1972: the year of the Water Rat (壬子)
In Korean saju, 1972 is the year of 壬子 (Im-ja). The top character, 壬, is yang Water, and the bottom character, 子, is the Rat. Together they make 1972 the year of the Water Rat. The saju year starts at Ipchun on February 5, 1972 at 02:20 Korea time and runs until February 4, 1973.
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1972 at a glance
- Year pair
- 壬子 · Im-ja
- Element
- Water (yang)
- Animal
- Rat
- Old poetic name
- 桑柘木 · Mulberry wood
- Saju year starts
- February 5, 1972 02:20
- Ends
- February 4, 1973
- Age in 2027
- turns 55
Born in January or early February 1972?
The saju year changes at Ipchun, February 5, 1972 at 02:20 Korea time. If you were born before that moment, your year pair is 辛亥: you belong to 1971, the year of the Metal Pig.
Many zodiac sites switch the animal at Lunar New Year instead, which fell on February 15 in 1972, after Ipchun. So for birthdays from Ipchun until the day before February 15, saju already says Rat while those sites still say Pig.
The two characters of 壬子
- 壬Im · a wide river running far — water that never stops moving
- 子Ja · Rat · a cold spring in deep winter
The Water element of 1972
The top character decides the year’s element, so 1972 is a Water year. When Water energy is strong, it tends to feel like this: You feel wise, calm, and open to new ideas flowing in.
- Color
- Navy or black
- Food
- Black beans, seaweed, and fresh seafood
- Direction
- North
- Activity
- Taking a relaxing bath or journaling quietly
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 1972 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 壬子 with their start dates (Korea date). Your birth month’s pair is one of your four pillars.
| Month pair | Starts |
|---|---|
| 壬寅Im-in | February 5 |
| 癸卯Gye-myo | March 5 |
| 甲辰Gap-jin | April 5 |
| 乙巳Eul-sa | May 5 |
| 丙午Byeong-o | June 5 |
| 丁未Jeong-mi | July 7 |
| 戊申Mu-sin | August 7 |
| 己酉Gi-yu | September 7 |
| 庚戌Gyeong-sul | October 8 |
| 辛亥Sin-hae | November 7 |
| 壬子Im-ja | December 7 |
| 癸丑Gye-chuk | January 5, 1973 |
The Rat in zodiac compatibility
By the branch tables, the Rat’s closest match is the Ox (six harmony). Its team of three adds the Monkey and Dragon. Its opposite sign, the Horse, is a clash pair, read as different rhythms rather than bad luck.
The Rat in 2027
Your Water controls Fire. The year reads like something to manage: money, tasks, results. Planning tends to beat grabbing.
Ties with 丁未: Harm (害) · Wonjin (怨嗔)
2027 outlook for the Rat →Other Rat years
The Rat comes back every 12 years, but the element on top changes each time:
- 1948戊子 · Earth Rat
- 1960庚子 · Metal Rat
- 1984甲子 · Wood Rat
- 1996丙子 · Fire Rat
- 2008戊子 · Earth Rat
- 2020庚子 · Metal Rat
The exact pair 壬子 returns every 60 years: 1912 and 2032.
Read 壬子 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 1972? 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 1972
What Chinese zodiac animal is 1972?
1972 is the year of the Rat, and more exactly the Water Rat (壬子). In saju the year runs from Ipchun on February 5, 1972 to February 4, 1973.
What element is 1972?
Water. The top character 壬 is yang Water, and that is the year’s element. The bottom character 子 adds Water.
I was born in January 1972. What is my sign?
Before Ipchun (February 5, 1972, 02:20 Korea time) you belong to the year before: 辛亥, the Metal Pig of 1971. 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.