also: みずのえ
ninth celestial stem; ninth sign of the sexagenary cycle
Refers to the ninth of the ten celestial stems (十干). Used in the traditional Chinese calendar and in combination with earthly branches to form the sexagenary cycle. The native Japanese name is みずのえ, associated with the element water (水) and the yang principle (兄).
壬 is the ninth of the ten celestial stems.
今年は壬の年です。
This year is the year of 壬.
Standard kanji for the ninth celestial stem. Reading みずのえ is the native Japanese name; じん is the Sino-Japanese reading.
The character 壬 originally depicted a carrying pole or burden, but its use as a celestial stem is a phonetic loan. The native reading みずのえ combines 水 (water) and 兄 (elder brother), reflecting the yang water association in the Chinese elemental system.