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Updated 2026-06-25

The Metal Monkey Year

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

Metal Monkey years: 1920, 1980, 2040. The next Metal Monkey year is 2040.

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 Metal

Metal governs discipline, precision, strength, clarity and resolve; its season is autumn and its direction is the west. Metal (also called Iron) is the contracting, refining energy — it gives a sign focus, integrity and willpower, though it can harden into rigidity.

Metal Monkey: the blend

A Monkey born in a Metal Monkey year carries the Monkey's nature — inventive, witty, versatile and curious — under the influence of Metal, the element of discipline, precision, strength, clarity and resolve. Metal (also called Iron) is the contracting, refining energy — it gives a sign focus, integrity and willpower, though it can harden into rigidity.

Years of the Metal Monkey

1920turns 106 in 2026
1980turns 46 in 2026
2040turns -14 in 2026 · current/next

Frequently asked

What years are Metal Monkey years?
The Metal Monkey pairing falls on 1920, 1980, 2040 and recurs every 60 years.
What is a person born in a Metal Monkey year like?
A Monkey born in a Metal Monkey year carries the Monkey's nature — inventive, witty, versatile and curious — under the influence of Metal, the element of discipline, precision, strength, clarity and resolve. Metal (also called Iron) is the contracting, refining energy — it gives a sign focus, integrity and willpower, though it can harden into rigidity.
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 Earth 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.