Home » Dreams & Meanings » What does the Year of the Ox mean? Understand and see its characteristics!

What does the Year of the Ox mean? Understand and see its characteristics!

Within Chinese culture, there is a tradition of worshiping animals that are lords of years, which may seem very curious from the outside. In all, there are 12 animals, just like the signs of the western zodiac, and each of them brings a personality and spiritual elements to the lives of those who have them as rulers.

The Ox is the second animal of the zodiac, second only to the Rat. Within his construction as an animal and as a spiritual totem, he shows himself to be honest and hardworking, a being who governs human beings to the path of good deeds in favor of humility and kindness. Learn more about it in this article.

Backed by an ancient Chinese legend, this horoscope is rich in colors, stories and ancestry, having all its construction very solid and attractive in the eyes of those who live it and who frequent it as a mere tourist. Animals are interconnected in a very intrinsic way to their personality, which makes everything even more magical.

Check out now a little more about the Chinese horoscope, its history and how the Ox participates as a spiritual being!


There is no exact date on the beginning of this tradition, only that the first year dedicated to an animal was 1909, which was a year of the Rooster. But, most likely, the tradition is millennia old, this is only a partial record.

Generally speaking, the origin of the tradition lies with the famous story of the Buddha’s feast and how the animals’ gratitude was rewarded.


The Ox is an animal used as the basis of agriculture in the world. Works hard and crookedly in the field to provide for others. It is normally peaceful and calm, unless something takes it out of focus. He’s strong, although he doesn’t use that strength to be the center of attention.

Furthermore, the ox chews the cud, which is a significant part of the personality of those ruled by it. The Ox’s ruminating, generally speaking, is understood as the ability to process ideas, thoughts and dreams several times to be sure it is ready to start.


The famous legend that originates all these signs says that Buddha, in a new year, thousands of centuries ago, decided to have a party. He invited countless beings to the celebration because he really wanted it to be special.

However, to Buddha’s great disappointment, only twelve guests showed up, which was the Rat, followed by the Ox. The legend says that the Rat cheated to arrive earlier, deceiving the Ox. After him came the Tiger, the Rabbit, the Dragon, the Snake, the Horse, the Goat, the Rooster, the Monkey, the Dog and the Pig, respectively.

In the order they arrived, Buddha resolved to grant them powers in corresponding years, because they were grateful to Buddha’s invitation. In this way, the Ox becomes the second spiritual totem of the Chinese horoscope.

In building tradition, animals are divided into 5 elements, which indicate the temperament of people born in that year. A Metal Ox and a Wood Ox, for example, are different from each other, with personalities that differ in some points.

The elements used in this conception are Metal, Wood, Fire, Water and Earth. Now check out a little more about each of the elements and how they influence the lives of those born within it!


To discover the elements of Chinese zodiac signs, you need to pay attention to the last algorithm of each year. The years of the Ox have an odd ending, ending in: 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9. Thus, the elements are divided in the same order.

Number 1 is the Metal Ox. Years ending in 3 are called Boi de Água; the years ending in the number 5 are the Bois de Madeira. Years with a 7 at the end are the Oxen of Fire and, finally, those with a 9 are the Oxen of Earth.


The life of a Metal Ox has some facilities, especially when we talk about the financial side, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t have to fight to make a name for himself and show what he’s in the world for.

Usually, Metal Oxen tend to cope with everything themselves, trying not to break down. They enjoy the company of family and friends, but when we talk about their pain and anguish, they prefer not to share.


The life of the Bois de Água is almost like a fairy tale. With a comfortable childhood, loving parents and a welcoming family, these people are governed by a greater force in the field of love. They are passionate, involved, emotional and seek the happiness of books.

However, this can be a trap, since this lack of connection with reality makes them naive and deluded, always living with a broken heart, as in a good European romance book. They need to bond with someone when they really trust it, because anything far from that can be a big problem.


The Bois de Madeira always draw attention for their creativity and genuine talent in many areas. They stand out in dance, singing, musical performance, theater and even in the plastic arts, often being able to speak more than one language of art.

They are sensitive and have welcomed the world into their hearts. Life seems light, fluid and simple for them. Empathy is also something significant in your personality, as the pain of others directly affects you, motivating you to always do good things.


When we talk about the Fire Ox, we are talking about extremely communicative and lively people, who always respond to the stimuli of the world, positively or not. Imagine a Bull in a bullfighting arena. Did you imagine? This is how Fire Oxen behave.

They are surrounded by friends and protect them as if they were their children. When at rest, it is courteous, polite and manages to adapt to any situation that arises. In fact, putting himself in unusual situations is his specialty, as he lives by experimentation.


A born leader. That’s the best way to define an Earth Ox. They are audacious, daring, courageous and are always willing to fight for who they believe is worth it. They don’t leave a soldier behind in any situation.

This loyalty is greatly admired, because they always fight for people and things so intensely, so fiercely, that it’s hard not to notice the strength he has, even when he’s relaxed. Leadership always precedes you.

The personality of animals, within the construction of the Chinese horoscope, is very important for all the symbology and structure of each sign. The Ox and its peculiarities, with good and bad traits, are understood in a literal or playful way, being very interesting. Check out the characteristics of the Boi and how they influence the lives of those governed by it!


The Chinese year does not start on January 1st, like the rest of the world. The date is not defined, being fluctuating, according to several factors, something like carnival, which has its date defined by calculations. Thus, the years of the Ox were:

– 01/24/1925 to 12/02/1926;
– 02/11/1937 to 01/30/1938;
– 01/29/1949 to 02/16/1950;
– 02/15/1961 to 02/04/1962;
– 02/03/1973 to 01/22/1974;
– 02/20/1985 to 02/08/1986;
– 02/07/1997 to 01/27/1998;
– 01/26/2009 to 02/13/2010;
– 02/12/2021 to 01/31/2011;

It is important to monitor the date, as perhaps your date of birth does not yet set up the Year of the Ox, which brings a whole other significance to your life niches. This is especially true if he was born in January or even early February.


The Ox is a peaceful animal, which ruminates and has great strength, being one of the strongest animals in Chinese legend. Very hardworking, he is the basis of agriculture, being fundamental for the functioning of society, since agriculture is one of the pillars of the market. Basically, he is of paramount importance to our life.

Thus, within the Chinese zodiac, people governed by it are honest, extremely strong, hardworking, fair and think a lot, but a lot, before acting. They aim for big things, they dream big, but they are always willing to help. For them, good for me only exists if there is good for us.


Coincidentally aligned with the Western horoscope, the element that governs the Ox within Chinese tradition is Earth. This element is known for dialoguing directly with people looking for security and stability, needing to have a lot of defined next steps to feel comfortable.

These people usually like to create roots and bonds, making things deep, even if they don’t last long. This sought-after security appears at various times in the lives of those governed by Ox, as they look for it in their careers, in their families and even in small actions, thinking long and hard before deciding on something.


The colors of the Ox are red, purple, yellow and brown. Each color adds a quality to the whole imagery construction of the Boi. Red symbolizes the passion and strength that the animal feels and imposes. Purple, in turn, symbolizes nobility and wisdom, being one of the most noble colors, showing that you don’t always need to show that you’re in charge.

The color yellow, on the other hand, brings joy and strength, but not physics; the strength of yellow is the one we radiate when we are ourselves. The strength of being and not just being. And finally, brown, which, within the image of the Ox, symbolizes the constant state of stability. He brings sobriety, security and calm that everything is under control.


To relate to Boi, it is important that his way of living and doing things is unique, respecting the space within the relationship. The signs that best match are the Rat, the Snake and the Rooster. With the Rat, the relationship will be energetic, virtuous, with mutual support and a lot of laughter, because both have a peculiar sense of humour.

With Cobra, the relationship will be very fun and innovative, as Cobra is always looking for adventure, no matter where he is. That way, she will always find a way to get the Ox out of her routine and make life more lively. Finally, the Rooster seeks success through hard work, as does the Ox, and can help each other in the process.


Negative combinations with the Ox sign always err on the side of excess, as this sign is very centered and likes things to be done, always praising wisdom and balance. The disagreement with the Rabbit sign is because both are stubborn, being a very troubled relationship.

With Dragon, the problems are of personality, being very different and pruning each other. The Horse’s energy is very high, they are extremely lively, not always being able to be accompanied by the Ox. In turn, the Dog is attached,…

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