1920 Chinese Zodiac — Year of the Metal Monkey
1920 is the year of the Metal Monkey (庚申, gēng shēn) in the Chinese zodiac. The Metal Monkey is the 57th of the 60 stem-branch combinations in the traditional calendar cycle. This page covers everything you need to know about 1920 in the Chinese zodiac: the exact dates, the Monkey’s symbolic meaning with the Metal element, how Metal Monkeys compare with other Monkey types, and the historical context of 1920 — a year of upheaval and transformation worldwide.
If your birth year is 1980, you share the same stem-branch pillar (庚申) — the Metal Monkey returns every 60 years.
1920 Year of the Monkey — At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Chinese Zodiac Year | Metal Monkey (金猴) |
| Stem-Branch Name | 庚申 (gēng shēn) |
| Chinese Character | 猴 (hóu) |
| Lunar New Year Start | February 20, 1920 |
| Lunar New Year End | February 7, 1921 |
| Preceded By | Earth Goat (1919) |
| Followed By | Metal Rooster (1921) |
| 60-Year Cycle | 1860, 1920, 1980 |
| Three Harmonies (三合) | Monkey · Rat · Dragon |
| Six Harmony (六合) | Snake |
| Clash (六冲) | Tiger |
| Age in 2026 | 105 or 106 (depending on birthday relative to Feb 20 and Li Chun) |
January / February 1920 — Which Monkey Are You?
If you were born in early 1920, your zodiac sign depends on which calendar system you use. The lunar new year in 1920 fell late — February 20 — which means anyone born in January or early February 1920 is still a Goat (1919) under the lunar calendar, not a Monkey.
The lunar boundary: Anyone born before February 20, 1920 is an Earth Goat (1919). Anyone born on or after that date is a Monkey.
The Li Chun boundary: The solar calendar start of spring (立春, Li Chun) fell on February 5, 1920. In the BaZi (四柱八字) system, the zodiac year changes at Li Chun, not at lunar new year. This means people born between February 5 and February 19, 1920 face a genuine disagreement: lunar calendar says Goat, BaZi solar system says Monkey.
Bottom line: If you were born between February 5 and February 19, 1920, check which system your astrologer uses before drawing conclusions. For a simplified lookup, see the January/February zodiac guide.
What Is a Metal Monkey?
A Metal Monkey is the combination of the Metal element with the Monkey animal sign — one of the five elemental Monkey types. Each Monkey type cycles through every 60 years, and 1920 is one of the Metal Monkey years.
The Monkey part: In the Chinese zodiac, the Monkey (猴) is the ninth earthly branch (申, shēn) and represents cleverness, versatility, and an irrepressible curiosity. Folk tradition describes the Monkey as the most inventive of the 12 signs — someone who can get out of any fix, charm any audience, and see possibilities where others see dead ends.
The Metal part: Metal (金, jīn) is the element of structure, precision, and determination. When Metal meets the Monkey, the Monkey’s natural cleverness becomes something sharper — not just playful wit, but focused intelligence with real staying power. Metal Monkeys in folk description are the most driven of the five Monkey types: they channel their cleverness toward concrete goals.
Compare Metal with the other Monkey types:
- Wood Monkey (1884, 1944, 2004) — social, cooperative, the most diplomatic Monkey
- Fire Monkey (1896, 1956, 2016) — passionate, impulsive, the most energetic Monkey
- Earth Monkey (1908, 1968, 2028) — grounded, practical, the most steady Monkey
- Metal Monkey (1860, 1920, 1980) — determined, analytical, the most disciplined Monkey
- Water Monkey (1872, 1932, 1992) — intuitive, adaptable, the most fluid Monkey
The Metal Monkey sits at position 57 of 60 in the sexagenary cycle (庚申). The heavenly stem 庚 (gēng) is yang metal — the unyielding blade. The earthly branch 申 (shēn) is the Monkey, carrying the element of yang metal. This is a double-metal combination (both stem and branch are Metal), which folk tradition reads as the most intense and focused of the five Monkey types.
Metal Monkey Symbolic Traits (Folk Tradition)
In folk description, the Metal Monkey combines the Monkey’s natural cleverness with the Metal element’s structural, determined quality. Where a standard Monkey is described as quick-witted, a Metal Monkey is quick-witted with discipline.
Metal Monkeys are described as having the sharpest analytical minds among the Monkey types — they see patterns and solutions others miss.
Unlike other Monkey types who may flit between interests, the Metal element gives the Metal Monkey staying power — they finish what they start.
Metal Monkeys in folk lore are described as self-assured without being arrogant — they know what they’re good at and back it up with results.
The same analytical sharpness that makes Metal Monkeys brilliant problem-solvers can also make them too quick to judge others.
Metal Monkeys prefer directness and efficiency, which folk tradition warns can come across as blunt or insensitive.
The combination of Metal’s rigidity and the Monkey’s confidence can make Metal Monkeys reluctant to change course once they’ve decided.
These are symbolic descriptions from Chinese zodiac folk tradition, not personality science or a substitute for getting to know someone as an individual.
Age of a 1920 Metal Monkey in 2026
In 2026 (the Fire Horse year), someone born in 1920 turns either 106 or 105, depending on their exact birth date:
- If born on or before February 20, 1920 (Lunar New Year): they are 106 in 2026 (before their birthday) or turning 106 on their birthday.
- If born after February 20, 1920: they are 105 or turning 106, depending on the exact date.
Chinese age calculation (sui, 岁) adds another layer — by traditional reckoning, a child is 1 at birth and gains a year at each Lunar New Year. A 1920-born person would be considered 107 sui by Chinese age in 2026. But the more relevant number for most readers is the Western age: 105–106.
Metal Monkey Compatibility (Folk Tradition)
In the traditional Chinese zodiac system, Monkey’s compatibility is determined by the earthly branch relationships (not by the element), so Metal Monkeys share the same base compatibility as all Monkey types:
Monkey, Rat, and Dragon form the Water Harmony trio — described in folk tradition as quick, adaptable, and intellectually oriented. The Monkey brings cleverness, the Rat brings resourcefulness, and the Dragon brings ambition.
The Monkey-Snake pairing (六合, liù hé) is described as a complementary match: the Monkey’s outgoing cleverness balanced by the Snake’s depth and patience.
The Monkey-Tiger clash (六冲, liù chōng) is the structural opposite — the Monkey’s clever, unpredictable energy described as clashing with the Tiger’s bold, direct nature.
See the full compatibility guide for more detail on all 12 signs.
The 60-Year Cycle: 1860, 1920, 1980
The Metal Monkey (庚申) repeats every 60 years. The three most recent Metal Monkey years are:
| Year | Historical Context |
|---|---|
| 1860 | The Second Opium War ended with the Convention of Peking; the Lincoln-Douglas presidential debates; Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species was published the year prior, reshaping scientific thought |
| 1920 | The League of Nations held its first meeting; the 19th Amendment gave US women the right to vote; the first commercial radio broadcast aired in Pittsburgh; the Chinese Communist Party began organizing in Shanghai |
| 1980 | Mount St. Helens erupted in Washington state; the Pac-Man arcade game was released in Japan; Zimbabwe gained independence; CNN launched as the first 24-hour news network |
Years Near 1920 in the Chinese Zodiac
Frequently Asked Questions
What Chinese zodiac year is 1920?
1920 is the Year of the Monkey — specifically the Metal Monkey (庚申, gēng shēn). The Monkey is the ninth animal in the 12-year cycle. The element Metal gives it a distinct quality compared to other Monkey years.
When does a Metal Monkey year start?
The Metal Monkey year begins on Chinese lunar new year. For 1920, that was February 20, 1920. The Monkey year runs until February 7, 1921 (the day before the next lunar new year).
What is the difference between Metal Monkey and other Monkey types?
There are five Monkey types. Metal Monkey (1860, 1920, 1980) is described as determined and analytical. Wood Monkey (1944, 2004) is social and diplomatic. Fire Monkey (1956, 2016) is passionate and impulsive. Earth Monkey (1968, 2028) is grounded and steady. Water Monkey (1932, 1992) is intuitive and adaptable.
What does 庚申 (gēng shēn) mean?
庚申 is the 57th combination (57/60) in the sexagenary cycle. 庚 (gēng) is the seventh heavenly stem, representing Yang Metal — the blade, unyielding. 申 (shēn) is the ninth earthly branch, representing the Monkey, also carrying Yang Metal. Together, 庚申 is a double-Metal combination and the most purely “Metal” of the five Monkey types.
Is a Metal Monkey compatible with a Fire Monkey?
Two Monkeys share the same base compatibility structure (same trio, harmony pair, and clash). The element layer in folk tradition isn’t typically applied to same-animal compatibility. Whether two individuals get along depends on their actual personalities.
What are the best career choices for a Metal Monkey?
Folk tradition associates Monkey types with careers that require intelligence, versatility, and communication — technology, science, writing, sales, and entertainment. The Metal sub-type adds analytical rigor, making Metal Monkeys well-suited to engineering, law, or finance. But the zodiac describes archetypes, not career aptitude.
Want it for your own chart?
Everything above is the public year picture. If you or the person you are reading this for were actually born in this year, two things go a step past what a public page can give you:
Editorial Note
This page separates calendar facts from folkloric interpretation. Calendar facts are verifiable from historical and astronomical sources. Personality and compatibility descriptions are drawn from Chinese zodiac folk tradition and are presented as cultural context — not personality science, not destiny, and not a basis for life decisions. Dates cross-checked against Chinese calendar records and BaZi reference sources.