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Updated 2026-06-25

The Earth Monkey Year

What it means to be born in a Earth Monkey year in the Tibetan-Mongolian (zurkhai) tradition — the Monkey's nature shaped by the element of Earth. tradition

Earth Monkey years: 1908, 1968, 2028. The next Earth Monkey year is 2028.

The Monkey

Inventive, witty, versatile and curious. The Monkey is one of the twelve animal signs (jil) that, paired with the five elements, make up the 60-year cycle.

The element of Earth

Earth governs stability, nourishment, patience, loyalty and practicality; its season is the turn of the seasons and its direction is the centre. Earth is the grounding, holding energy — it gives a sign reliability, endurance and care for others, though it can settle into stubbornness or worry.

Earth Monkey: the blend

A Monkey born in a Earth Monkey year carries the Monkey's nature — inventive, witty, versatile and curious — under the influence of Earth, the element of stability, nourishment, patience, loyalty and practicality. Earth is the grounding, holding energy — it gives a sign reliability, endurance and care for others, though it can settle into stubbornness or worry.

Years of the Earth Monkey

1908turns 118 in 2026
1968turns 58 in 2026
2028turns -2 in 2026 · current/next

Frequently asked

What years are Earth Monkey years?
The Earth Monkey pairing falls on 1908, 1968, 2028 and recurs every 60 years.
What is a person born in a Earth Monkey year like?
A Monkey born in a Earth Monkey year carries the Monkey's nature — inventive, witty, versatile and curious — under the influence of Earth, the element of stability, nourishment, patience, loyalty and practicality. Earth is the grounding, holding energy — it gives a sign reliability, endurance and care for others, though it can settle into stubbornness or worry.
How does the Tibetan element–animal cycle work?
Tibetan astrology overlays a 12-year cycle of animals with a 5-element cycle (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water). Each element governs two consecutive years, so 12 animals × 5 elements form a 60-year cycle before the same animal+element pairing repeats. Every year therefore carries both an animal and an element — 2026 is the Fire Horse. The system blends indigenous Bon astrology, Chinese-derived element/animal astrology, and Indian Kalachakra star astrology.

The Monkey in the other elements

Wood Monkey Fire Monkey Metal Monkey Water Monkey

More on the Monkey sign → · What is zurkhai? →

Animal/element traits and yearly outlooks are presented as traditional belief, not fact, and vary between astrologers and lineages.