Sexagenary Cycle Calculator

When to use?

Use it to find what sexagenary year a year is (e.g. Eulsa) and which animal and color it represents (e.g. the Year of the Blue Snake).

How to use

• Enter a year to see its sexagenary name, animal, and symbolic color.
• Or pick one of the 60 cycle names (e.g. Gapjin).
• See the list of past and future years matching that name (range 1900–2100).

Input Explanation

Enter the year (number), or choose a heavenly stem (Gap–Gye) and earthly branch (Ja–Hae) to form the name.

Calculation Basis

It subtracts 4 from the CE year, then takes remainders by 10 (stems) and 12 (branches) to map the stem (color) and branch (animal) combination.

Usage Examples

• Check the new-year ganji - Find the upcoming year's sexagenary name and animal symbol.
• Cross-check historical years - Verify historical ganji years like Imjin (1592) or Gabo (1894).

Examples

• 2024 → Gapjin (blue + Dragon = Year of the Blue Dragon)
• 2026 → Byeongo (red + Horse = Year of the Red Horse)
• Choose "Imjin" → finds 1952, 2012, 2072, etc.

Cautions

• By the lunar-new-year vs. Ipchun debate, the ganji year for those born in early-year (Jan–Feb) needs care in actual saju analysis, like the zodiac sign.

Guides

Structure of the cycle

The 10 heavenly stems and 12 earthly branches combine sequentially into a 60-name ganji cycle, naming historical years and new years.

The five-element colors

A new year's symbolic color follows the stem's element (wood-blue, fire-red, earth-yellow, metal-white, water-black). For example, 'Eul' is blue and 'Byeong' is red.

FAQ

How is the sexagenary cycle composed?

It is a 60-name cycle combining the 10 heavenly stems and 12 earthly branches in order.

How is the color decided?

By the heavenly stem: Gap/Eul (blue), Byeong/Jeong (red), Mu/Gi (yellow), Gyeong/Sin (white), Im/Gye (black).

Related Tools

• Korean Zodiac Calculator - From a birth date, find the Korean zodiac sign by both Lunar New Year and Ipchun (solar term).
• Samjae Calculator - Determine Samjae (the three-year unlucky cycle) status from a zodiac sign and reference year.
• Leap Month Calculator - Check whether a lunar month is normal or leap, and find leap-month date ranges by year.
• Korean Milestone Birthday Calculator - Calculate Korean traditional longevity celebration dates and D-days (Hwangap 60th, Chilsun 70th, etc.).
• Date Difference Calculator - Calculate the number of days between two dates, or the date N days from a reference date.
• D-Day Calculator - Show the days remaining until, or elapsed since, a target date based on today.