1985: the year of the Wood Ox (乙丑)
In Korean saju, 1985 is the year of 乙丑 (Eul-chuk). The top character, 乙, is yin Wood, and the bottom character, 丑, is the Ox. Together they make 1985 the year of the Wood Ox. The saju year starts at Ipchun on February 4, 1985 at 06:11 Korea time and runs until February 4, 1986.
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1985 at a glance
- Year pair
- 乙丑 · Eul-chuk
- Element
- Wood (yin)
- Animal
- Ox
- Old poetic name
- 海中金 · Gold in the sea
- Saju year starts
- February 4, 1985 06:11
- Ends
- February 4, 1986
- Age in 2027
- turns 42
Born in January or early February 1985?
The saju year changes at Ipchun, February 4, 1985 at 06:11 Korea time. If you were born before that moment, your year pair is 甲子: you belong to 1984, the year of the Wood Rat.
Many zodiac sites switch the animal at Lunar New Year instead, which fell on February 20 in 1985, after Ipchun. So for birthdays from Ipchun until the day before February 20, saju already says Ox while those sites still say Rat.
The two characters of 乙丑
- 乙Eul · a flowering vine that bends with the wind — wood that is gentle but unbreakable
- 丑Chuk · Ox · frozen mud in late winter
The Wood element of 1985
The top character decides the year’s element, so 1985 is a Wood year. When Wood energy is strong, it tends to feel like this: You feel a push to grow, start new things, and move forward with purpose.
- Color
- Green
- Food
- Leafy greens and fresh herbs
- Direction
- East
- Activity
- Walking in a park or caring for a plant
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 1985 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 乙丑 with their start dates (Korea date). Your birth month’s pair is one of your four pillars.
| Month pair | Starts |
|---|---|
| 戊寅Mu-in | February 4 |
| 己卯Gi-myo | March 6 |
| 庚辰Gyeong-jin | April 5 |
| 辛巳Sin-sa | May 5 |
| 壬午Im-o | June 6 |
| 癸未Gye-mi | July 7 |
| 甲申Gap-sin | August 7 |
| 乙酉Eul-yu | September 8 |
| 丙戌Byeong-sul | October 8 |
| 丁亥Jeong-hae | November 7 |
| 戊子Mu-ja | December 7 |
| 己丑Gi-chuk | January 6, 1986 |
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:
- 1949己丑 · Earth Ox
- 1961辛丑 · Metal Ox
- 1973癸丑 · Water Ox
- 1997丁丑 · Fire Ox
- 2009己丑 · Earth Ox
- 2021辛丑 · Metal Ox
The exact pair 乙丑 returns every 60 years: 1925 and 2045.
Read 乙丑 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 1985? 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 1985
What Chinese zodiac animal is 1985?
1985 is the year of the Ox, and more exactly the Wood Ox (乙丑). In saju the year runs from Ipchun on February 4, 1985 to February 4, 1986.
What element is 1985?
Wood. The top character 乙 is yin Wood, and that is the year’s element. The bottom character 丑 adds Earth.
I was born in January 1985. What is my sign?
Before Ipchun (February 4, 1985, 06:11 Korea time) you belong to the year before: 甲子, the Wood Rat of 1984. 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.