Sexagenary cycle

The sexagenary cycle (六十花甲 liùshí huājiǎ), also known as the "stems-and-branches" or "trunks-and-branches" (干支 gānzhī), is a traditional Chinese calendar system. It is a list of sixty terms which are used for identifying days or years.[1]

Sexagenary cycle

History

The oldest Chinese system for recording and organizing time uses repeated periods of 60 days.[2]

Ancient records show that the sexagenary cycle was used to count years in the 3rd century B.C.[2]

The repeating series of 60 terms has been an important part of historical calendar systems in East Asia, including China, Japan, Korea, Tibet and Vietnam.

Overview

Each term in the sexagenary cycle is made up of two Chinese characters:

One character is taken from a list of "heavenly stems" or "trunks" (天干 tiāngān), including wood, fire, earth, metal and water.[3]
The other character is taken from a list of "earthly branches" (地支 dìzhī) or animal signs, including Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.[4]
The combinations make up a total of 60 different names for a period of time.

Heavenly stems

No.	Heavenly Stem	Chinese name		Japanese name		Korean name		Vietnamese name	Yin yang	Wu xing
No.	Heavenly Stem	Mandarin (Pinyin)	Cantonese (Jyutping)	Onyomi	Kunyomi with corresponding kanji	Romanized	Hangul	Vietnamese name	Yin yang	Wu xing
1	甲	jiǎ	gaap³	kō (こう)	kinoe (木の兄)	gap	갑	giáp	yang	wood
2	乙	yǐ	jyut³	otsu (おつ)	kinoto (木の弟)	eul	을	ất	yin	wood
3	丙	bǐng	bing²	hei (へい)	hinoe (火の兄)	byeong	병	bính	yang	fire
4	丁	dīng	ding¹	tei (てい)	hinoto (火の弟)	jeong	정	đinh	yin	fire
5	戊	wù	mou⁶	bo (ぼ)	tsuchinoe (土の兄)	mu	무	mậu	yang	earth
6	己	jǐ	gei²	ki (き)	tsuchinoto (土の弟)	gi	기	kỷ	yin	earth
7	庚	gēng	gang¹	kō (こう)	kanoe (金の兄)	gyeong	경	canh	yang	metal
8	辛	xīn	san¹	shin (しん)	kanoto (金の弟)	shin	신	tân	yin	metal
9	壬	rén	jam⁴	jin (じん)	mizunoe (水の兄)	im	임	nhâm	yang	water
10	癸	guǐ	gwai³	ki (き)	mizunoto (水の弟)	gye	계	quý	yin	water

Earthly branches

No.	Earthly Branch	Chinese name		Japanese name		Korean name		Vietnamese name	Vietnamese zodiac	Chinese zodiac	Corresponding hours
No.	Earthly Branch	Mandarin (pinyin)	Cantonese (Jyutping)	Onyomi	Kunyomi	Romanized	Hangul	Vietnamese name	Vietnamese zodiac	Chinese zodiac	Corresponding hours
1	子	zǐ	zi²	shi	ne	ja	자	tý	Rat (chuột)	Rat (鼠)	11 p.m. to 1 a.m.
2	丑	chǒu	cau²	chū	ushi	chuk	축	sửu	Water Buffalo (trâu)	Cow (牛)	1 to 3 a.m.
3	寅	yín	jan⁴	in	tora	in	인	dần	Tiger (hổ/cọp)	Tiger (虎)	3 to 5 a.m.
4	卯	mǎo	maau⁵	bō	u	myo	묘	mẹo/mão	Cat (mèo)	Rabbit[5] (兔)	5 to 7 a.m.
5	辰	chén	san⁴	shin	tatsu	jin	진	thìn	Dragon (thuồng luồng)	Dragon (龍)	7 to 9 a.m.
6	巳	sì	zi⁶	shi	mi	sa	사	tỵ	Snake (rắn)	Snake (蛇)	9 to 11 a.m.
7	午	wǔ	ng⁵	go	uma	o	오	ngọ	Horse (ngựa)	Horse (馬)	11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
8	未	wèi	mei⁶	mi or bi	hitsuji	mi	미	mùi	Goat (dê)	Goat (羊)	1 to 3 p.m.
9	申	shēn	san¹	shin	saru	shin	신	thân	Monkey (khỉ)	Monkey (猴)	3 to 5 p.m.
10	酉	yǒu	jau⁵	yū	tori	yu	유	dậu	Chicken (gà)	Chicken (雞)	5 to 7 p.m.
11	戌	xū	seot¹	jutsu	inu	sul	술	tuất	Dog (chó)	Dog (狗)	7 to 9 p.m.
12	亥	hài	hoi⁶	gai	i	hae	해	hợi	Pig (lợn/heo)	Pig (豬)	9 to 11 p.m.

Conversion tables

Tables show specific years in the context of a repeating sexagenary cycle.

1804–1923

No.	1804–1863	Heavenly stem	Earthly branch	1864–1923
	Year	(Elements)	(Animals)	Year
1	~~ 1804 – ~~ 1805	甲 Yang Wood	子 Rat	Feb 8 1864 – Jan 26 1865
2	~~ 1805 – ~~ 1806	乙 Yin Wood	丑 Ox	Jan 27 1865 – ~~ 1866
3	~~ 1806 – ~~ 1807	丙 Yang Fire	寅 Tiger	~~ 1866 – ~~ 1867
4	~~ 1807 – ~~ 1808	丁 Yin Fire	卯 Rabbit	~~ 1867 – ~~ 1868
5	~~ 1808 – ~~ 1809	戊 Yang Earth	辰 Dragon	~~ 1868 – ~~ 1869
6	~~ 1809 – ~~ 1810	己 Yin Earth	巳 Snake	~~ 1869 – Jan 30 1870
7	~~ 1810 – ~~ 1811	庚 Yang Metal	午 Horse	Jan 31 1870 – Feb 18 1871
8	~~ 1811 – ~~ 1812	辛 Yin Metal	未 Goat	Feb 19 1871 – ~~ 1872
9	~~ 1812 – ~~ 1813	壬 Yang Water	申 Monkey	~~ 1872 – ~~ 1873
10	~~ 1813 – ~~ 1814	癸 Yin Water	酉 Rooster	~~ 1873 – ~~ 1874
11	~~ 1814 – ~~ 1815	甲 Yang Wood	戌 Dog	~~ 1874 – ~~ 1875
12	~~ 1815 – ~~ 1816	乙 Yin Wood	亥 Pig	~~ 1875 – ~~ 1876
13	~~ 1816 – ~~ 1817	丙 Yang Fire	子 Rat	~~ 1876 – ~~ 1877
14	~~ 1817 – ~~ 1818	丁 Yin Fire	丑 Ox	~~ 1877 – ~~ 1878
15	~~ 1818 – ~~ 1819	戊 Yang Earth	寅 Tiger	~~ 1878 – ~~ 1879
16	~~ 1819 – ~~ 1820	己 Yin Earth	卯 Rabbit	~~ 1879 – ~~ 1880
17	~~ 1820 – ~~ 1821	庚 Yang Metal	辰 Dragon	~~ 1880 – ~~ 1881
18	~~ 1821 – ~~ 1822	辛 Yin Metal	巳 Snake	~~ 1881 – ~~ 1882
19	~~ 1822 – ~~ 1823	壬 Yang Water	午 Horse	~~ 1882 – ~~ 1883
20	~~ 1823 – ~~ 1824	癸 Yin Water	未 Goat	~~ 1883 – ~~ 1884
21	~~ 1824 – ~~ 1825	甲 Yang Wood	申 Monkey	~~ 1884 – ~~ 1885
22	~~ 1825 – ~~ 1826	乙 Yin Wood	酉 Rooster	~~ 1885 – ~~ 1886
23	~~ 1826 – ~~ 1827	丙 Yang Fire	戌 Dog	~~ 1886 – ~~ 1887
24	~~ 1827 – ~~ 1828	丁 Yin Fire	亥 Pig	~~ 1887 – ~~ 1888
25	~~ 1828 – ~~ 1829	戊 Yang Earth	子 Rat	~~ 1888 – Jan 30 1889
26	~~ 1829 – ~~ 1830	己 Yin Earth	丑 Ox	Jan 31 1889 – Jan 20 1890
27	~~ 1830 – ~~ 1831	庚 Yang Metal	寅 Tiger	Jan 21 1890 – Feb 08 1891
28	~~ 1831 – ~~ 1832	辛 Yin Metal	卯 Rabbit	Feb 09 1891 – ~~ 1892
29	~~ 1832 – ~~ 1833	壬 Yang Water	辰 Dragon	~~ 1892 – ~~ 1893
30	~~ 1833 – ~~ 1834	癸 Yin Water	巳 Snake	~~ 1893 – ~~ 1894
31	~~ 1834 – ~~ 1835	甲 Yang Wood	午 Horse	~~ 1894 – ~~ 1895
32	~~ 1835 – ~~ 1836	乙 Yin Wood	未 Goat	~~ 1895 – Feb 12 1896
33	~~ 1836 – ~~ 1837	丙 Yang Fire	申 Monkey	Feb 13 1896 – Feb 01 1897
34	~~ 1837 – ~~ 1838	丁 Yin Fire	酉 Rooster	Feb 02 1897 – Jan 21 1898
35	~~ 1838 – ~~ 1839	戊 Yang Earth	戌 Dog	Jan 22 1898 – Feb 09 1899
36	~~ 1839 – ~~ 1840	己 Yin Earth	亥 Pig	Feb 10 1899 – Jan 30 1900
37	~~ 1840 – ~~ 1841	庚 Yang Metal	子 Rat	Jan 31 1900 – Feb 18 1901
38	~~ 1841 – ~~ 1842	辛 Yin Metal	丑 Ox	Feb 19 1901 – Feb 07 1902
39	~~ 1842 – ~~ 1843	壬 Yang Water	寅 Tiger	Feb 08 1902 – Jan 28 1903
40	~~ 1843 – ~~ 1844	癸 Yin Water	卯 Rabbit	Jan 29 1903 – Feb 15 1904
41	~~ 1844 – ~~ 1845	甲 Yang Wood	辰 Dragon	Feb 16 1904 – Feb 03 1905
42	~~ 1845 – ~~ 1846	乙 Yin Wood	巳 Snake	Feb 04 1905 – Jan 24 1906
43	~~ 1846 – ~~ 1847	丙 Yang Fire	午 Horse	Jan 25 1906 – Feb 12 1907
44	~~ 1847 – ~~ 1848	丁 Yin Fire	未 Goat	Feb 13 1907 – Feb 01 1908
45	~~ 1848 – ~~ 1849	戊 Yang Earth	申 Monkey	Feb 02 1908 – Jan 21 1909
46	~~ 1849 – ~~ 1850	己 Yin Earth	酉 Rooster	Jan 22 1909 – Feb 09 1910
47	~~ 1850 – ~~ 1851	庚 Yang Metal	戌 Dog	Feb 10 1910 – Jan 29 1911
48	~~ 1851 – ~~ 1852	辛 Yin Metal	亥 Pig	Jan 30 1911 – Feb 17 1912
49	~~ 1852 – ~~ 1853	壬 Yang Water	子 Rat	Feb 18 1912 – Feb 05 1913
50	~~ 1853 – ~~ 1854	癸 Yin Water	丑 Ox	Feb 06 1913 – Jan 25 1914
51	~~ 1854 – ~~ 1855	甲 Yang Wood	寅 Tiger	Jan 26 1914 – Feb 13 1915
52	~~ 1855 – ~~ 1856	乙 Yin Wood	卯 Rabbit	Feb 14 1915 – Feb 02 1916
53	~~ 1856 – ~~ 1857	丙 Yang Fire	辰 Dragon	Feb 03 1916 – Jan 22 1917
54	~~ 1857 – ~~ 1858	丁 Yin Fire	巳 Snake	Jan 23 1917 – Feb 10 1918
55	~~ 1858 – ~~ 1859	戊 Yang Earth	午 Horse	Feb 11 1918 – Jan 31 1919
56	~~ 1859 – ~~ 1860	己 Yin Earth	未 Goat	Feb 01 1919 – Feb 19 1920
57	~~ 1860 – ~~ 1861	庚 Yang Metal	申 Monkey	Feb 20 1920 – Feb 07 1921
58	~~ 1861 – ~~ 1862	辛 Yin Metal	酉 Rooster	Feb 08 1921 – Jan 27 1922
59	~~ 1862 – ~~ 1863	壬 Yang Water	戌 Dog	Jan 28 1922 – Feb 15 1923
60	~~ 1863 – Feb 7 1864	癸 Yin Water	亥 Pig	Feb 16 1923 – Feb 04 1924

1924–2043

No.	1924–1983	Heavenly stem	Earthly branch	1984–2043
	Year	(Elements)	(Animals)	Year
1	Feb 05 1924 – Jan 23 1925	甲 Yang Wood	子 Rat	Feb 02 1984 – Feb 19 1985
2	Jan 24 1925 – Feb 12 1926	乙 Yin Wood	丑 Ox	Feb 20 1985 – Feb 08 1986
3	Feb 13 1926 – Feb 01 1927	丙 Yang Fire	寅 Tiger	Feb 09 1986 – Jan 28 1987
4	Feb 02 1927 – Jan 21 1928	丁 Yin Fire	卯 Rabbit	Jan 29 1987 – Feb 16 1988
5	Jan 22 1928 – Feb 08 1929	戊 Yang Earth	辰 Dragon	Feb 17 1988 – Feb 05 1989
6	Feb 09 1929 – Jan 28 1930	己 Yin Earth	巳 Snake	Feb 06 1989 – Jan 26 1990
7	Jan 29 1930 – Feb 16 1931	庚 Yang Metal	午 Horse	Jan 27 1990 – Feb 14 1991
8	Feb 17 1931 – Feb 05 1932	辛 Yin Metal	未 Goat	Feb 14 1991 – Feb 03 1992
9	Feb 06 1932 – Jan 24 1933	壬 Yang Water	申 Monkey	Feb 04 1992 – Jan 22 1993
10	Jan 25 1933 – Feb 13 1934	癸 Yin Water	酉 Rooster	Jan 23 1993 – Feb 09 1994
11	Feb 14 1934 – Feb 02 1935	甲 Yang Wood	戌 Dog	Feb 10 1994 – Jan 30 1995
12	Feb 03 1935 – Jan 23 1936	乙 Yin Wood	亥 Pig	Jan 31 1995 – Feb 18 1996
13	Jan 24 1936 – Feb 10 1937	丙 Yang Fire	子 Rat	Feb 19 1996 – Feb 06 1997
14	Feb 11 1937 – Jan 30 1938	丁 Yin Fire	丑 Ox	Feb 07 1997 – Jan 27 1998
15	Jan 31 1938 – Feb 18 1939	戊 Yang Earth	寅 Tiger	Jan 28 1998 – Feb 15 1999
16	Feb 19 1939 – Feb 07 1940	己 Yin Earth	卯 Rabbit	Feb 16 1999 – Feb 04 2000
17	Feb 08 1940 – Jan 26 1941	庚 Yang Metal	辰 Dragon	Feb 05 2000 – Jan 23 2001
18	Jan 27 1941 – Feb 14 1942	辛 Yin Metal	巳 Snake	Jan 24 2001 – Feb 11 2002
19	Feb 15 1942 – Feb 04 1943	壬 Yang Water	午 Horse	Feb 12 2002 – Jan 31 2003
20	Feb 05 1943 – Jan 24 1944	癸 Yin Water	未 Goat	Feb 01 2003 – Jan 21 2004
21	Jan 25 1944 – Feb 12 1945	甲 Yang Wood	申 Monkey	Jan 22 2004 – Feb 08 2005
22	Feb 13 1945 – Feb 01 1946	乙 Yin Wood	酉 Rooster	Feb 09 2005 – Jan 28 2006
23	Feb 02 1946 – Jan 21 1947	丙 Yang Fire	戌 Dog	Jan 29 2006 – Feb 17 2007
24	Jan 22 1947 – Feb 09 1948	丁 Yin Fire	亥 Pig	Feb 18 2007 – Feb 03 2008
25	Feb 10 1948 – Jan 28 1949	戊 Yang Earth	子 Rat	Feb 07 2008 – Jan 25 2009
26	Jan 29 1949 – Feb 16 1950	己 Yin Earth	丑 Ox	Jan 26 2009 – Feb 13 2010
27	Feb 17 1950 – Feb 05 1951	庚 Yang Metal	寅 Tiger	Feb 14 2010 – Feb 02 2011
28	Feb 06 1951 – Jan 26 1952	辛 Yin Metal	卯 Rabbit	Feb 03 2011 – Jan 22 2012
29	Jan 27 1952 – Feb 13 1953	壬 Yang Water	辰 Dragon	Jan 23 2012 – Feb 09 2013
30	Feb 14 1953 – Feb 02 1954	癸 Yin Water	巳 Snake	Feb 10 2013 – Jan 30 2014
31	Feb 03 1954 – Jan 23 1955	甲 Yang Wood	午 Horse	Jan 31 2014 – Feb 18 2015
32	Jan 24 1955 – Feb 11 1956	乙 Yin Wood	未 Goat	Feb 19 2015 – Feb 07 2016
33	Feb 12 1956 – Jan 30 1957	丙 Yang Fire	申 Monkey	Feb 08 2016 – Jan 27 2017
34	Jan 30 1957 – Feb 17 1958	丁 Yin Fire	酉 Rooster	Jan 28 2017 – Feb 15 2018
35	Feb 18 1958 – Feb 07 1959	戊 Yang Earth	戌 Dog	Feb 16 2018 – Feb 04 2019
36	Feb 08 1959 – Jan 27 1960	己 Yin Earth	亥 Pig	Feb 05 2019 – Jan 24 2020
37	Jan 28 1960 – Feb 14 1961	庚 Yang Metal	子 Rat	Jan 25 2020 – Feb 11 2021
38	Feb 15 1961 – Feb 04 1962	辛 Yin Metal	丑 Ox	Feb 12 2021 – Jan 31 2022
39	Feb 05 1962 – Jan 24 1963	壬 Yang Water	寅 Tiger	Feb 01 2022 – Jan 21 2023
40	Jan 25 1963 – Feb 12 1964	癸 Yin Water	卯 Rabbit	Jan 22 2023 – Feb 09 2024
41	Feb 13 1964 – Feb 01 1965	甲 Yang Wood	辰 Dragon	Feb 10 2024 – Jan 28 2025
42	Feb 02 1965 – Jan 20 1966	乙 Yin Wood	巳 Snake	Jan 29 2025 – Feb 16 2026
43	Jan 21 1966 – Feb 08 1967	丙 Yang Fire	午 Horse	Feb 17 2026 – Feb 05 2027
44	Feb 09 1967 – Jan 29 1968	丁 Yin Fire	未 Goat	Feb 06 2027 – Jan 25 2028
45	Jan 30 1968 – Feb 16 1969	戊 Yang Earth	申 Monkey	Jan 26 2028 – Feb 12 2029
46	Feb 17 1969 – Feb 05 1970	己 Yin Earth	酉 Rooster	Feb 13 2029 – Feb 02 2030
47	Feb 06 1970 – Jan 26 1971	庚 Yang Metal	戌 Dog	Feb 03 2030 – Jan 22 2031
48	Jan 27 1971 – Feb 14 1972	辛 Yin Metal	亥 Pig	Jan 23 2031 – Feb 10 2032
49	Feb 15 1972 – Feb 02 1973	壬 Yang Water	子 Rat	Feb 11 2032 – Jan 30 2033
50	Feb 03 1973 – Jan 24 1974	癸 Yin Water	丑 Ox	Jan 31 2033 – Feb 18 2034
51	Jan 23 1974 – Feb 10 1975	甲 Yang Wood	寅 Tiger	Feb 19 2034 – Feb 07 2035
52	Feb 11 1975 – Jan 30 1976	乙 Yin Wood	卯 Rabbit	Feb 08 2035 – Jan 27 2036
53	Jan 31 1976 – Feb 17 1977	丙 Yang Fire	辰 Dragon	Jan 28 2036 – Feb 14 2037
54	Feb 18 1977 – Feb 06 1978	丁 Yin Fire	巳 Snake	Feb 15 2037 – Feb 03 2038
55	Feb 07 1978 – Jan 27 1979	戊 Yang Earth	午 Horse	Feb 04 2038 – Jan 23 2039
56	Jan 28 1979 – Feb 15 1980	己 Yin Earth	未 Goat	Jan 24 2039 – Feb 11 2040
57	Feb 16 1980 – Feb 04 1981	庚 Yang Metal	申 Monkey	Feb 12 2040 – Jan 31 2041
58	Feb 05 1981 – Jan 24 1982	辛 Yin Metal	酉 Rooster	Feb 01 2041 – Jan 21 2042
59	Jan 25 1982 – Feb 12 1983	壬 Yang Water	戌 Dog	Jan 22 2042 – Feb 09 2043
60	Feb 13 1983 – Feb 01 1984	癸 Yin Water	亥 Pig	Feb 10 2043 – Jan 29 2044

Related pages

Chinese Zodiac

References

Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Jikkan-jūnishi" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 420.
Latham, Lance. (1998). Standard C Date/Time Library: Programming the World's Calendars and Clocks, p. 378.
Nussbaum, "Calendar" at pp. 98-99.
Nussbaum, "Jūnishi" at pp. 436-437.
Sexagenary animal names may be translated into English in many ways. For example, the Vietnamese use cat instead of Rabbit.

Other websites

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[1] Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Jikkan-jūnishi" in Japan Encyclopedia, p. 420.

[latham378-2] Latham, Lance. (1998). Standard C Date/Time Library: Programming the World's Calendars and Clocks, p. 378.

[3] Nussbaum, "Calendar" at pp. 98-99.

[4] Nussbaum, "Jūnishi" at pp. 436-437.

[5] Sexagenary animal names may be translated into English in many ways. For example, the Vietnamese use cat instead of Rabbit.