Born in 1988 (Shōwa 63): eto and age

1.The eto of 1988, and the Risshun rule

The eto of 1988 is 戊辰 (Tsuchinoe-tatsu, the Yang Earth Dragon). In Four Pillars, Nine Star Ki and other Eastern astrology, though, the year begins at Risshun (Feb 4 in 1988). People born between 1 January 1988 and the moment of Risshun (Feb 4, 23:43) are treated as the previous year's 丁卯 Hinoto-u and Shiroku Mokusei.

2.Personality of people born in 1988

戊辰 combines 戊, the stem of a mountain, with 辰, the dragon. The Dragon is the only imaginary creature among the twelve. Dragon people are charismatic, with big dreams and strong luck.

Generous and big-hearted, you are fair to everyone. Calm and steady, you are the person others count on in a crisis.

Read more: meaning of 戊辰, Year of the Dragon and Sanpeki Mokusei.

3.School years in Japan for people born in 1988

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 1988

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 Dragon in 2026 and 2027

2026: overall ★★★★☆ A year with the wind at your back: challenges bear fruit

2027: overall ★★★★☆ A year with the wind at your back: challenges bear fruit

Read the full fortune for the Dragon →

7.The calendar of 1988

In 1988, Sanpeki Mokusei sat in the center of the Nine Star Ki year chart, and the lucky direction (where the year god Toshitokujin resides) was south-southeast. Years with the same eto are 1928 and 2048; years with the same eto and the same star come every 180 years (1808, 2168). The Boshin War (戊辰戦争), which began in 1868, was fought between the new imperial government and forces loyal to the shogunate, and marked the turning point of the Meiji Restoration.