Chinese zodiac · 2 of 12
丑 The Ox
The Ox is the steady worker of the zodiac. In the Great Race it was first to set off and carried the Rat most of the way, finishing second through sheer persistence. Its branch 丑 (Chǒu) belongs to the coldest weeks of winter, when the ground rests and quietly stores the energy that spring will use.
- Branch
- 丑 Chǒu
- Fixed element
- Earth
- Polarity
- Yin
- Direction
- North-northeast (NNE)
- Hours
- 1 – 3 am
- Solar month starts
- about 6 Jan (Minor Cold)
Ox years and their elements
Each Ox year also carries one of the five elements, so a Ox born in 1984 (Wood) differs from one born in 1996 (Fire). The year changes at Li Chun, the Start of Spring, not on Chinese New Year. If you were born in January or early February, check the start date below.
| Year | Pillar | Starts (Li Chun) | Ends before |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1925 | 乙丑 Yin Wood Ox | 4 Feb 1925 | 4 Feb 1926 |
| 1937 | 丁丑 Yin Fire Ox | 4 Feb 1937 | 4 Feb 1938 |
| 1949 | 己丑 Yin Earth Ox | 4 Feb 1949 | 4 Feb 1950 |
| 1961 | 辛丑 Yin Metal Ox | 4 Feb 1961 | 4 Feb 1962 |
| 1973 | 癸丑 Yin Water Ox | 4 Feb 1973 | 4 Feb 1974 |
| 1985 | 乙丑 Yin Wood Ox | 4 Feb 1985 | 4 Feb 1986 |
| 1997 | 丁丑 Yin Fire Ox | 4 Feb 1997 | 4 Feb 1998 |
| 2009 | 己丑 Yin Earth Ox | 4 Feb 2009 | 4 Feb 2010 |
| 2021 | 辛丑 Yin Metal Ox | 3 Feb 2021 | 4 Feb 2022 |
Ox personality
These are the traits tradition associates with the Ox. Your full BaZi chart, especially your Day Master, shapes you more than your year animal alone.
- Patient, dependable and thorough
- Strong sense of duty to family and work
- Calm under pressure
- Builds lasting results slowly
Watch out for: Oxen can be stubborn and slow to accept change. They may carry too much alone and bottle up frustration until it bursts out.
Ox at work
Oxen suit work that rewards patience and reliability: engineering, agriculture, healthcare, finance and any craft that improves with years of practice. These are traditional associations; your Day Master and the rest of your chart matter more.
Ox compatibility
The Rat is the Ox's six-harmony partner; the Snake and Rooster form its three-harmony trio. The Goat is its opposite, so Ox–Goat pairings work best with shared routines and plenty of respect for different rhythms.
| Relationship | Sign | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Six harmony (六合) | Rat | The closest natural match; easy teamwork. |
| Three harmony (三合) | Snake and Rooster | Allies who share goals and energy. |
| Clash (六冲) | Goat | Opposite sign; needs patience and clear talk. |
| Harm (六害) | Horse | Prone to small misunderstandings. |
Feng shui tips for the Ox
The Ox's branch is Earth with a hidden store of Metal and Water. Earth tones, ceramics and low, solid furniture feel right. Its direction is North-northeast, so keep that corner uncluttered and give it stable objects rather than moving decor. Oxen rest best in a bedroom without work equipment in view.
Your year animal gives general guidance. For directions that fit you personally, find your Kua Number; it is based on your birth year and gender and gives four favourable and four unfavourable directions.
The Ox in 2026 and 2027
In a Fire Horse year the Ox meets the Horse in a 'harm' pairing (害太岁). Expect small misunderstandings rather than big crises. Spell out expectations at work and at home, and avoid gossip.
In 2027 (Fire Goat) your sign clashes with the year; plan conservatively.
Clash, harm and harmony pairings follow fixed traditional rules. They describe tendencies to be aware of, not fixed outcomes.