己巳

1989: the year of the Earth Snake (己巳)

In Korean saju, 1989 is the year of 己巳 (Gi-sa). The top character, 己, is yin Earth, and the bottom character, 巳, is the Snake. Together they make 1989 the year of the Earth Snake. The saju year starts at Ipchun on February 4, 1989 at 05:27 Korea time and runs until February 4, 1990.

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1989 at a glance

Year pair: 己巳 · Gi-sa
Element: Earth (yin)
Animal: Snake
Old poetic name: 大林木 · Great forest wood
Saju year starts: February 4, 1989 05:27
Ends: February 4, 1990
Age in 2027: turns 38

Born in January or early February 1989?

The saju year changes at Ipchun, February 4, 1989 at 05:27 Korea time. If you were born before that moment, your year pair is 戊辰: you belong to 1988, the year of the Earth Dragon.

Many zodiac sites switch the animal at Lunar New Year instead, which fell on February 6 in 1989, after Ipchun. So for birthdays from Ipchun until the day before February 6, saju already says Snake while those sites still say Dragon.

The two characters of 己巳

己Gi · garden soil holding seeds — earth where anything can grow
巳Sa · Snake · fire kindling in early summer

The Earth element of 1989

The top character decides the year’s element, so 1989 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 1989 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 己巳 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 5
戊辰Mu-jin	April 5
己巳Gi-sa	May 5
庚午Gyeong-o	June 6
辛未Sin-mi	July 7
壬申Im-sin	August 7
癸酉Gye-yu	September 8
甲戌Gap-sul	October 8
乙亥Eul-hae	November 7
丙子Byeong-ja	December 7
丁丑Jeong-chuk	January 5, 1990

The Snake in zodiac compatibility

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

The Snake in 2027

Same element. Same-element years tend to bring more company and more comparison, so allies and rivals both show up.

Ties with 丁未: No main combination or clash with 未 this year.

2027 outlook for the Snake →

Other Snake years

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

The exact pair 己巳 returns every 60 years: 1929 and 2049.

Read 己巳 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 1989? 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 1989

What Chinese zodiac animal is 1989?

1989 is the year of the Snake, and more exactly the Earth Snake (己巳). In saju the year runs from Ipchun on February 4, 1989 to February 4, 1990.

What element is 1989?

Earth. The top character 己 is yin Earth, and that is the year’s element. The bottom character 巳 adds Fire.

I was born in January 1989. What is my sign?

Before Ipchun (February 4, 1989, 05:27 Korea time) you belong to the year before: 戊辰, the Earth Dragon of 1988. 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.