Born in 1997 (Heisei 9): eto and age

1.The eto of 1997, and the Risshun rule

The eto of 1997 is 丁丑 (Hinoto-ushi, the Yin Fire Ox). In Four Pillars, Nine Star Ki and other Eastern astrology, though, the year begins at Risshun (Feb 4 in 1997). People born between 1 January 1997 and the moment of Risshun (Feb 4, 4:02) are treated as the previous year's 丙子 Hinoe-ne and Shiroku Mokusei.

2.Personality of people born in 1997

丁丑 combines 丁, the stem of a lamp flame, with 丑, the ox. Like an ox ploughing a field, you are patient, honest and hard-working, and you build results one furrow at a time.

Sensitive, with a passion you keep inside, you read the subtleties of people's hearts and can go deep into one subject.

Read more: meaning of 丁丑, Year of the Ox and Sanpeki Mokusei.

3.School years in Japan for people born in 1997

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 1997

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 Ox in 2026 and 2027

2026: overall ★★★☆☆ Mostly steady, and careful checking pays off

2027: overall ★★☆☆☆ An uneven year: preparation and judgment are key

Read the full fortune for the Ox →

7.The calendar of 1997

In 1997, Sanpeki Mokusei sat in the center of the Nine Star Ki year chart, and the lucky direction (where the year god Toshitokujin resides) was north-northwest. Years with the same eto are 1937 and 2057; years with the same eto and the same star come every 180 years (1817, 2177).