Samjae (삼재) — Korean folk belief fortune check by zodiac animal (for entertainment only)
This page introduces Samjae (삼재), a Korean traditional folk belief, as cultural information for entertainment purposes only. It has no scientific or medical basis.
Samjae is part of Korean folk belief. There is no legal, scientific, or medical evidence that actual misfortune will occur.
Do not make important decisions (employment, investment, marriage, relocation, health) based on these results.
If you feel anxious, please contact a mental health professional or a religious counselor.
This tool does not recommend or broker any amulets, shamanic rituals, or fortune-telling services.
Samjae (삼재, Three Disasters) is a concept in Korean traditional folk belief that a three-year cycle of misfortune recurs every 12 years. It is derived from the sexagenary cycle (육십갑자) and is classified into four groups: Fire, Metal, Water, and Wood.
The three years consist of: Deul-samjae (入三災, Entry year) → Nul-samjae (重三災, Peak year — considered most inauspicious) → Nal-samjae (出三災, Exit year). This cycle repeats every 12 years. Samjae is a cultural tradition with no scientific basis.
The four groups determine which zodiac animals share the same Samjae years. Zodiac animals in the same group experience Samjae at the same time.
| Group | Zodiac Animals | Samjae Years (Earthly Branch) |
|---|---|---|
| Fire (火局) | Rat · Dragon · Monkey (子·辰·申) | Tiger · Rabbit · Dragon years (寅·卯·辰) |
| Metal (金局) | Ox · Snake · Rooster (丑·巳·酉) | Pig · Rat · Ox years (亥·子·丑) |
| Water (水局) | Tiger · Horse · Dog (寅·午·戌) | Monkey · Rooster · Dog years (申·酉·戌) |
| Wood (木局) | Rabbit · Goat · Pig (卯·未·亥) | Snake · Horse · Goat years (巳·午·未) |
Deul-samjae (入三災): The first year — Samjae begins.
Nul-samjae (重三災): The second year — considered the most inauspicious.
Nal-samjae (出三災): The third year — Samjae comes to an end.
2026 (Year of the Horse, 병오년) is the Nul-samjae (Peak) year for Tiger, Horse, and Dog zodiac signs.
Samjae (삼재) is a Korean folk belief in a three-year cycle of misfortune that recurs every 12 years. It consists of Entry (Deul), Peak (Nul), and Exit (Nal) years. It has no scientific basis and is part of Korean folk culture.
Your birth year's earthly branch (12 zodiac) determines which of four groups (Fire/Metal/Water/Wood) you belong to. Each group experiences Samjae during specific three-year earthly branch cycles, repeating every 12 years.
Traditional Korean folk practices include rituals and talismans, but these are personal religious or cultural customs. This tool does not recommend or broker any amulets, rituals, or fortune-telling services. If you feel anxious, please speak with a religious leader or mental health professional.
No. Samjae is part of Korean folk belief. There is no scientific, medical, or legal evidence that misfortune is more likely during these years. Please treat this as entertainment and cultural information only.
2026 is the Year of the Horse (午). Tiger, Horse, and Dog signs are in Samjae. Since Deul-samjae started in 2025, 2026 is Nul-samjae (Peak), and 2027 will be Nal-samjae (Exit).
The 12 Earthly Branches (Ja, Chuk, In, Myo, Jin, Sa, O, Mi, Sin, Yu, Sul, Hae) form the basis of Samjae grouping. Your birth year's branch and the current year's branch together determine whether you are in Samjae.
Samjae (삼재) is a concept from Korean traditional folk belief in a three-year cycle of misfortune repeating every 12 years. The cycle runs: Deul-samjae (Entry) → Nul-samjae (Peak, most inauspicious) → Nal-samjae (Exit). This content is provided as cultural information only and has no scientific basis.
2026 (Year of the Horse) is the Nul-samjae year for Tiger, Horse, and Dog zodiac signs. Samjae is calculated from the earthly branch of your birth year and repeats every 12 years. This tool is for entertainment purposes only.