also: き
noun
sixth sign of the Chinese sexagenary cycle; 6th in rank
Refers to the sixth celestial stem (己) in the traditional Chinese calendar system, often used in combination with earthly branches to form the sexagenary cycle. The reading つちのと is the native Japanese name; き is the Sino-Japanese reading.
今年は己の年です。
This year is the year of the sixth celestial stem.
十干では、己は六番目にあたる。
In the ten celestial stems, 己 corresponds to the sixth.
On-reading used mainly in compound terms or classical contexts; not a common standalone written form.
The character 己 originally depicted a thread or a cord, and its use as the sixth celestial stem is a conventional assignment in the ancient Chinese calendar system. The Japanese reading つちのと is of native origin, while き is the Sino-Japanese reading.