庚申 (Kanoe-saru): the Yang Metal Monkey

1.What 庚申 means

庚申 combines the heavenly stem 庚 (Kanoe) with the earthly branch 申 (Saru). 庚 is likened to iron and the sword, and 申 to the monkey.

Stem and branch are both Metal, a “same element” pairing in which the energy shows itself straight and strong. For better or worse, the qualities of Metal stand out.

2.Nacchin: Pomegranate Wood

The nacchin (納音, “sound element”) of 庚申 is Pomegranate Wood. The pomegranate tree, heavy with fruit: abundance and many descendants. The nacchin describes the essence of a birth-year eto; read more in the sixty eto and nacchin.

3.Personality when your day pillar is 庚申

In Four Pillars astrology, the eto of your birth day (the day pillar) stands for you and for your marriage. You decide quickly and face difficulties head on. Loyal, you will wear yourself out for your friends.

The day branch (申) shows your inner self, your private face and your bond with a spouse. Inside you carry the nature of the Monkey: Clever and nimble like a monkey, you think quickly, have many talents and an inexhaustible supply of ideas.

On the other hand: You want everything black or white, and your words can be harsh. Because you don't fear conflict, you sometimes make enemies.

4.Born in a 庚申 year

If your year pillar is 庚申, you are said to inherit the qualities of iron and the sword and of the Monkey in your social role and family character. For the personality of your birth animal, see Year of the Monkey.

5.庚申 years

1920, 1980, 2040, 2100

6.History and sayings linked to 庚申

On Kōshin nights, three worms (sanshi) living in the body were believed to slip out and report your misdeeds to the Lord of Heaven, so people stayed up all night together (Kōshin-machi). The Kōshin stone markers found all over Japan are reminders of this custom.

7.庚申 days in 2026 and 2027

A 庚申 day comes round once every 60 days: Feb 15, 2026 (Sun), Apr 16, 2026 (Thu), Jun 15, 2026 (Mon), Aug 14, 2026 (Fri), Oct 13, 2026 (Tue), Dec 12, 2026 (Sat), Feb 10, 2027 (Wed), Apr 11, 2027 (Sun), Jun 10, 2027 (Thu), Aug 9, 2027 (Mon), Oct 8, 2027 (Fri), Dec 7, 2027 (Tue).

8.Void period (tenchūsatsu / kūbō) of 庚申

庚申 belongs to the decade (jun) that begins with 甲寅, and its void branches are 子 and 丑. If your day pillar is 庚申, years of the Rat and the Ox are your void years. What is tenchūsatsu? →