Year of the Monkey: Chinese Zodiac Monkey Years, Traits and Matches
The short answer
Monkey years come every 12 years and begin at Chinese New Year, not on 1 January. The most recent ran from 8 February 2016 to 27 January 2017, and the next begins on 26 January 2028.
Monkey years come every 12 years and begin at Chinese New Year, not on 1 January. The most recent ran from 8 February 2016 to 27 January 2017, and the next begins on 26 January 2028.
The Monkey is the zodiac's inventor. Tradition describes Monkey people as clever, playful and adaptable, quick to solve a puzzle and quicker to get bored once it is solved. They learn fast and enjoy a clever shortcut.
Strengths and challenges
Strengths: Clever, Inventive, Playful, Adaptable. Challenges: Restless, Mischievous, Easily bored, Can be vain.
The Monkey in love
In love the Monkey is fun and curious and needs a partner who keeps it interested. Humour and a shared project hold its attention better than routine.
The Monkey at work
At work the Monkey is the problem-solver. It suits technology, media, trading and any role where the rules change often.
Best and hardest matches
Traditionally the Monkey works best with the Rat and Dragon (its trine) and has a quiet ally in the Snake. Its opposite is the Tiger, the pairing tradition calls a clash.
Every Monkey year, 1924 to 2044
| Year | Element and animal | Starts | Ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1932 | Water Monkey | 6 February 1932 | 25 January 1933 |
| 1944 | Wood Monkey | 25 January 1944 | 12 February 1945 |
| 1956 | Fire Monkey | 12 February 1956 | 30 January 1957 |
| 1968 | Earth Monkey | 30 January 1968 | 16 February 1969 |
| 1980 | Metal Monkey | 16 February 1980 | 4 February 1981 |
| 1992 | Water Monkey | 4 February 1992 | 22 January 1993 |
| 2004 | Wood Monkey | 22 January 2004 | 8 February 2005 |
| 2016 | Fire Monkey | 8 February 2016 | 27 January 2017 |
| 2028 | Earth Monkey | 26 January 2028 | 12 February 2029 |
| 2040 | Metal Monkey | 12 February 2040 | 31 January 2041 |
Branch: 申 Shēn · Fixed element: Metal · Yang · Hours: 3pm to 5pm
How the dates are worked out
Each Chinese New Year here is worked out from the sky, not copied from a list. A lunar month starts on the day of a New Moon in China Standard Time (UTC+8, or Beijing local time before 1929). The month holding the December solstice is the 11th month. When 13 New Moons fall between two of those months, the first month with no principal solar term (the Sun reaching a multiple of 30 degrees) is a leap month. New Year is the first day of the 1st month, which is why it moves between 21 January and 20 February. New Moons and solar terms follow Jean Meeus's Astronomical Algorithms. The rules follow the Chinese calendar.