壬辰

2012: the year of the Water Dragon (壬辰)

In Korean saju, 2012 is the year of 壬辰 (Im-jin). The top character, 壬, is yang Water, and the bottom character, 辰, is the Dragon. Together they make 2012 the year of the Water Dragon. The saju year starts at Ipchun on February 4, 2012 at 19:22 Korea time and runs until February 4, 2013.

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2012 at a glance

Year pair: 壬辰 · Im-jin
Element: Water (yang)
Animal: Dragon
Old poetic name: 長流水 · Long river
Saju year starts: February 4, 2012 19:22
Ends: February 4, 2013
Age in 2027: turns 15

Born in January or early February 2012?

The saju year changes at Ipchun, February 4, 2012 at 19:22 Korea time. If you were born before that moment, your year pair is 辛卯: you belong to 2011, the year of the Metal Rabbit.

Many zodiac sites switch the animal at Lunar New Year instead, which fell on January 23 in 2012. So for birthdays from January 23 until just before Ipchun, those sites already say Dragon while saju still says Rabbit.

The two characters of 壬辰

壬Im · a wide river running far — water that never stops moving
辰Jin · Dragon · rain-soaked soil in late spring

The Water element of 2012

The top character decides the year’s element, so 2012 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 2012 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 壬辰 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 4
癸卯Gye-myo	March 5
甲辰Gap-jin	April 4
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, 2013

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 壬辰 returns every 60 years: 1952 and 2072.

Read 壬辰 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 2012? 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 2012

What Chinese zodiac animal is 2012?

2012 is the year of the Dragon, and more exactly the Water Dragon (壬辰). In saju the year runs from Ipchun on February 4, 2012 to February 4, 2013.

What element is 2012?

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

I was born in January 2012. What is my sign?

Before Ipchun (February 4, 2012, 19:22 Korea time) you belong to the year before: 辛卯, the Metal Rabbit of 2011. 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.