The Monkey (申, Sin) in Korean Saju: Element, Years and Clash
The Monkey branch in Korean Saju (사주) is Sin (신 申), the ninth Earthly Branch (지지 地支 jiji). It is Yang Metal at the start of autumn: the first cool edge in the air, the harvest beginning. Monkey years include 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 and 2028.
A note on spelling before going further. Sin (申) the Monkey branch and Sin (辛) the Yin Metal stem share the same romanization, and both are Metal, but they are different characters in different positions. On this site the branch is always written with its animal or with 申 to keep them apart.
The branch behind the animal
The branch is Metal with Yang polarity. Its month begins at Ipchu (입추 立秋, Start of Autumn) around August 8 and lasts to about September 7, the seventh month of the Saju year. Its hour runs from 15:00 to 17:00, late afternoon.
Its hidden stems (지장간 支藏干 jijanggan):
| Stem | Element | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Mu 戊 | Yang Earth | 7 |
| Im 壬 | Yang Water | 7 |
| Gyeong 庚 | Yang Metal | 16, main qi |
All three are Yang, which gives the branch a firm, decisive quality in classical descriptions. The Im Water layer matters most for interpretation. Water is said to be "born" in this branch, which is why the Monkey starts the Water triple frame, and why a chart that needs Water can find some here. The cycle at work is Metal producing Water, explained in the Five Elements guide.
As your year branch, and as your day branch
Your tti (띠) in Korea is the animal of your year branch. A reader uses the year branch as background: where you come from, the household you grew up in, and how institutions and acquaintances see you. The Monkey year carries a traditional image of cleverness, versatility and quick reactions, an image every person born in that Saju year shares.
The day branch (일지 日支 ilji) gets more weight. Directly under your Day Master, it is the spouse palace (배우자궁 配偶者宮), the seat of partnership and home life. A Monkey day branch puts sharp Metal with a stream of Water inside it next to the self. How that plays out depends on the stem. For Gyeong Metal it is a strong root; for Im Water it is a supportive source; for Gap Wood it is the pressure of Seven Killings sitting right under the self.
Harmony, triple frame and clash
The Monkey's classical links, read as chart mechanics rather than verdicts on people:
- Six harmony (육합 六合 yukhap) with Sa (巳), the Snake. Fire and Metal bound together; readers often describe this pairing as close but complicated.
- Triple frame (삼합 三合 samhap) with Ja (子) Rat and Jin (辰) Dragon. The three form a Water frame, and the Monkey is the frame's starting point.
- Clash (충 沖 chung) with In (寅), the Tiger. Metal and Wood meet head-on across the circle.
The Monkey and Tiger are both branches that open a season, and Korean readers associate their clash with travel, relocation and changes of position. In a family chart it might show as a move abroad as easily as an argument.
Why your Saju year may differ from your zodiac year
Saju's year boundary is Ipchun (입춘 立春), around February 4. The animal on most zodiac calendars changes at Lunar New Year instead, so a birth between the two dates can get two answers.
2016 is a narrow example. Ipchun fell on February 4 and Lunar New Year on February 8. A baby born on February 6, 2016 is a Byeong-sin (丙申) Monkey in Saju, because Ipchun had passed, while a lunar zodiac chart would still call the child a Goat from the Eul-mi (乙未) year of 2015. A margin of two days decides the year pillar here, which is also why an accurate birth time matters near Ipchun. See birth time and place.
The five Monkey day pillars
As a Yang branch, the Monkey pairs with Yang stems only: Gap-sin (甲申), Byeong-sin (丙申), Mu-sin (戊申), Gyeong-sin (庚申) and Im-sin (壬申). Gyeong-sin is Yang Metal over Yang Metal, the hardest of the five.
FAQ
Which years are Monkey years in Saju?
Monkey years include 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004 and 2016, with 2028 next. Each starts at Ipchun around February 4.
What element is the Monkey?
The Monkey branch is Yang Metal. It also holds Im (壬) Yang Water and Mu (戊) Yang Earth as hidden stems, with Gyeong (庚) Yang Metal as the main qi.
Which sign clashes with the Monkey?
The Tiger. The Monkey's six-harmony partner is the Snake, and it forms a Water triple frame with the Rat and Dragon.
Hidden stems
| Stem | Element | Share of the month |
|---|---|---|
| 戊 Mu | Yang Earth | 7 days |
| 壬 Im | Yang Water | 7 days |
| 庚 Gyeong | Yang Metal | 16 days |
Monkey years
Years whose pillar carries this branch. A Saju year starts at Ipchun, around February 4, so anyone born before that in January or early February belongs to the previous year.
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