Dogs guard the gate in Korean folk paintings, and the Sapsal dog (삽살개), a shaggy native breed, was believed to drive away bad spirits: its name is often explained as chasing away sal, misfortune. The Dog is read as loyal, honest and protective.
In Saju the Dog is the branch 戌 Sul. It is earth, the last month of autumn, and the hours from 19:00 to 21:00. Its hidden stems hold metal, fire and earth, so it is read as the storehouse where the year's fire is banked for winter.
Your animal is your year branch and one of eight characters. The Dog also appears as a month branch (early October to early November) and in day and hour pillars. The Dog year begins at Ipchun, around 4 February.
- Loyal
- Principled
- Protective
- Straightforward
Harmonies
The Dog's six harmony partner is the Rabbit 卯, read as turning toward fire. Its three harmony partners are the Tiger 寅 and the Horse 午, the fire trine.
Clash and wonjin
The Dog clashes with the Dragon 辰 and joins the Ox and Goat in a punishment. Its wonjin is the Snake 巳. These are read as friction to understand.
Dog years and when they start
Each Dog year begins at Ipchun, shown here in Korea Standard Time. If you were born before the start time, your year pillar belongs to the previous animal.
| Year | Pillar | Color animal | Starts (KST) | Ends (KST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 | 甲戌 Gap-sul | Blue Dog | 4 Feb 1934, 21:03 | 5 Feb 1935, 02:48 |
| 1946 | 丙戌 Byeong-sul | Red Dog | 4 Feb 1946, 19:03 | 5 Feb 1947, 00:50 |
| 1958 | 戊戌 Mu-sul | Yellow Dog | 4 Feb 1958, 16:19 | 4 Feb 1959, 22:12 |
| 1970 | 庚戌 Gyeong-sul | White Dog | 4 Feb 1970, 14:45 | 4 Feb 1971, 20:26 |
| 1982 | 壬戌 Im-sul | Black Dog | 4 Feb 1982, 12:45 | 4 Feb 1983, 18:39 |
| 1994 | 甲戌 Gap-sul | Blue Dog | 4 Feb 1994, 10:30 | 4 Feb 1995, 16:13 |
| 2006 | 丙戌 Byeong-sul | Red Dog | 4 Feb 2006, 08:27 | 4 Feb 2007, 14:18 |
| 2018 | 戊戌 Mu-sul | Yellow Dog | 4 Feb 2018, 06:28 | 4 Feb 2019, 12:14 |
| 2030 | 庚戌 Gyeong-sul | White Dog | 4 Feb 2030, 04:08 | 4 Feb 2031, 09:58 |