The Monkey and the Five Elements
The Monkey: A Metal Sign
The Monkey sign is of the Metal element. Generally, people born under a Metal sign have a great deal of confidence and are resolute in their drive for success… sometimes to a point of being hard-headed and stubborn! There is a strong sense of attractiveness around this element – they have an energy and confidence that makes them very likeable.
The Metal Monkey – 1920, 1980
Metal Monkeys carry a double metal element so they are doubly resolute once they have decided on something. Fiercely independent, ambitious and risk-averse, the intelligent Metal Monkey can make a successful entrepreneur.
As an employee, as long as the Metal Monkey agrees with the corporate direction, he would be a good team player as he would be able to steer the team in the right direction. He is also independent, constant and focused in his work, and always keep to explore new, more challenging prospects. The Metal Monkey is never one to be complacent. A hard worker, the Metal Monkey earns well and saves well, ensuring that his future is secure.
On a social level, the Metal Monkey is friendly, sociable and openly affectionate towards his loved ones. He also excels in the art of persuasion, combined with the gift of the gab, which allows him to sell ice to Eskimos.
Life Lessons:
The Metal Monkey may be capable of looking after himself but he should not reject all forms of assistance. Being open to help may mean that he can complete his work faster and more efficiently. His independence may also make him seem arrogant and unapproachable so if he is aware of that and tone it down, perhaps he will gain more support.
The Water Monkey – 1932, 1992
Water softens the Monkey and this element makes the Water Monkey more sensitive and he can react negatively to criticism. The Water Monkey knows what he wants and will do what it takes to get it. The Water element makes this Monkey more fluid and versatile to adapt his methods to achieve his goals. Water also makes him creative, innovative; combined with his cleverness and naturally likeable ways, it’ll also be easy for him to enroll support for his ideas, no matter how unusual they may seem.
He is also charming and affable but does not always reveal his innermost thoughts. Even when confronted, the Water Monkey is likely to avoid direct questions and like water, this Monkey will cleverly flow around the questions he doesn’t want to answer. Monkeys are naturally quite impatient and if things aren’t going the way he wants them to, he is quite likely to just jump ship.
Water also lends a level of intuition to the Monkey and he finds it easy to relate to people on his level. He will go with their flow but manipulate them to his ends without them even knowing it. You may need to be a little wary around this Monkey, for he looks out keenly for his own interests and for every favour he grants you, he will probably expect one back in the near future.
Life Lessons:
Water Monkeys should learn to be able to accept feedback and contemplate on its validity. Lower your ego to consider the feedback and if it is valid, implement it! The Water Monkey can also be more open with his intentions so people can support him better.
The Wood Monkey – 1944, 2004
The Wood Monkey is popular and respected by his friends and colleagues. However, he has a tendency to need constant approval. Tell your Wood Monkey friend that he’s okay and he will be your friend for life.
Ambitious by nature, he is also constantly seeing how he can improve on his current situation, and he is often not happy with what he has. As he is always looking for change, a career in travel or a position where he would be constantly traveling would be suitable for him. He has both a practical nature as well as in inquisitive mind – this means he is always keen for new challenges and will see them through to successful results.
Like all Monkeys, he won’t sit still for long. He has an especially keen interest to acquire knowledge, especially if it will bring him good and immediate returns. He certainly knows how to look after himself, even in times of trouble.
The Wood Monkey is very perceptive and can assess situations easily. This good instinct also allows him to establish good relationships with people as well as to size up situations around him to his greatest advantage.
Life Lessons:
The Wood Monkey should channel his restless energy to focusing on what he is working on rather than looking to jump ship. As he is conscientious and practical, he overcomes problems diligently. He just needs to learn to stay put.
The Fire Monkey – 1956, 2016
The Fire Monkey is the most active and aggressive of the Monkeys. Naturally dominant, he automatically gravitates towards leadership roles and is competitive in whatever he is doing. He will need to be careful not to let this overwhelm him and turn into toxic jealousy.
He also constantly strives to be in control of whatever situation he is in, which can become overbearing. The main drive for whatever he embarks on is to head straight for the top and stay there. However, when he is in charge of a situation, his people skills kick in and he does nurture those under his charge who need it.
With his Fire energy, this agile, impulsive Monkey often leaps where angels fear to tread. This reckless behaviour sometimes turns out to not be to the Fire Monkey’s advantage. However, he is very creative, dynamic and has a particularly good talent at drawing people to him – this often helps him get out of scrapes. He’ll leap from tree to tree – whichever has the most fruit at the time – then find the quickest, cleverest escape before others get to him.
In general though, the Fire Monkey is flamboyant and charmingly friendly, and has a large social circle.
Life Lessons:
The Fire Monkey’s aggression needs to be channeled correctly to correct and positive directions, or he risks become very destructive and harmful. If the Fire Monkey could develop more patience, it would be good for him and those who work with him The Fire Monkey also needs to think through his ideas before acting on them in order to safeguard his own interests.
The Earth Monkey – 1908, 1968
The Earth Monkey is honest, dependable, staid and stable. They are not the ones to rock the boat nor break the rules. This permeates in every aspect of their lives so financially they are also usually quite secure.
The more academic and scholarly minded of the Monkeys, the Earth Monkey prefers to be in the background rather than the limelight. However, he still needs acknowledgement of his achievements and abilities and may become withdrawn and sullen if he does not receive what he thinks he deserves. While he may not be the most outspoken though, he is highly intelligent and perceptive and any team would do well to ask for his opinions and listen when he talks.
Usually, the demure and retiring Earth Monkey is less sociable than the other Monkeys but to those he loves, he is very caring and protective. The Earth Monkey is also the least self-centred of all the Monkeys and is inclined towards charitable works. With the Earth element, he holds high principles and maintains a very strong moral code. He is forthright, honest and righteous. It won’t be unusual to see him championing the rights of minorities or dedicating his life to help the downtrodden.
Life Lessons:
The Earth Monkey can sometimes be overly cautious so he needs to learn to loosen up and lighten up. He would also do well to be more confident about his abilities and not rely on praise from others to feel good about himself.
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Hello I’m born in 12-01-1993 , which is my Chinese zodiac and what is my earth element please !
Because when I look for it , it’s monkey water or water roaster ! And if I’m monkey water how come my element is metal . Thank you
i want a mantra of ushnisha sitatapatra which can be written on a birch leaf and used as an amulet.i shall gratefull if a readymade amulet can be given at your price in indian location.kindly reply.
Financial&busness
Greetings, I’m wondering if there is a corresponding cycle of metal, water, wood, fire and earth for the other signs or does it only apply to monkey? I haven’t found any other sources that clarify this. Thanks, emburke
Ah, I just noticed that you provide this information on other pages through your site! Thanks!
Hi, I am a metal monkey, recently I have been studying Tibetan Medicine and the five elements of space, wind, fire, water and earth. If you were to connect the metal element with one of these elements which one would it be?
Thank you
Hi,
Your page is very good. But I am confused. please help.
Monkey is a Metal sign because that is its fixed element.
Everywhere says 2016 is Fire Monkey. Did it change?
Or does it mean that 2016 is a Fire-Metal Monkey? How can it be both?
Thanks
Steve
Dear Steve,
Thank you for visiting Tsemrinpoche.com and leaving your comments and questions. We are glad that you find our page helpful.
Each of the 12 animal signs within the Chinese zodiac is associated with one of the five elements. This is known as the fixed element of the sign. In the case of the Monkey sign, it is associated with the element of Metal. For example, another animal associated with the Metal element is the Rooster, while the Rat animal sign is associated with the element Water.
Each animal sign is again associated with one of the five elements, depending on the year that the sign occurs. E.g.:
• The Metal Monkey – 1920, 1980
• The Water Monkey – 1932, 1992
• The Wood Monkey – 1944, 2004
• The Fire Monkey – 1956, 2016
• The Earth Monkey – 1908, 1968
Each of the five elements occurs within each animal sign once every 12 years. Therefore, each specific animal-element combination – e.g. the Fire Monkey – repeats once every 60 years.
A person’s characteristics are determined both by the fixed element of their sign as well as the element of that particular year that they are born. E.g. A person born in the year of 2016 is a “Fire Monkey” and will be controlled by both Metal and Fire. Another example would be a person born in 1992 is a “Water Monkey” will be controlled by both Metal and Water.
Therefore 2016 is the “Year of the Fire Monkey” and it has not changed. It is simply that the element of Metal is contained within the Monkey animal sign. Hence 2016 is not a “Fire-Metal Monkey Year”.
For more information please visit: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/horoscopes/the-5-elements-of-the-chinese-zodiac.html
Thank you kindly for your reply. It was very helpful and just like your site, was really great. I enjoy learning about these things and your writing is very informative yet easy to read/understand. Thank you again.
I am a metal monkey and I have to admit, I am all of these, I’ve also come to accept the help of others. I am a entrepreneur and had come to my own realization that my independence can be easily mistaken for arrogance. When I was younger I was very shy. Now that I’m older I am not shy unless I choose to play that role. Again, a monkey trait. LOL
I really am a mischief, always on adventures and love to smile and laugh.
hi,which business do you do? iam a kenyan and would be glad to learn from you.my email is;mrwanyonyi@gmail.com.i will be glad to hear from you.thanks-mark
I’m an Earth Monkey. If there were a definition in the dictionary, my picture would be next to it. My other half is my ‘mortal enemy’ as defined by many chinese compatibility horoscopes. He’s a water tiger. It’s always been a volatile and often doomed relationship, just as has been described by the chinese predictions. But somehow our shared love keeps us coming back and trying again, even when it seems impossible.
please send me my 2014 predictions.thank you.
Wow!! For the first time, so true about the Metal Monkey… Thanks for pointing them out, the strong and the weakness. Will look into it.
good
I am an earth monkey. After I read the fortune telling, I agree almost all of them are true. It tells both good and bad things. I will work hard to keep the good things about me to make them better. For the bad things, I will pay attention and correct myself to not let this affects me.
I’m a metal monkey, but I don’t really see myself posseing most of the good traits of a person born in the year of Metal Monkey. Perhaps I have yet to realise the full potential of myself. I would really like to see myself as a person who can sell ice to the Eskimo in near future!! HaHa.
I am a metal Monkey and I seem to lack some of the traits too. In my 20s and teens I was never confident and I had made many mistakes where I am struggling financially now. However, maybe I do not see my potential but I want to be successful and I am trying to enhance my skills to get there. I am trying to focus on one thing at a time but I get overwhelmed in thinking about everything that I need to do. So maybe I haven’t reached that stage of a metal monkey. I do not know. I am friendly but I only show affection to those I really care about. I am mostly cautious of people around me. And I was told that I cam quite charming.