The Pig in the Chinese zodiac
The Pig is the last of the twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac, with Yin Water as its element. Pig years include 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007 and 2019. In my method, each year begins at the winter solstice in the previous December. The twelfth zodiac sign is pleasure-loving and easygoing.
The Pig personality: what are its traits?
The Pig believes that “good things take time”. It will not turn down generous quantities of very good food and drink. It likes sitting with others and enjoying the atmosphere. Pigs make very good party hosts and love company. Socially minded and generous, the Pig takes it for granted that those around it should be well. It gives freely, is helpful and very patient, and listens well. It understands others and stands up for them.
The Pig is open-hearted and talks freely about itself. People born in the year of the Pig are sincere and honest. Intrigue is not their thing. The Pig dislikes arguments and seeks peace and harmony instead. It prefers to sit out unpleasant situations. It gets its due, even if it takes a while. Injustice can make the Pig angry, though it is then quick to blame itself and wrestles with its feelings.
Laziness fits the Pig’s love of pleasure and peace. When it has a real goal, it can work with discipline. Since it dislikes competitive behaviour and injustice, its career tends to progress slowly. Overall, the Pig has a positive presence, is tolerant of others, friendly and warm-hearted. Alongside work, it never forgets pleasure. It is no accident that the Pig symbolises luck and wealth.
Trusting as it is, the Pig can easily be taken advantage of. It is gullible and indecisive. It assumes that others are as generous as it is, and may invite itself along or help itself without asking. Its love of pleasure and comfort can lead to wastefulness and laziness. It can also become addicted to pleasure. Beneath this lies inner insecurity. Its desire for harmony can quickly lead it to make too many compromises.
Which years are Pig years? Birth years and elements
The Pig closes the zodiac cycle, and every twelfth year belongs to it. The year’s element repeats after 60 years. Someone born in 2019 is an Earth Pig. Earth belongs to the year (Heavenly Stem), while the Pig itself (Earthly Branch) remains Yin Water. I begin the year at the winter solstice, while other schools use 4 February. Find your animal in the table of all birth years.
Below the years, I describe what the year’s element brings to the Pig. These are broad traits. Only a person’s complete Bazi shows what they are really like.
- 1935Wood Pig
- 1947Fire Pig
- 1959Earth Pig
- 1971Metal Pig
- 1983Water Pig
- 1995Wood Pig
- 2007Fire Pig
- 2019Earth Pig
- 2031Metal Pig
- 2043Water Pig
Wood Pig: 1935 and 1995
The Pig’s Water nourishes the year’s Wood, Yang Wood lies within it, and with the Tiger it forms the pair combination (2er-Kombi) that produces Wood. The Wood Pig is more energetic and optimistic than other Pigs and is more likely to get its plans moving.
Fire Pig: 1947 and 2007
The Pig’s Water keeps the year’s Fire in check. The Fire Pig is even more sociable and warm-hearted, and inspires those around it. Its love of pleasure can easily become excessive.
Earth Pig: 1959 and 2019
Earth limits the Pig’s Water, and Yang Earth lies within it. The Earth Pig is more grounded and caring, creates a sense of security and enjoys a good meal. Security means a great deal to it.
Metal Pig: 1971 and 2031
Metal nourishes the Pig’s Water. The Metal Pig makes clearer decisions, is more likely to set boundaries and has a fine sense of justice. It is less likely to make too many compromises for the sake of harmony.
Water Pig: 1983 and 2043
Here the Pig is Water through and through: in the year (Heavenly Stem), in the animal (Earthly Branch) and with Yang Water within it. The Water Pig listens well, talks about itself and makes contacts. Under heavy pressure, it withdraws.
Pig women and Pig men
The Pig’s traits apply equally to women and men. Gender matters elsewhere: together with place, year, month, day and hour, it forms part of Bazi, and it changes the Kua number. A man born in the Pig year 1983 has Kua number 8; a woman has 7.
Which signs suit the Pig? Friends in pairs, three-harmony and directional combinations
The Pig loves company. With its friends, it produces Wood twice and Water once, its own element.
- Pair combination: Tiger and Pig = Wood
- Three-harmony combination: Pig, Rabbit and Goat = Wood
- Directional combination: Pig, Rat and Ox = Water
- Opposite (clash): Snake
Opposite (clash): Snake
Its opposite in the zodiac is the Snake, with Yin Fire, 180° away. Fire and Water face one another here as Tai Sui and Por Sui, which can cause difficulties.
What does 2027 bring for the Pig?
The Pig is a friend of the Goat in 2027: Pig, Rabbit and Goat form a three-harmony combination (Trigon) that produces Wood. This does not automatically make it a lucky year. Your complete Bazi shows what the year brings for you. What it means for your home is explained in the Chinese horoscope for 2027.
Famous people born in the year of the Pig
Bryan Adams, Martin Freeman, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Jon Hamm, Vitali Klitschko, Kyle MacLachlan, Elon Musk, Winona Ryder, Mark Wahlberg and Christian Wulff.
Guests welcome
Guests are always welcome with the Pig. I use its Bazi to create a retreat of its own during a Feng Shui consultation at your home in Germany, Austria or Switzerland.