2019: Year of the Earth Pig
2019 is the Year of the Earth Pig (土豬, 己亥) in the Chinese zodiac. This is a Yin Earth year, governed by the Heavenly Stem Ji 己 and the Earthly Branch Hai (亥).
In the sexagenary cycle (六十甲子), 2019 occupies position #36 of 60. The cycle has been used continuously since the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600 BCE) to count years, and it takes 60 years to complete one full revolution.
In the traditional Chinese calendar, the zodiac year in BaZi (Four Pillars of Destiny) tradition starts at Lichun (立春), the "Start of Spring" solar term, which typically falls on February 3rd, 4th, or 5th. People born before Lichun in 2019 belong to the previous zodiac year.
Find Your Exact Zodiac Animal
Born near the Chinese New Year boundary? Use our zodiac calculator with your full birth date to determine your exact zodiac animal, accounting for the Lichun solar boundary.
Earth Element (土) in 2019
The Earth element from the Heavenly Stem combines with the Pig's fixed element of Water (水) to create the unique energy signature of 2019. In Wu Xing (Five Elements) theory, these two elements interact through the generating (相生) and overcoming (相剋) cycles.
The Earth element interacts with the Pig's innate Water element, creating a dynamic tension between the year's Heavenly Stem energy and the animal's core nature. Understanding this interplay is key to navigating the year's opportunities and challenges.
The Earth Pig carries Yin polarity. In Chinese cosmology, Yin energy represents receptive, inward, and reflective force — diplomacy, intuition, and careful cultivation.
Learn more about how the Five Elements shape personality and destiny in our Wu Xing encyclopaedia article and the Earth element page.
Earth Pig Personality Traits
People born in the Year of the Pig (豬) share core zodiac traits that are modulated by the Earth element. For a comprehensive analysis of Pig personality, compatibility, career strengths, and cultural significance, see our full Pig zodiac profile.
The Earth Pig of 2019 has distinct characteristics compared to other elemental variations of the Pig. The Earth influence brings stability, pragmatism, and grounded reliability to the Pig's core nature.
The Pig's fixed element is Water, so the Earth Pig blends Earth qualities with Water foundations — creating a personality that is both practical and intuitive.
2019 Pig Compatibility
Zodiac compatibility in Chinese astrology is determined by the Earthly Branch (animal sign), not the Heavenly Stem (element). The Pig's key compatibility relationships:
- San He (三合) — Zodiac Trio: The Pig forms a harmonious triad with the Rabbit and the Goat, creating natural cooperation and shared goals.
- Liu He (六合) — Secret Friend: The Pig's "secret friend" is the Tiger, a pairing that creates deep, intuitive understanding.
- Six Clash (六衝): The Snake sits directly opposite the Pig on the zodiac wheel. This creates tension but also complementary growth potential.
Use our compatibility checker to explore your specific relationship dynamics, or read the full Pig compatibility guide.
2019 in BaZi (Four Pillars)
In BaZi (八字) astrology, 2019 contributes the Year Pillar of 己亥 (Jihai) to your Four Pillars chart. This pillar pairs the Heavenly Stem 己 (Ji) with the Earthly Branch 亥 (Hai).
The Year Pillar represents your relationship with society, your ancestral influence, and your public persona. It is the outermost of the four pillars and shapes how others perceive you and how you relate to the broader world.
For a complete BaZi analysis that includes all four pillars (Year, Month, Day, and Hour), use our BaZi calculator or learn more about the Four Pillars of Destiny system.
The Sexagenary Cycle Position
2019 is position #36 in the sexagenary cycle (六十甲子, liùshí jiǎzǐ). The cycle combines 10 Heavenly Stems with 12 Earthly Branches to produce 60 unique stem-branch pairs. Since 10 and 12 share a common factor of 2, only 60 (not 120) combinations occur.
The same 己亥 pillar last appeared in 1959 and will next appear in 2079. The same Pig animal (but with a different element) last appeared in 2007 and will next appear in 2031.
Frequently Asked Questions
2019 is the Year of the Earth Pig (土豬, 己亥). It is a Yin Earth year governed by the Heavenly Stem Ji 己 and the Earthly Branch Hai (亥).
The 2019 Pig is associated with the Earth element (土) from its Heavenly Stem. The Pig's fixed innate element is Water (水). Together, these create the Earth Pig's unique personality characteristics.
The Pig is most compatible with the Rabbit and Goat (San He trio, 三合) and the Tiger (Liu He secret friend, 六合). The Pig may experience tension with the Snake (Six Clash, 六衝).
In BaZi (Four Pillars) astrology, the 2019 zodiac year begins at Lichun (立春, Start of Spring), typically February 3-5. The popular Chinese New Year date (between January 21 and February 20) is used in folk tradition. People born before Lichun in 2019 belong to the previous year's zodiac animal.
People born in 2019 are Earth Pigs — combining the Pig's core traits with Earth energy. The Earth influence brings stability, pragmatism, and reliability. See our full Pig profile for detailed traits.
Other Years of the Pig
The Pig appears every 12 years in the zodiac cycle, but each occurrence carries a different element: