Download on the App Store

Updated 2026-06-25

The Fire Monkey Year

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

Fire Monkey years: 1956, 2016. The next Fire Monkey year is 2076.

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 Fire

Fire governs warmth, transformation, charisma, passion and visibility; its season is summer and its direction is the south. Fire is the peak, radiant energy — it makes a sign expressive, dynamic and inspiring, though it can burn hot into impatience.

Fire Monkey: the blend

A Monkey born in a Fire Monkey year carries the Monkey's nature — inventive, witty, versatile and curious — under the influence of Fire, the element of warmth, transformation, charisma, passion and visibility. Fire is the peak, radiant energy — it makes a sign expressive, dynamic and inspiring, though it can burn hot into impatience.

Years of the Fire Monkey

1956turns 70 in 2026
2016turns 10 in 2026

Frequently asked

What years are Fire Monkey years?
The Fire Monkey pairing falls on 1956, 2016 and recurs every 60 years.
What is a person born in a Fire Monkey year like?
A Monkey born in a Fire Monkey year carries the Monkey's nature — inventive, witty, versatile and curious — under the influence of Fire, the element of warmth, transformation, charisma, passion and visibility. Fire is the peak, radiant energy — it makes a sign expressive, dynamic and inspiring, though it can burn hot into impatience.
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 Earth 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.