Chinese zodiac
The Pig in the Chinese zodiac
The Pig is the 12th animal of the Chinese zodiac, a yin sign whose fixed element is Water. Tradition associates it with being generous, sincere and easy-going — enjoyment and good-heartedness. Pig years include 1995 (Wood), 2007 (Fire), 2019 (Earth), 2031 (Metal).
| Order | 12 of 12 |
|---|---|
| Earthly branch | Hai 亥 |
| Chinese character | 猪 (豬) |
| Fixed element | Water |
| Polarity | Yin |
| Best matches (San He trine) | Rabbit and Goat |
| Secret friend (Liu He) | Tiger |
| Clash (Chong) | Snake |
| Harm (Liu Hai) | Monkey |
| Solar month | about 7 November – 6 December |
| Double-hour | 21:00 – 23:00 |
Each year's element comes from its heavenly stem, so a Pig year is Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal or Water in turn and the same combination returns every sixty years. The start dates above are computed from the Sun's position: Li Chun is the moment it reaches 315° of ecliptic longitude.
A year does not begin on 1 January. The popular zodiac changes at Chinese New Year (between 21 January and 20 February); BaZi changes it at Li Chun, the start of spring, around 4 February. Anyone born in January or early February belongs to the previous year's animal.
In compatibility, the Pig forms a San He trine with the Rabbit and Goat, a Liu He pair ("secret friend") with the Tiger, clashes (Chong) with the Snake, the animal six places away, and harms (Liu Hai) the Monkey.
The Pig is also the Hai branch of the day, ruling the double-hour 21:00 – 23:00, and of the solar month that runs from about 7 November to 6 December. In a BaZi chart it can appear in any of the four pillars — year, month, day or hour — not only the year.
| Year | Element | Begins (Li Chun, Beijing time) |
|---|---|---|
| 1947 | Yin Fire | 4 Feb, 23:51 |
| 1959 | Yin Earth | 4 Feb, 21:42 |
| 1971 | Yin Metal | 4 Feb, 19:26 |
| 1983 | Yin Water | 4 Feb, 17:40 |
| 1995 | Yin Wood | 4 Feb, 15:13 |
| 2007 | Yin Fire | 4 Feb, 13:18 |
| 2019 | Yin Earth | 4 Feb, 11:14 |
| 2031 | Yin Metal | 4 Feb, 08:59 |
Questions
What years are the Year of the Pig?
1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031. Remember the year starts at Chinese New Year (or Li Chun, around 4 February, in BaZi), not on 1 January.
Who is the Pig most compatible with?
The Rabbit and Goat (its San He trine) and the Tiger (its Liu He secret friend). Its traditional clash is with the Snake, and it harms the Monkey.
What element is the Pig?
The Pig's fixed element is Water. Each Pig year also has its own element from the heavenly stem — for example 2031 is a Metal Pig.
What time is the hour of the Pig?
21:00 – 23:00, the Hai hour. It gives the branch of the hour pillar in BaZi; many practitioners first correct clock time to local solar time.
In Plutto
Plutto reads all four of your animals — year, month, day and hour — in your BaZi chart. Background: Chinese astrology (BaZi).
Ask it something you actually want to know.