Born in 1968: the Monkey
A Yang Earth Monkey 🐒
Monkeys are fast learners and natural problem-solvers with a sharp sense of humor. They improvise well and rarely stay stuck. As a Earth-element year, 1968 adds a grounded, practical and patient streak to the usual Monkey character.
The 1968 lunar year ran from January 30, 1968 to February 17, 1969. If you were born on or after January 30, 1968 you are a Monkey; if you were born earlier in 1968, you belong to the previous year's sign, the Goat.
What the Earth element adds
Earth is the element of the harvest, stability and realism. An Earth year makes an animal steadier and more dependable, focused on security and the long game, though it can also make it slower to change course.
The full 60-year cycle pairs each of the 12 animals with each of the 5 elements, so a Earth Monkey year comes around only once every 60 years — the last one before 1968 was 1908, and the next is 2028. People born in it are said to combine clever and playful with the element's grounded nature. Its Yin/Yang polarity is fixed as Yang for every Monkey year. See the Earth element and the full Earth Monkey profile.
1968 at a glance
| Animal | 🐒 Monkey (猴) |
|---|---|
| Element | Earth |
| Polarity | Yang |
| Best match | Snake |
| Hardest match | Tiger |
| Lucky numbers | 4, 9 |
| Lucky colors | white, gold, blue |
Monkey compatibility
In the traditional chart, a 1968 Monkey gets on best with the Snake (the "secret friend" pairing), and also with Rat and Dragon. The hardest pairing is the Tiger, six years apart in the cycle. See the full Monkey compatibility table.
Your zodiac years
The Monkey returns every 12 years, so someone born in 1968 is back in their own zodiac year in 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 and so on. Tradition calls this your běnmìngnián — despite being "your" year, it is thought to clash with Tài Suì (the God of Age) and to carry a higher chance of setbacks, so many people wear red through it for protection.
Other Monkey years
1932 1944 1956 1980 1992 2004 2016 2028 2040
Full Monkey personality profile → Monkey compatibility with every sign →
Know your exact birth date? Use the calculator for your full combination →
Frequently asked questions
What Chinese zodiac sign is 1968?
1968 is the year of the Monkey (Earth Monkey, Yang polarity). Anyone born on or after January 30, 1968 is a Monkey; a birthday earlier in 1968 belongs to the previous sign, the Goat.
What element is the 1968 zodiac year?
1968 is a Earth-element year. Earth is the element of the harvest, stability and realism. An Earth year makes an animal steadier and more dependable, focused on security and the long game, though it can also make it slower to change course.
Who is a 1968 Monkey most compatible with?
Best matches are the Snake (the "secret friend"), plus the Rat and Dragon. The hardest match is the Tiger.
Is 1968 a lucky year to be born in?
Chinese tradition does not rank whole years as lucky or unlucky to be born in — every animal has strengths and weaknesses. The one combination widely treated with caution is the Fire Horse, and 1968 is not a Fire Horse year.