Born in January: Which Zodiac Sign Are You? In Saju, the Animal Changes at Ipchun, Not Lunar New Year
"I was born in January. Am I a Rat or a Pig?"
This is one of the questions we get asked most often. If you were born in January or early February, you've probably been confused about your zodiac animal at some point. The short answer: in Saju (四柱, the Four Pillars of Destiny), the zodiac animal changes at Ipchun (立春, the Beginning of Spring), around February 4 on the solar calendar.
Three Different Dates When the Animal Changes
| Standard | When the animal changes | Where it's used |
|---|---|---|
| Solar New Year | January 1 | Calendars, age calculation |
| Lunar New Year | Varies each year (late January to mid-February) | Holidays, everyday conversation |
| Ipchun | Around February 4 | Saju (Four Pillars astrology) |
In everyday life, people usually go by Lunar New Year when they talk about their zodiac animal. But Saju divides years and months not by the movement of the moon, but by the movement of the sun (the solar terms). That's why Ipchun, the solar term that marks the start of spring, is the first day of the new year in Saju.
Why Ipchun, of All Days?
Saju is a discipline for reading how the energies of nature shift. Ipchun is the moment when the cold Water energy of winter recedes and the Wood energy of spring begins. It's seen as the true starting point of a new year's energy.
That's also why in Saju, months change on solar terms rather than on the 1st of the month. The first month (the Tiger month, 寅月) begins at Ipchun, and the second month (the Rabbit month, 卯月) begins at Gyeongchip (驚蟄, the Awakening of Insects).
Let's Check With Some Examples
- Born January 20, 1996 → Before Ipchun, so it's still the year of Eulhae (乙亥, 1995), and you're a Pig
- Born February 10, 1996 → After Ipchun, so it's the year of Byeongja (丙子, 1996), and you're a Rat
- Born February 4, 1996 → It depends on the exact time of Ipchun that year. If you were born on this day, you'll need to check your birth time as well.
Ipchun shifts slightly from year to year, falling anywhere between February 3 and 5, and the moment of change is set down to the exact time. If your birthday falls near the boundary, it's best to check it against a Manseryeok (萬歲曆, the Saju perpetual calendar).
What Matters More Than Your Zodiac Animal
The truth is, your zodiac animal is just one character out of the eight in your Saju chart. Even among people with the same animal, personality and the flow of fortune can be completely different depending on the month, day, and hour of birth. If the zodiac question has left you confused, this is a good time to look at your full set of eight characters.
On Good Morning Fortune, enter your birth date and birth time to see your eight characters and your zodiac animal together. See the 12 zodiac personalities and compatibility