Born in 1920 (Taishō 9): eto and age

1.The eto of 1920, and the Risshun rule

The eto of 1920 is 庚申 (Kanoe-saru, the Yang Metal Monkey). In Four Pillars, Nine Star Ki and other Eastern astrology, though, the year begins at Risshun (Feb 5 in 1920). People born between 1 January 1920 and the moment of Risshun (Feb 5, 11:26) are treated as the previous year's 己未 Tsuchinoto-hitsuji and Kyūshi Kasei.

2.Personality of people born in 1920

庚申 combines 庚, the stem of iron and the sword, with 申, the monkey. Clever and nimble like a monkey, you think quickly, have many talents and an inexhaustible supply of ideas.

You decide quickly and face difficulties head on. Loyal, you will wear yourself out for your friends.

Read more: meaning of 庚申, Year of the Monkey and Happaku Dosei.

3.School years in Japan for people born in 1920

Japanese school years run from 2 April to 1 April the next year, so people born between 1 January and 1 April (hayaumare) are in the grade above.

4.Longevity celebrations

Kanreki is celebrated at 60 (61 in traditional counting). From Koki on, the celebrations were originally counted in traditional age, which would make each one a year earlier than shown.

5.Yakudoshi (unlucky years) for people born in 1920

Yakudoshi are counted in traditional age (kazoedoshi = the calendar year − birth year + 1; everyone gains a year on 1 January, regardless of birthday).

6.Fortune for the Monkey in 2026 and 2027

2026: overall ★★☆☆☆ An uneven year: preparation and judgment are key

2027: overall ★★★☆☆ A steady year: consistent effort pays off

Read the full fortune for the Monkey →

7.The calendar of 1920

In 1920, Happaku Dosei sat in the center of the Nine Star Ki year chart, and the lucky direction (where the year god Toshitokujin resides) was west-southwest. Years with the same eto are 1860 and 1980; years with the same eto and the same star come every 180 years (1740, 2100). 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.