Metal Monkey (庚申): personality and meaning in the Chinese zodiac
The Metal Monkey, 庚申, is metal twice over, the axe upon the Monkey's own element. The tradition reads it as the most determined and independent of the five, sharp-minded and self-reliant.
Heavenly stem and earthly branch: 庚申
Years: 1920, 1980, 2040
Character
庚申 sets 庚, yang metal, the axe, over 申, the Monkey's own yang metal. Doubled metal is the tradition's image of an autumn blade: sharp, strong and decisive.
People born in a Metal Monkey year are read as intelligent, ambitious and self-confident, with a powerful will and the skill to match. They work hard and trust their own judgement. The tradition's shadow for the Metal Monkey is a blade that cuts too freely — bluntness, pride and an independence that does not ask for help even when help would make things easier.
In love and at work
In love the Metal Monkey is read as loyal and passionate, though it may need to soften its edges and share its plans. At work it excels in technology, finance, law, engineering and enterprise. The tradition suggests the Metal Monkey let a partner or colleague into its decisions.
A question to take with you
Whose help would make your next step easier, if you allowed it?
Updated October 28, 2026