TOJEONG BIGYEOL · 122
Tojeong Bigyeol Hexagram 122
The sign of setting out to paint a tiger and painting a dog
At a glance
- Hexagram
- 122
- Upper · middle · lower
- 1 · 2 · 2
- The year overall
- A year to take care
- Brighter months
- lunar months 2, 7 and 9
- Months to take care
- lunar months 4, 5, 6 and 11
Luna Alley's Tojeong readings are for fun and reflection. Read even a difficult hexagram as a guide to how you carry yourself through the year.
The original verse and its meaning
- 畫虎不成 反爲狗子
You set out to paint a tiger but fail, and end up painting a puppy instead. - 乾乾若詞 何取何捨
Strive without rest, but you must decide what to take and what to let go. - 飛龍在天 可望大海
A flying dragon is in the heavens, so it is worth gazing out over the great sea. - 左七右七 妻妾相鬪
Seven on the left, seven on the right — members of the household quarrel with one another.
The verses follow the public-domain Tojeong Bigyeol held by the National Library of Korea; the meanings are Luna Alley's own retelling.
The year ahead
You hold great ambitions, but if your preparation falls short, the results may not meet your expectations. Deciding clearly what to hold on to and what to let go is this year's task. High dreams, like a dragon soaring into the sky, are good, but avoid quarrels with people close to you.
This is a year when you set out to paint a tiger and end up painting a puppy, so if your preparation falls short of your big ambitions, the results may be disappointing. That doesn't mean you should give up your dreams — it means you should sketch your outline more firmly before picking up the brush. Striving without rest while clearly deciding what to hold on to and what to let go is this year's biggest task. Like a dragon flying through the sky, you'll also have chances to gaze out over a great sea from on high, and the energy opens brightly in the second, seventh, and ninth lunar months. But there's an image of left and right facing off equally, so opinions easily clash with people close to you, especially within the family. In summer you need to watch out for water and fire, partings, and unrest at home, so keep a low profile. If you have the courage to choose one thing and set down the rest, you can carefully get past even the unlucky energy.
A word from Master Tojeong
“If you would paint a tiger, first choose your brush and grind your ink. Sort out what to take and what to cast aside, and the day shall come when you look down on the sea like a flying dragon.”
Month by month (summary)
Only a short note and the original verse for each month. Dates are the 2027 lunar months.
- Lunar month 1Feb 7 – Mar 7Even
Pushing ahead on your own strength keeps running into walls this month. Borrow the help of someone you trust and things get much easier.
此月之數 因人成事 每事多滯 徒傷心慮 · This month you accomplish things through others' strength, but every matter meets many obstacles, and you only hurt your heart for nothing.
- Lunar month 2Mar 8 – Apr 6Bright
This is one of the brightest months of the year. Things you set your mind on come to a close and your household grows more comfortable.
運數大吉 事有成就 人口添增 財帛豐足 · Your fortune is greatly auspicious and things are accomplished; your household grows, and wealth and silk are plentiful.
- Lunar month 3Apr 7 – May 5Even
There's a lot of anxious will-it-or-won't-it this month. Like a sky full of clouds that won't rain, results don't come as soon as you'd hope.
事多進退 心煩意亂 雲雨滿空 待望不雨 · Your affairs advance and retreat often, so your mind is troubled and your intentions muddled. Though clouds fill the sky, the rain you wait for does not come.
- Lunar month 4May 6 – Jun 4Care
On the threshold of summer, this is a month to look after yourself and your surroundings. Be especially careful with anything involving fire, outings near water, and electrical appliances.
此月之數 水火愼之 三夏之節 厄運窺身 · This month, beware of water and fire. For the three months of summer, misfortune watches you closely.
- Lunar month 5Jun 5 – Jul 3Care
Money matters get resolved, but relationships may grow distant this month. Look back and see whether you've neglected your relationships while chasing money.
財物入手 人離奈何 心神散亂 不坐不立 · Wealth comes into your hands, yet people leave — what can be done? Your mind is scattered, and you can neither sit nor stand.
- Lunar month 6Jul 4 – Aug 1Care
Things are unsettled at home and worries come from here and there this month. Take a second look at people from the south or matters connected to the south.
此月之數 南人愼之 家有不安 東西有憂 · This month, beware of people from the south. The household is not at ease, and there is worry to the east and west.
- Lunar month 7Aug 2 – Aug 31Bright
Past the summer's rough patch, you meet someone valuable this month. Blocked matters open up greatly with that person's help.
申月之數 貴人相對 誠禱宅神 萬事大吉 · The fortune of the seventh month: you come face to face with a benefactor; tend your household with devotion and all things are greatly auspicious.
- Lunar month 8Sep 1 – Sep 29Even
Last month's good flow continues this month. Meeting good people can lead to money.
此月之數 亦如去月 若遇生 財源萬 · This month is like the last; if you meet a benefactor, the springs of wealth open in ten thousand streams.
- Lunar month 9Sep 30 – Oct 28Bright
Luck is on your side this month. Money comes in from outside and helpful people appear.
運數助我 横財之數 福星照臨 外財入門 · Fortune helps you and there is unexpected wealth; a blessed star shines, and wealth from outside comes in through your door.
- Lunar month 10Oct 29 – Nov 27Even
Things look plausible on the outside, but little ends up in your hands this month. Check whether you're pouring energy into things with no real payoff.
財隱卦中 欲成未成 有名無實 徒費心力 · Wealth hides within the hexagram, so though you try to achieve, you cannot; there is name without substance, and you spend your strength for nothing.
- Lunar month 11Nov 28 – Dec 27Care
A single small mistake can blow up big this month. Check anything involving numbers, such as contracts, transfers, and documents, two or three times.
此月之數 火姓不利 毫釐之差 千里之謬 · This month, those with Fire (火) surnames are not favorable. A difference as fine as a hair becomes a gap of a thousand li.
- Lunar month 12Dec 28 – Jan 26, 2028Even
Your household is comfortable, but you tire easily this month. Don't overdo it wrapping up the year — take good care of your sleep and meals.
雖有財祿 病殺侵身 家人合心 一家太平 · There is wealth and income, but the energy of illness watches you closely. The household is of one mind, so the whole family is at peace.
The nine readings by area (money, love, work, health and more) and the long monthly readings open in the Tojeong Bigyeol app once you find your own hexagram.
Who gets this hexagram?
The hexagram depends on your lunar birth date and the year being read. The upper number comes from your Korean age that year plus the year's taese number, the middle from the length and month number of your birth month that year, and the lower from your birth day plus the day number. So the same person gets a different hexagram each year.
For example, someone born on lunar 8/1/1990 receives this hexagram in 2027.
Find my hexagram
Frequently asked questions
Is Tojeong hexagram 122 a good one?
Hexagram 122 is read as a year that calls for keeping low and holding steady. You hold great ambitions, but if your preparation falls short, the results may not meet your expectations. Deciding clearly what to hold on to and what to let go is this year's task.
Which months need care in hexagram 122?
In hexagram 122, the lower months are lunar months 4, 5, 6 and 11. Avoid rushing big decisions then, and go easy on your body and your words.
How do I find my own Tojeong hexagram?
Enter your birth date in the Luna Alley Tojeong Bigyeol page and it converts solar to lunar and works out the hexagram for you. To do it by hand, the 2027 guide shows the formula with an example.