Born in Early February? Your Zodiac Animal Might Be Different in Saju

If you were born in late January or early February, you may have seen two different zodiac animals for your birth year. Both can be right — they come from two different conventions for when the year begins.

Why might my zodiac animal be different in saju?

Saju changes the zodiac animal at Ipchun (立春), the start of spring in the solar calendar, around February 4. Many calendars change it at Lunar New Year instead, so if you were born between the two dates, the conventions give you neighbouring animals.

What is Ipchun?

Ipchun is the first of the 24 solar terms, the points that divide the sun’s yearly path. It usually falls around February 4, and the exact moment shifts a little from year to year.

Saju builds all four pillars from the solar terms, so the year pillar — and the zodiac animal, its earthly branch — changes at Ipchun. The month pillars change at solar terms too, which keeps the whole chart on one clock.

When does Lunar New Year fall?

Lunar New Year follows the moon, so it moves between late January and mid-February. That is why the gap between Lunar New Year and Ipchun changes every year, and why it can fall on either side of Ipchun.

Which years have a big gap?

The gap is widest when Lunar New Year falls late or early in its range. In 2026, Ipchun fell on February 4 and Lunar New Year on February 17, so a baby born from February 5 to February 16 is a Horse (丙午) in saju and a Snake by the Lunar New Year convention.

The gap can run the other way, too. In 2023, Lunar New Year came first, on January 22, and Ipchun followed on February 4 — so someone born between them is a Rabbit by the Lunar New Year convention and a Tiger (壬寅) in saju.

• 2023: born January 22 to February 3 — Tiger in saju, Rabbit by Lunar New Year.
• 2024: born February 5 to February 9 — Dragon in saju, Rabbit by Lunar New Year.
• 2026: born February 5 to February 16 — Horse in saju, Snake by Lunar New Year.

Is the Lunar New Year zodiac wrong?

No. The two are different conventions, both in common use: many calendars and celebrations count the year from Lunar New Year, and saju and BaZi count it from Ipchun. Which one you use depends on what you are using the animal for.

For a saju chart, the Ipchun convention is the one that matches the rest of the chart. For a Lunar New Year celebration, the Lunar New Year convention is the natural one.

What if I was born on the day of Ipchun?

Ipchun arrives at a particular moment of the day, so on that date your animal depends on your birth time and birthplace. With both, the calculator can work out which side of the change you were born on.

Does my zodiac animal matter much in saju?

It is one character of eight — the earthly branch of your year pillar — so it tends to say more about your background and generation than about you. Saju reads the Day Master, the heavenly stem of your day pillar, as the character that stands for you.

How do I check my zodiac animal?

Enter your birth date in the Chinese zodiac calculator. It uses the same engine as PAL:JA charts, counts from Ipchun, and tells you when the Lunar New Year convention gives a different animal.