1949: the year of the Earth Ox (己丑)
In Korean saju, 1949 is the year of 己丑 (Gi-chuk). The top character, 己, is yin Earth, and the bottom character, 丑, is the Ox. Together they make 1949 the year of the Earth Ox. The saju year starts at Ipchun on February 4, 1949 at 12:22 Korea time and runs until February 4, 1950.
Free30 secondsNo sign-up
1949 at a glance
- Year pair
- 己丑 · Gi-chuk
- Element
- Earth (yin)
- Animal
- Ox
- Old poetic name
- 霹靂火 · Thunderbolt fire
- Saju year starts
- February 4, 1949 12:22
- Ends
- February 4, 1950
- Age in 2027
- turns 78
Born in January or early February 1949?
The saju year changes at Ipchun, February 4, 1949 at 12:22 Korea time. If you were born before that moment, your year pair is 戊子: you belong to 1948, the year of the Earth Rat.
Many zodiac sites switch the animal at Lunar New Year instead, which fell on January 29 in 1949. So for birthdays from January 29 until just before Ipchun, those sites already say Ox while saju still says Rat.
The two characters of 己丑
- 己Gi · garden soil holding seeds — earth where anything can grow
- 丑Chuk · Ox · frozen mud in late winter
The Earth element of 1949
The top character decides the year’s element, so 1949 is a Earth year. When Earth energy is strong, it tends to feel like this: You feel grounded, patient, and able to hold things together for everyone.
- Color
- Yellow
- Food
- Sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and whole grains
- Direction
- Center
- Activity
- Tidying your room or gardening
This is your birth-year element. In saju, your core element comes from your birth day instead (the day master), and it can be different. A free saju card shows yours.
Month pillars of the 1949 saju year
In saju, each month also has a pair, and it starts on a solar term, not on the 1st. These are the twelve months of 己丑 with their start dates (Korea date). Your birth month’s pair is one of your four pillars.
| Month pair | Starts |
|---|---|
| 丙寅Byeong-in | February 4 |
| 丁卯Jeong-myo | March 6 |
| 戊辰Mu-jin | April 5 |
| 己巳Gi-sa | May 6 |
| 庚午Gyeong-o | June 6 |
| 辛未Sin-mi | July 7 |
| 壬申Im-sin | August 8 |
| 癸酉Gye-yu | September 8 |
| 甲戌Gap-sul | October 9 |
| 乙亥Eul-hae | November 8 |
| 丙子Byeong-ja | December 7 |
| 丁丑Jeong-chuk | January 6, 1950 |
The Ox in zodiac compatibility
By the branch tables, the Ox’s closest match is the Rat (six harmony). Its team of three adds the Snake and Rooster. Its opposite sign, the Goat, is a clash pair, read as different rhythms rather than bad luck.
The Ox in 2027
Fire feeds your Earth. The year tends to feel supportive: learning, help from others, time to recharge. The catch is getting too comfortable.
Ties with 丁未: Clash (沖) · Punishment (刑)
2027 outlook for the Ox →Other Ox years
The Ox comes back every 12 years, but the element on top changes each time:
- 1961辛丑 · Metal Ox
- 1973癸丑 · Water Ox
- 1985乙丑 · Wood Ox
- 1997丁丑 · Fire Ox
- 2009己丑 · Earth Ox
- 2021辛丑 · Metal Ox
The exact pair 己丑 returns every 60 years: 2009.
Read 己丑 as a day pillar →How to read this
Your birth year is one pillar out of four. Your birth month, day and hour usually say more about you than the year does. Use this page for facts and fun, then check the full chart.
Born in 1949? See your whole chart
Your year is one pillar. Add your birthday for a free saju card with all four, worked out on your device.
Questions about 1949
What Chinese zodiac animal is 1949?
1949 is the year of the Ox, and more exactly the Earth Ox (己丑). In saju the year runs from Ipchun on February 4, 1949 to February 4, 1950.
What element is 1949?
Earth. The top character 己 is yin Earth, and that is the year’s element. The bottom character 丑 adds Earth.
I was born in January 1949. What is my sign?
Before Ipchun (February 4, 1949, 12:22 Korea time) you belong to the year before: 戊子, the Earth Rat of 1948. Check your exact time if you were born that day.
Is my birth-year element my saju element?
Not exactly. The year element describes your birth year. Saju reads your core self from your birth-day character (the day master), which needs your full birth date.