The Twelve Earthly Branches and Zodiac Animals
Explore the Twelve Earthly Branches (지지) and their connection to the Korean zodiac animals. Learn their meanings, hours, and relationships.
Understanding Earthly Branches
The Twelve Earthly Branches (지지/地支, Jiji) represent the terrestrial counterpart to the Heavenly Stems. While stems represent celestial qi, branches represent how that energy manifests on Earth. Each branch is associated with an animal, a two-hour period of the day, a month, and specific elemental qualities.
In Korean culture, most people know their birth year’s zodiac animal from the Twelve Branches—but in Saju, branches appear in all four pillars, providing much richer information.
The Twelve Branches Overview
| # | Branch | Korean | Animal | Element | Hours | Month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 子 | 자 (Ja) | Rat 🐀 | Water | 23:00-01:00 | Nov |
| 2 | 丑 | 축 (Chuk) | Ox 🐂 | Earth | 01:00-03:00 | Dec |
| 3 | 寅 | 인 (In) | Tiger 🐅 | Wood | 03:00-05:00 | Jan |
| 4 | 卯 | 묘 (Myo) | Rabbit 🐇 | Wood | 05:00-07:00 | Feb |
| 5 | 辰 | 진 (Jin) | Dragon 🐉 | Earth | 07:00-09:00 | Mar |
| 6 | 巳 | 사 (Sa) | Snake 🐍 | Fire | 09:00-11:00 | Apr |
| 7 | 午 | 오 (O) | Horse 🐴 | Fire | 11:00-13:00 | May |
| 8 | 未 | 미 (Mi) | Goat 🐐 | Earth | 13:00-15:00 | Jun |
| 9 | 申 | 신 (Sin) | Monkey 🐒 | Metal | 15:00-17:00 | Jul |
| 10 | 酉 | 유 (Yu) | Rooster 🐓 | Metal | 17:00-19:00 | Aug |
| 11 | 戌 | 술 (Sul) | Dog 🐕 | Earth | 19:00-21:00 | Sep |
| 12 | 亥 | 해 (Hae) | Pig 🐷 | Water | 21:00-23:00 | Oct |
Understanding Each Branch
子 (Ja) - Rat 🐀
Element: Water | Season: Mid-Winter | Hours: 23:00-01:00
The Rat opens the cycle, representing new beginnings in the darkest hour. Despite its small size, the rat is clever, resourceful, and survives where others cannot.
Characteristics:
- Quick-witted and intelligent
- Resourceful problem-solver
- Charming and sociable
- Adaptable to circumstances
- Good with finances and resources
Years: 2020, 2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960…
丑 (Chuk) - Ox 🐂
Element: Earth | Season: Late Winter | Hours: 01:00-03:00
The Ox represents steadfast labor and patient progress. It doesn’t seek glory but accomplishes its tasks with unwavering determination.
Characteristics:
- Hardworking and diligent
- Patient and methodical
- Honest and dependable
- Strong and resilient
- Conservative and traditional
Years: 2021, 2009, 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961…
寅 (In) - Tiger 🐅
Element: Wood | Season: Early Spring | Hours: 03:00-05:00
The Tiger marks spring’s arrival with powerful, assertive energy. Bold and confident, the tiger commands respect through presence alone.
Characteristics:
- Brave and confident
- Natural leader
- Competitive and ambitious
- Protective of loved ones
- Can be unpredictable
Years: 2022, 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962…
卯 (Myo) - Rabbit 🐇
Element: Wood | Season: Spring | Hours: 05:00-07:00
The Rabbit moves through life with grace and awareness. Where the Tiger’s Wood is forceful, the Rabbit’s is gentle and diplomatic.
Characteristics:
- Gentle and peace-loving
- Artistic and refined
- Quick and alert
- Diplomatic in conflicts
- Needs security and comfort
Years: 2023, 2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963…
辰 (Jin) - Dragon 🐉
Element: Earth | Season: Late Spring | Hours: 07:00-09:00
The Dragon is the only mythical creature in the cycle, representing extraordinary potential and good fortune. In Korean culture, Dragon years are considered especially auspicious.
Characteristics:
- Powerful and ambitious
- Charismatic and magnetic
- Confident and enthusiastic
- Visionary and innovative
- Prone to perfectionism
Years: 2024, 2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964…
巳 (Sa) - Snake 🐍
Element: Fire | Season: Early Summer | Hours: 09:00-11:00
The Snake moves with purpose and wisdom. Often misunderstood, it possesses deep intuition and strategic intelligence.
Characteristics:
- Wise and intuitive
- Graceful and charming
- Strategic thinker
- Determined and focused
- Private and mysterious
Years: 2025, 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965…
午 (O) - Horse 🐴
Element: Fire | Season: Summer | Hours: 11:00-13:00
The Horse embodies peak Fire energy—active, passionate, and free-spirited. Horses need room to run and cannot be contained.
Characteristics:
- Energetic and active
- Independent and free
- Passionate and warm
- Popular and social
- Sometimes impatient
Years: 2026, 2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966…
未 (Mi) - Goat 🐐
Element: Earth | Season: Late Summer | Hours: 13:00-15:00
The Goat (or Sheep) represents gentleness and artistic sensitivity. It prefers harmony and beauty to competition and conflict.
Characteristics:
- Creative and artistic
- Gentle and kind
- Peace-loving
- Intuitive about others’ feelings
- Needs support and encouragement
Years: 2027, 2015, 2003, 1991, 1979, 1967…
申 (Sin) - Monkey 🐒
Element: Metal | Season: Early Autumn | Hours: 15:00-17:00
The Monkey is endlessly clever and curious. It finds creative solutions and entertains everyone with its wit and ingenuity.
Characteristics:
- Extremely clever
- Curious and playful
- Versatile and adaptable
- Problem-solver
- Can be mischievous
Years: 2028, 2016, 2004, 1992, 1980, 1968…
酉 (Yu) - Rooster 🐓
Element: Metal | Season: Autumn | Hours: 17:00-19:00
The Rooster announces each day with precision and confidence. It takes pride in appearance and performance.
Characteristics:
- Confident and proud
- Hardworking and observant
- Honest and direct
- Detail-oriented
- Perfectionist tendencies
Years: 2029, 2017, 2005, 1993, 1981, 1969…
戌 (Sul) - Dog 🐕
Element: Earth | Season: Late Autumn | Hours: 19:00-21:00
The Dog is humanity’s loyal companion—faithful, protective, and true. It values justice and will defend those under its care.
Characteristics:
- Loyal and faithful
- Honest and just
- Protective and caring
- Can be anxious or worried
- Needs to feel trusted
Years: 2030, 2018, 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970…
亥 (Hae) - Pig 🐷
Element: Water | Season: Early Winter | Hours: 21:00-23:00
The Pig closes the cycle with generosity and good cheer. It enjoys life’s pleasures and shares abundance with others.
Characteristics:
- Generous and giving
- Sincere and honest
- Patient and tolerant
- Enjoys the good life
- Can be too trusting
Years: 2031, 2019, 2007, 1995, 1983, 1971…
Branch Relationships
Six Harmonies (육합/六合)
Certain pairs of branches have natural harmony:
| Pair | Animals | Bond Type |
|---|---|---|
| 子-丑 | Rat-Ox | Earth harmony |
| 寅-亥 | Tiger-Pig | Wood harmony |
| 卯-戌 | Rabbit-Dog | Fire harmony |
| 辰-酉 | Dragon-Rooster | Metal harmony |
| 巳-申 | Snake-Monkey | Water harmony |
| 午-未 | Horse-Goat | Sun/Moon harmony |
Six Clashes (육충/六沖)
Opposite pairs create tension:
| Pair | Animals | Conflict Type |
|---|---|---|
| 子-午 | Rat-Horse | Water vs Fire |
| 丑-未 | Ox-Goat | Earth conflict |
| 寅-申 | Tiger-Monkey | Wood vs Metal |
| 卯-酉 | Rabbit-Rooster | Wood vs Metal |
| 辰-戌 | Dragon-Dog | Earth conflict |
| 巳-亥 | Snake-Pig | Fire vs Water |
Three Harmonies (삼합/三合)
Groups of three branches that form elemental alliances:
- Wood Frame: Tiger-Horse-Dog (寅午戌)
- Fire Frame: Snake-Rooster-Ox (巳酉丑)
- Metal Frame: Monkey-Rat-Dragon (申子辰)
- Water Frame: Pig-Rabbit-Goat (亥卯未)
Beyond the Year Animal
Remember: your zodiac animal from your birth year is just one of potentially four branch animals in your chart. Your Day Branch animal, in particular, reveals more personal characteristics than the Year Branch, which relates more to your public persona and family background.
Discover Your Branches
Use our Saju Calculator to see all four of your branch animals and how they interact.