The Korean word 양 yang covers both sheep and goat, which is why English lists switch between them. In the twelve zodiac guardian figures (십이지신상) carved on the stones around Silla royal tombs, and around the tomb attributed to General Kim Yu-sin in Gyeongju, the figure has a sheep's head. Many Koreans also say 염소띠, goat year, especially in the southeast. The animal is read as gentle, sociable and peace keeping.
In Saju the Goat is the branch 未 Mi. It is earth, the last month of summer, and the hours from 13:00 to 15:00, the heat of early afternoon. Its hidden stems hold fire, wood and earth, so it is read as warm, dry ground with roots in it.
Your animal is your year branch and one of eight characters. The Goat also appears as a month branch (early July to early August) and in day and hour pillars. The Goat year begins at Ipchun; 2027 is the Jeong-mi red goat year.
- Gentle
- Creative
- Considerate
- Home loving
The five Goats of the sixty year cycle
Every twelve years is a Goat year, and each one wears the colour of its heavenly stem. The same colour comes back every sixty years. Each card opens the day pillar with the same two characters.
Harmonies
The Goat's six harmony partner is the Horse 午. Its three harmony partners are the Pig 亥 and the Rabbit 卯, the wood trine, read as kind and artistic.
Clash and wonjin
The Goat clashes with the Ox 丑 and joins the Ox and Dog in a punishment. Its wonjin is the Rat 子. These are read as friction worth understanding, not a judgment.
- Six harmony: Horse
- Three harmony: Pig and Rabbit
- Clash: Ox
- Wonjin: Rat
The Goat with each animal
How the tradition reads the Goat branch meeting each of the twelve, as it would in gunghap between two year or day branches. One pair of branches is a small part of two charts; compare the full charts for the whole picture.
| Rat 子 HarmWonjin 원진 A subtle mismatch, read as small misunderstandings that grow if nobody names them. | |
| Ox 丑 ClashPunishment Branches from opposite points of the year, read as movement and contrast that ask for give and take. | |
| Tiger 寅 No named pattern A neutral pairing: nothing in the tradition pulls these two branches together or apart. | |
| Rabbit 卯 Three harmony Two branches from the same trine, read as shared purpose and working well as a team. | |
| Dragon 辰 No named pattern A neutral pairing: nothing in the tradition pulls these two branches together or apart. | |
| Snake 巳 No named pattern A neutral pairing: nothing in the tradition pulls these two branches together or apart. | |
| Horse 午 Six harmony A pair of branches that bond easily, read as comfort and a natural fit. | |
| Goat 未 Same animal The same branch twice, read as a familiar rhythm: easy to read each other, easy to get stuck in the same place. | |
| Monkey 申 No named pattern A neutral pairing: nothing in the tradition pulls these two branches together or apart. | |
| Rooster 酉 No named pattern A neutral pairing: nothing in the tradition pulls these two branches together or apart. | |
| Dog 戌 Punishment Read as friction around pride, rules or favors. Useful to know about; never a verdict. | |
| Pig 亥 Three harmony Two branches from the same trine, read as shared purpose and working well as a team. |
Goat years and when they start
Each Goat 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1931 | 辛未 Sin-mi | White Goat | 5 Feb 1931, 03:40 | 5 Feb 1932, 09:29 |
| 1943 | 癸未 Gye-mi | Black Goat | 5 Feb 1943, 01:40 | 5 Feb 1944, 07:22 |
| 1955 | 乙未 Eul-mi | Blue Goat | 4 Feb 1955, 22:47 | 5 Feb 1956, 04:42 |
| 1967 | 丁未 Jeong-mi | Red Goat | 4 Feb 1967, 21:30 | 5 Feb 1968, 03:07 |
| 1979 | 己未 Gi-mi | Yellow Goat | 4 Feb 1979, 19:12 | 5 Feb 1980, 01:09 |
| 1991 | 辛未 Sin-mi | White Goat | 4 Feb 1991, 17:08 | 4 Feb 1992, 22:48 |
| 2003 | 癸未 Gye-mi | Black Goat | 4 Feb 2003, 15:06 | 4 Feb 2004, 20:56 |
| 2015 | 乙未 Eul-mi | Blue Goat | 4 Feb 2015, 12:58 | 4 Feb 2016, 18:45 |
| 2027 | 丁未 Jeong-mi | Red Goat | 4 Feb 2027, 10:46 | 4 Feb 2028, 16:31 |