1996: the year of the Fire Rat (丙子)
In Korean saju, 1996 is the year of 丙子 (Byeong-ja). The top character, 丙, is yang Fire, and the bottom character, 子, is the Rat. Together they make 1996 the year of the Fire Rat. The saju year starts at Ipchun on February 4, 1996 at 22:07 Korea time and runs until February 4, 1997.
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1996 at a glance
- Year pair
- 丙子 · Byeong-ja
- Element
- Fire (yang)
- Animal
- Rat
- Old poetic name
- 澗下水 · Mountain stream
- Saju year starts
- February 4, 1996 22:07
- Ends
- February 4, 1997
- Age in 2027
- turns 31
Born in January or early February 1996?
The saju year changes at Ipchun, February 4, 1996 at 22:07 Korea time. If you were born before that moment, your year pair is 乙亥: you belong to 1995, the year of the Wood Pig.
Many zodiac sites switch the animal at Lunar New Year instead, which fell on February 19 in 1996, after Ipchun. So for birthdays from Ipchun until the day before February 19, saju already says Rat while those sites still say Pig.
The two characters of 丙子
- 丙Byeong · the sun at midday — fire that lights up everything
- 子Ja · Rat · a cold spring in deep winter
The Fire element of 1996
The top character decides the year’s element, so 1996 is a Fire year. When Fire energy is strong, it tends to feel like this: You feel bright, expressive, and ready to share your passion with others.
- Color
- Red
- Food
- Tomatoes, red berries, and warm spices
- Direction
- South
- Activity
- Getting some sunlight or dancing to your favorite song
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 1996 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 丙子 with their start dates (Korea date). Your birth month’s pair is one of your four pillars.
| Month pair | Starts |
|---|---|
| 庚寅Gyeong-in | February 4 |
| 辛卯Sin-myo | March 5 |
| 壬辰Im-jin | April 4 |
| 癸巳Gye-sa | May 5 |
| 甲午Gap-o | June 5 |
| 乙未Eul-mi | July 7 |
| 丙申Byeong-sin | August 7 |
| 丁酉Jeong-yu | September 7 |
| 戊戌Mu-sul | October 8 |
| 己亥Gi-hae | November 7 |
| 庚子Gyeong-ja | December 7 |
| 辛丑Sin-chuk | January 5, 1997 |
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
- 1972壬子 · Water Rat
- 1984甲子 · Wood Rat
- 2008戊子 · Earth Rat
- 2020庚子 · Metal Rat
The exact pair 丙子 returns every 60 years: 1936 and 2056.
Read 丙子 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 1996? 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 1996
What Chinese zodiac animal is 1996?
1996 is the year of the Rat, and more exactly the Fire Rat (丙子). In saju the year runs from Ipchun on February 4, 1996 to February 4, 1997.
What element is 1996?
Fire. The top character 丙 is yang Fire, and that is the year’s element. The bottom character 子 adds Water.
I was born in January 1996. What is my sign?
Before Ipchun (February 4, 1996, 22:07 Korea time) you belong to the year before: 乙亥, the Wood Pig of 1995. 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.