Korean Zodiac by Birth Year

Enter your birth year to see your zodiac animal, its five-element (오행) type, the heavenly-stem element, and your yin/yang (음양) polarity — all from the year alone. No sign-up.

Element
Animal
Polarity

This is just your year pillar — what about the other three?

Your animal and element here come from the birth year only. A full Saju (Four Pillars) reading also builds your month, day, and hour pillars from your exact birth date & time — get it free.

Get my free Saju reading → or chat with the free AI fortune companion →

Birth-Year Zodiac & Element FAQ

What is my zodiac animal and element by birth year?

Your animal comes from a 12-year cycle of earthly branches (Rat, Ox, Tiger ... Pig), and your element comes from a 10-year cycle of heavenly stems that maps to wood, fire, earth, metal, or water. The tool shows both at once — for example a Fire Horse or a Metal Rat.

How is the Saju element calculated from the year?

The stem index is (year − 4) mod 10. Stems 0–1 are Wood, 2–3 Fire, 4–5 Earth, 6–7 Metal, 8–9 Water. The animal is the branch index (year − 4) mod 12. This is the year-pillar element; a full Saju reading adds the month, day, and hour pillars.

What does yin or yang mean for my birth year?

Each year is yin (음) or yang (양), flipping every year: even stems are yang, odd stems are yin. Yang years lean outward and active; yin years lean inward and receptive. It colors how the same animal and element express themselves.

Does the zodiac year start on January 1st?

No — traditionally it turns over around the lunar new year (late January to mid-February). January / early-February births may belong to the previous year's animal and element. The full Saju reading handles the lunar calendar and your birth time exactly.

Does this tool send my birth year anywhere?

No. Every calculation runs entirely in your browser with plain JavaScript. Your birth year is never uploaded or stored.