Solar Term (Jeolgi Calendar Boundary)

Saju month assignment depends not on calendar month (January, February, etc.) or lunar new year date, but on which solar term (Jeolgi) your birth falls within. The 24 solar terms mark the sun's 15° progression through the zodiac: Ipchun ('Spring Begins') around Feb 4 starts the Tiger month; Gyeongchip around Mar 5 starts the Rabbit month; Cheongmyeong around Apr 5 starts the Dragon month, and so on. A birth on Feb 10 falls under Ipchun and assigns Tiger month; a birth on Feb 3 falls under the previous term and assigns Rat month. This distinction is critical because an error of one month radically changes the Day Master strength, Yongsin, and entire chart reading.

Your month pillar is determined by solar position, not calendar or lunar reckoning. If you were born near a month boundary (early Feb, early Apr, etc.), verify your correct solar term — an error shifts your entire chart interpretation.