戊辰

1988: the year of the Earth Dragon (戊辰)

In Korean saju, 1988 is the year of 戊辰 (Mu-jin). The top character, 戊, is yang Earth, and the bottom character, 辰, is the Dragon. Together they make 1988 the year of the Earth Dragon. The saju year starts at Ipchun on February 4, 1988 at 23:42 Korea time and runs until February 4, 1989.

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1988 at a glance

Year pair: 戊辰 · Mu-jin
Element: Earth (yang)
Animal: Dragon
Old poetic name: 大林木 · Great forest wood
Saju year starts: February 4, 1988 23:42
Ends: February 4, 1989
Age in 2027: turns 39

Born in January or early February 1988?

The saju year changes at Ipchun, February 4, 1988 at 23:42 Korea time. If you were born before that moment, your year pair is 丁卯: you belong to 1987, the year of the Fire Rabbit.

Many zodiac sites switch the animal at Lunar New Year instead, which fell on February 17 in 1988, after Ipchun. So for birthdays from Ipchun until the day before February 17, saju already says Dragon while those sites still say Rabbit.

The two characters of 戊辰

戊Mu · a solid hill of earth — earth that holds things steady
辰Jin · Dragon · rain-soaked soil in late spring

The Earth element of 1988

The top character decides the year’s element, so 1988 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 1988 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 戊辰 with their start dates (Korea date). Your birth month’s pair is one of your four pillars.

Month pair	Starts
甲寅Gap-in	February 4
乙卯Eul-myo	March 5
丙辰Byeong-jin	April 4
丁巳Jeong-sa	May 5
戊午Mu-o	June 5
己未Gi-mi	July 7
庚申Gyeong-sin	August 7
辛酉Sin-yu	September 7
壬戌Im-sul	October 8
癸亥Gye-hae	November 7
甲子Gap-ja	December 7
乙丑Eul-chuk	January 5, 1989

The Dragon in zodiac compatibility

By the branch tables, the Dragon’s closest match is the Rooster (six harmony). Its team of three adds the Monkey and Rat. Its opposite sign, the Dog, is a clash pair, read as different rhythms rather than bad luck.

The Dragon 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: No main combination or clash with 未 this year.

2027 outlook for the Dragon →

Other Dragon years

The Dragon comes back every 12 years, but the element on top changes each time:

The exact pair 戊辰 returns every 60 years: 1928 and 2048.

Read 戊辰 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 1988? 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.

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Questions about 1988

What Chinese zodiac animal is 1988?

1988 is the year of the Dragon, and more exactly the Earth Dragon (戊辰). In saju the year runs from Ipchun on February 4, 1988 to February 4, 1989.

What element is 1988?

Earth. The top character 戊 is yang Earth, and that is the year’s element. The bottom character 辰 adds Earth.

I was born in January 1988. What is my sign?

Before Ipchun (February 4, 1988, 23:42 Korea time) you belong to the year before: 丁卯, the Fire Rabbit of 1987. 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.