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.

## History

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

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

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.
- 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.
- The combinations make up a total of 60 different names for a period of time.

### Heavenly stems

|rowspan=2|No.|rowspan=2|Heavenly Stem|colspan=2|Chinese name|colspan=2|Japanese name|colspan=2|Korean name|rowspan=2|Vietnamese name|rowspan=2|Yin yang|rowspan=2|Wu xing|
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|1||jiǎ|gaap<sup>3</sup>|kō ()|kinoe ()|gap|갑|giáp|yang|rowspan=2|wood|||||
|2||yǐ|jyut<sup>3</sup>|otsu ()|kinoto ()|eul|을|ất|yin|||||||
|3||bǐng|bing<sup>2</sup>|hei ()|hinoe ()|byeong|병|bính|yang|rowspan=2|fire|||||
|4||dīng|ding<sup>1</sup>|tei ()|hinoto ()|jeong|정|đinh|yin|||||||
|5||wù|mou<sup>6</sup>|bo ()|tsuchinoe ()|mu|무|mậu|yang|rowspan=2|earth</td>|||||
|6||jǐ|gei<sup>2</sup>|ki ()|tsuchinoto ()|gi|기|kỷ|yin|||||||
|7||gēng|gang<sup>1</sup>|kō ()|kanoe ()|gyeong|경|canh|yang|rowspan=2|metal|||||
|8||xīn|san<sup>1</sup>|shin ()|kanoto ()|shin|신|tân|yin|||||||
|9||rén|jam<sup>4</sup>|jin ()|mizunoe ()|im|임|nhâm|yang|rowspan=2|water|||||
|10||guǐ|gwai<sup>3</sup>|ki ()|mizunoto ()|gye|계|quý|yin|||||||

### Earthly branches

|rowspan=2|No.|rowspan=2|Earthly Branch|colspan=2|Chinese name|colspan=2|Japanese name|colspan=2|Korean name|rowspan=2|Vietnamese name|rowspan=2|Vietnamese zodiac|rowspan=2|Chinese zodiac|rowspan=2|Corresponding hours|
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|1||zǐ|zi<sup>2</sup>|shi|ne|ja|자|tý|Rat (chuột)|Rat ()|11 p.m. to 1 a.m.|||||||
|2||chǒu|cau<sup>2</sup>|chū|ushi|chuk|축|sửu|Water Buffalo (trâu)|Cow ()|1 to 3 a.m.|||||||
|3||yín|jan<sup>4</sup>|in|tora|in|인|dần|Tiger (hổ/cọp)|Tiger ()|3 to 5 a.m.|||||||
|4||mǎo|maau<sup>5</sup>|bō|u|myo|묘|mẹo/mão|Cat (mèo)|Rabbit ()|5 to 7 a.m.|||||||
|5||chén|san<sup>4</sup>|shin|tatsu|jin|진|thìn|Dragon (thuồng luồng)|Dragon ()|7 to 9 a.m.|||||||
|6||sì|zi<sup>6</sup>|shi|mi|sa|사|tỵ|Snake (rắn)|Snake ()|9 to 11 a.m.|||||||
|7||wǔ|ng<sup>5</sup>|go|uma|o|오|ngọ|Horse (ngựa)|Horse ()|11 a.m. to 1 p.m.|||||||
|8||wèi|mei<sup>6</sup>|mi _or_ bi|hitsuji|mi|미|mùi|Goat (dê)|Goat ()|1 to 3 p.m.|||||||
|9||shēn|san<sup>1</sup>|shin|saru|shin|신|thân|Monkey (khỉ)|Monkey ()|3 to 5 p.m.|||||||
|10||yǒu|jau<sup>5</sup>|yū|tori|yu|유|dậu|Chicken (gà)|Chicken ()|5 to 7 p.m.|||||||
|11||xū|seot<sup>1</sup>|jutsu|inu|sul|술|tuất|Dog (chó)|Dog ()|7 to 9 p.m.|||||||
|12||hài|hoi<sup>6</sup>|gai|i|hae|해|hợi|Pig (lợn/heo)|Pig ()|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

## Other websites

- "The Chinese sexagenary cycle and the ritual origins of the calendar"
- "The Mathematics of the Chinese Calendar"