Mysticism June 11, 2026 3 min read

Meaning of the Im-In (壬寅) Ilju — Personality, Structure, and the 39th Pillar of the Sexagenary Cycle

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OIYO Research Team Contributor

The Im-In (壬寅) Ilju is the 39th pillar of the sexagenary cycle. It represents the Heavenly Stem Im (Yang Water), symbolizing a vast and deep ocean, sitting atop the Earthly Branch In (Tiger). It is the image of a great river flowing through a spring forest—nourishing all things and bestowing abundance.

At a Glance

CategoryContent
Hanja壬寅
CompositionHeavenly Stem Im (Yang Water) + Earthly Branch In (Tiger, Wood)
Nabeum Five ElementsGeumbakgeum (金箔金, Gold Foil)
Ilji 12 Stages of LifeByeong (病, Sickness)
Ilji Ten Gods (Main Qi)Siksin (食神, Eating God)
Corresponding Years1962 · 2022
Key KeywordsGenerosity, Freedom, Food Fortune

Personality and Temperament

The Im-In Ilju is a free-spirited type who enjoys giving and possesses rich powers of expression. Due to the blessings of the Siksin (Eating God), they are naturally endowed with good fortune regarding food and relationships, and they have a strong aversion to being confined.

  • Strengths: Generosity, expressive power, and good fortune in food and social connections.
  • Points of Caution: They tend to spend freely, making it easy for money to slip through their fingers. Just as a river needs banks, they require discipline.

Structural Analysis — Myeongri Interpretation

The Im (壬) Day Master sits upon the In (寅) Branch. Based on the main qi of the Ilji (Day Branch), the Ten God is Siksin (食神), and the 12 Stages of Life is Byeong (病). The Siksin is the star of expression and sustenance—the talent to provide for oneself by sharing one’s gifts is embedded in the day pillar. Being in the stage of ‘Byeong’ (Sickness), the structure is one that deepens sensitivity and empathy.

In terms of Nabeum Five Elements, it belongs to Geumbakgeum (Gold Foil), a classification frequently used in traditional Myeongri alongside other pillars sharing the same Nabeum.

Learn More


The Ilju is the central axis of a Saju chart, but it represents only two of the eight characters. Its manifestation varies significantly depending on its relationship with the other characters, so please use this as a starting point for self-understanding.

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OIYO Research Team

Research Team

The OIYO research team structures material from psychometric scales, statistics, and academic literature. We name both the popular framing and its scholarly limits, so each guide works as a tool for reflection rather than a verdict.