What was the Chinese New Year animal in 1947?

rabbit is the animal in the new year of 1987.....by the eastern perspective , and by the western point of view the Chinese New Year starts on Jan 29 of 1987 which is the rabbit. I was told that the calendar date falls on that day from my boyfriend who just happens to be Chinese and he claims that it isn't a date it goes by years and 1987 is the year of the rabbit while 1986 is the year of the tiger.

good luck w/ arguing someone down about it....I tried!