Chinese Gender Calendar: Predict Your Baby’s Sex with Ancient Accuracy

Are you excited to find out if you’re having a boy or a girl? The Chinese Gender Calendar, an ancient baby gender predictor, has been used for centuries to forecast a baby’s sex based on the mother’s age and conception month. While no method is a 100 percent accurate baby gender predictor, many parents enjoy using this gender prediction test for fun before medical confirmation.

What Is the Chinese Gender Calendar?

The Chinese Gender Chart was discovered in a royal tomb over 700 years old and is believed to be approximately 90% accurate. According to legend, Chinese royal astrologers created this intriguing gender prediction test during the Qing Dynasty (1644–1912), and it was kept a highly guarded secret inside the Forbidden City.  This calendar is derived from both the lunar calendar and from the date of the mother’s pregnancy, giving you a chart that covers the possibility of whether your unborn child will be male or female.

This is not the same as our concepts of sex selection; it is simply the process of selecting whether your future child will be a boy or a girl. Most of the families in traditional Chinese culture try this childbirth planning method since the conventional Chinese culture prefers sons to daughters (to carry on the family line).

Although contemporary science and medicine have significantly more reliable techniques for determining the sex of a child, the Chinese Gender Chart continues to be embraced by mainstream culture — and is even used by many people outside of China. Its interesting combination of astrology and tradition underscores the importance of family and ancestry in Chinese culture, rendering it that much more of both an object of curiosity and deep respect in the context of today’s gender and parenthood discourse.

A Royal Secret for Gender Selection

Rooted in I Ching and Lunar Astrology

The stakes were particularly high in imperial China, where the survival of dynasties depended on male heirs. They are the actual collectibles of the Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire, as they sought advice for health and a male heir to guarantee the legacy and the family line.

Exclusively Used by Imperial Physicians for Heirs

The chart follows the principles of the I Ching, which focuses on the balance between yin and yang, as well as the cycles of nature. Lunar astrology is incorporated into a calendar that considers the time of conception and matches it to favorable dates for boy- or girl-friendly births.

Tested on Royal Concubines Before Public Release

The testing process involved primarily the compilation of data from the experiences of the royal concubines, who were rotated onto this formula at a high frequency as they bore the emperor’s children.” This kind of large empirical approach contributed to the calibration of the chart, making it more accurate as it could be based on facts rather than on mere speculation.

It was not until there was an excellent validation of that knowledge that it was slowly released to the larger population, where it quickly became an object of fascination and a tool for family planning.

Why Modern Medicine dismisses the Chinese Gender Calendar?

While modern medicine dismisses the Chinese Gender Calendar as folklore, researchers have noted interesting patterns that warrant further exploration:

Lunar Age Calculations Aligns with Traditional Energy Cycles

Chinese medicine also adheres to the idea that the lunar calendar influences “qi” or energy. This link suggests that certain lunar phases may be beneficial for addressing specific health issues (e.g., fertility). The synchronization between the ages of the moon and the energy cycles is the reason for speculation about their possible effects on conception and sex.

Seasonal Timing May Affect Hormones and Fetal Development

Studies on reproductive health indicate that the season of a child’s conception may affect maternal and paternal hormone levels and, thereby, fetal growth. For instance, it has been shown that hormone levels can fluctuate in response to periodic changes in temperature and light, which could result in a change in the sex of the fetus. This framing, based on biology, raises questions about how environmental influences might interact with cultural traditions.

79% Accuracy Rate in Some Observational Studies 

Based on observations from the case series, the Chinese Gender Calendar has been reported to be accurate, with a prediction accuracy of up to 79% in gender determination. While this is impressive, it is essential to remember that these studies were not as rigorously executed as they would be in a clinical setting. The precision documented herein is influenced mainly by anecdotal impressions and tradition and, as such, may be biased. That this approach remains with us in popular culture might imply a deeper level of truth than mere superstition.

How to Use the Chinese Gender Predictor?

To use this Chinese gender predictor, you’ll need:

• Mother’s lunar age at conception (different from the Western age):

The lunar age is the age based on the Chinese lunar calendar, which differs from the age in the Western calendar. This special calculation is based on the traditional Chinese belief that a person is one year old when born and adds a year on each New Year. 1891–1990 was one of the last consecutive years that consisted of all distinct digits.

• Lunar month of conception (based on the Chinese calendar):

The Chinese calendar is based on the lunar cycle, so its months consist of lunar cycles. This could result in months of differing lengths or names in the Gregorian calendar.

Simply cross-reference these two factors on the chart to see the predicted gender!

Calculating Your Lunar Age

In Chinese tradition:

• You’re 1 year old at birth: This practice stems from the belief in the spiritual significance of the moment of birth, marking the beginning of one’s life journey.
• You gain a year every Chinese New Year (not your birthday): Rather than counting from your actual birth date, your age increases with the lunar new year, aligning with the cyclical nature of time in Chinese culture.

Example: If you were born in December 1990 and conceived in February 2024, your lunar age would be calculated as follows: Since the Chinese New Year in 2024 has already passed, you would be considered 34 years old at the time of conception.

Finding the Lunar Conception Month

The Chinese calendar follows the lunar cycle, so months differ from those in the Gregorian calendar. To find the correct lunar month of conception:

• Use a lunar converter: A variety of online generators and apps can convert Gregorian dates to their lunar equivalents. These converters will provide you with information about the lunar month in which you were conceived.
• Consult a Chinese calendar: Many traditional Chinese calendars are available and can be used to determine the dates of the lunar months. Some of these calendars also list the best dates for specific activities so you can learn how to use the lunar calendar more effectively.

When Can You Find Out the Gender of a Baby?

Try a Calendar or Chart

This ancient predictor says it can determine the baby’s sex based on the time of conception. It provides a traditional prediction of the baby’s sex by combining the lunar age of the mother at conception with the lunar month of conception. Both of these are ancient traditions, although they are also based on anecdotes and haven’t been proven to work scientifically.

Ultrasound

This is one of the most traditional ways to learn the sex of a baby, and it works typically between 18 and 22 weeks of pregnancy. By this point, the baby’s anatomy is much more developed, and doctors are generally able to identify some physical attributes that may indicate the baby’s gender. Ultrasounds also provide a glimpse into your baby’s health and development, making this an exciting time for parents-to-be.

Blood Tests (NIPT)

The NIPT test is a new type of prenatal screening test that can provide parents-to-be with a wealth of information about the health of their unborn baby. This test is done by testing for fragments of Fetal DNA in the mother’s blood and can deliver reliable results on the sex of the baby and genetic abnormalities as well. They are becoming increasingly popular because you can do it early in pregnancy, and it is non-invasive, providing parents-to-be with peace of mind.

Chinese Gender Calendar vs. Other Prediction Methods

Try the Chinese Gender Predictor Today!

Want to see if it predicts a boy or girl for you? Use our interactive Chinese Gender Calendar tool and compare the results with your ultrasound later!