance strategy, and most importantly, show a little old-fashioned gentlemanliness. If you get all this together, she'll deign to descend from her ivory tower. Until then, begone unworthy one. Be forewarned if you should cross the Xin Metal woman - prepare for death by a thousand cuts for the Xin Metal woman is the consummate plotter-schemer.
The Xin metal man is the consummate vainpot - indeed, many Xin Metal men are often accidentally assumed to be gay, because they tend to exhibit metrosexual tendencies. They are fussy about small things, typically have lots of opinions, can be petty, are highly animated, and are talkative. They also love being the center of attention. If you are dating a Xin Metal man, make sure you have a his and hers closet and separate mirror, or his and hers bookshelves for Xin Metal men are either physically vain or intellectually vain. Nuances, subtlety and good taste are extremely important to the Xin Metal man, and they loath ostentatiousness and vulgarity of any sort. This doesn't mean they are puritanical - it just means whilst everyone else does bawdy, they do sexyback. The Xin Metal man likes to be intellectually challenged and they like nothing more than a good debate. So the silent type of woman really doesn't work with a Xin Metal man, who can talk the hind legs of a donkey. But remember at the end of the day, Mr Xin Metal hates to be wrong. So challenge, excite and debate with him, but always make him feel like he comes out tops.
Some of you may find your animal sign is not what you originally thought it was! This is because Chinese Astrology computes the animal sign using the Solar Calendar - thus, the transition point to a new year in the Chinese calendar is February 4th of any year. If you were born before February 4th of any year, you belong to the animal sign of the previous year. For example, if you are born before February 4th 1984, then you belong to the year of the Pig, not the year of the Rat. The year of birth, which dictates a person's animal sign, is frequently relied upon to provide an astrological outlook of a person's life, including romance matters. These 'generic' astrological outlooks are really often more entertainment-based, and frequently are non-too accurate in their outlooks. In BaZi, the Day Master provides an infinitely clearer understanding of a person's inherent personality than their year of birth.