Year of the Ox

Ox people represent the expression ‘strong as an ox’ because of their uncanny ability to resolutely face any circumstance. They methodically deal with their responsibilities and in business, they often bring prosperity - not through entrepreneurial imagination and risk, but as a result of being practical and honest. They are generally gentle, peace loving people who are also hardworking and have great physical strength. They can also be cautious, patient, conservative, and fairly independent.

Their strong sense of duty can sometimes result in them outwardly being less passionate or excited, but this doesn’t mean they don’t feel deeply. They are very stable people, in their own life and in relationships, and are fervently faithful to their families and partners. They tend to shun the limelight and prefer discreetness and privacy.

The Story of the Ox

(continued) The Rat and the Cat came up with the brilliant idea to ask the generous Ox for a ride on his back who agreed and off they went. Midway across the river, the Rat pushed the Cat into the water and, unable to swim, the Cat floated downstream far away from the finish line. Then as the Ox neared the other side, the Rat jumped ahead of him crossing the finish line by a nose and thereby claiming first place for himself. The Ox then took second place.

Year and types

There are five elements that give the Ox specific characteristics and personality traits beyond its symbol of wealth. The most recent years of the Ox include 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, and 2009. After 2019, the next two years we will be 2021 and 2033.

Famous people born in the year of the Ox

In Western Countries

In Western Countries, Margaret Thatcher, the famous “Iron Lady” (born on Oct 13, 1925), was the first female Prime Minister of the UK from 1979 to 1990. Anthony Hopkins (born Dec 31, 1937) is a Welsh actor, director and producer. He had won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1992. Other celebrities born in the year of the ox including Arsene Wenger (born Oct 22, 1949), Barack Obama (born Aug 4, 1961), Peter Andre (born Feb 27, 1973), and Christiano Ronaldo (born Feb 5, 1985).

In China

Li Bai (born 701), known as Li Taibai, was a Chinese poet in Tang Dynasty. He is a genius and romantic figure who took traditional poetic forms to new heights. He wrote of friendship, solitude, time lapses, and the joys of nature with great brilliance and freshness.

Su Shi (born Jan 8, 1037) was a Chinese writer, poet, painter, calligrapher, pharmacologist, food connoisseur, and a statesman in Song dynasty. Su Shi was widely regarded as one of the most accomplished figures in classical literature. His artistic name was Dongpo. Dongpo pork, a prominent dish in Hangzhou cuisine, is named in his honor.

Ni Zan (born 1301) was a Chinese painter during the Yuan and early Ming periods. He was famous for painting landscapes with monochromatic ink and leaving areas of the canvas blank.

Liang Sicheng (born April 20, 1901) was a famous architect in China, and he was called the father of modern Chinese architecture.

Chen Yi (born Aug 26, 1901) was a communist military commander and politician. He served as Mayor of Shanghai from 1949 to 1958 and Foreign Minister of China from 1958 to 1972.

Jacky Cheung Hok-yao (born on July 10, 1961) is an immensely popular Hong Kong singer, songwriter, and actor. Since more than 25 million records had been sold as of 2003, he is regarded as one of the “Four Heavenly Kings” and is often referred to as the “God of Hong Kong”.

Kai-Fu Lee (born on Dec 3, 1961) is a Taiwanese venture capitalist, technology executive, writer, and expert on artificial intelligence.

Personality Traits and Character

Positive personality traits

Generous, patient, determined, diligent, dependable, strong, honest, cautious, level-headed, hardworking, ambitious, persistent.

Ox are strong-willed individuals who take life in stride. The Ox thrives in a world of peace, harmony, and beauty. They love family life and tend to be quite traditional in their values. They are known for their diligence, strength, and determination. Oxen are honest, straightforward, devoted and extremely patient people. They can steadfastly stick to their own ways and not be easily affected by their surroundings. They believe that the road to success requires hard work and ethical behavior and don't like taking shortcuts. Respect the Ox and he or she will respect you.

Negative personality traits

Stubborn, gloomy, obstinate, inarticulate, prudish, distant, prejudiced, narrow-minded, indifferent. On the negative side, people born in the year of the Ox might hold somewhat prejudiced ideas, can be stubborn, or seem indifferent at times. In fact, they can be stubborn to a fault, as they will hold firm to beliefs even at risk to their own comfort. They can have poor communication skills and although they will listen to other people's opinions, they may have trouble changing their mind.

Behind their serene faces can be a great temper and a critic that reacts angrily to anyone who threatens or harms them. Oxen only deeply trust a handful of people throughout their lives. Once you lose an Ox’s respect, it’s almost impossible to regain it. They dislike fussy or chaotic types and instead prefer tranquility, organization, and people who are uncomplicated.

Exclusive Travel Destinations for the Ox

We reckon you need a little healing time for yourself in the idyllic cities. For instance, Chengdu is a treasure-box offering all kinds of enjoyable things, and Xiamen offers accessibility and comfort and you still enjoy staying active and moving around. If you are interested, please check the Exclusive Travel Destinations for Chinese 12 Zodiac to know more details.

Love and Compatibility

Oxen can be friendly, but they can also be slow to embrace deeper relationships. However, once in a relationship – be it plutonic or intimate – they're honest, loyal, dependable, trustworthy partners who prefer things long-term. They believe that random flirting is a waste of time and they will search infinitely for their soulmate. Oxen make great friends and are protective of their loved ones.

For Men
An Ox man does not usually have many serious partners in his life because Oxen tend to be very faithful. But an Ox man can also be very possessive if someone shows interest in their partner. As long as his feelings and beliefs are respected, he will love dearly – otherwise he may get angry. Oxen make caring, loving fathers, but will usually insist on having the final word.

For Women
An Ox woman is great at running a household. Her natural instincts for creating a warm, protective home for her family are best left unhindered. She favors traditional relationships, is very faithful, and they expect the same from their partners. The best combination for an Ox woman is the Ox man. Sexuality is important for her, and she is more sensual than her Ox man. She is traditional in her lovemaking and likes a lot of tenderness.

Best Matches: Rat, Snake, Rooster

1. Ox and Rat

This is probably one of the best matches for people born in the year of the Ox. Both signs are good in showing appreciation for each other's unique qualities and make reliable, loyal partners. The Ox is protective and a natural provider, while the Rat is a dutiful and hardworking. The Ox is strong, quiet, and introverted, so they enjoy the attention from the outgoing and sociable Rat.

2. Ox and Snake

These two signs both like spending time with their friends and family, and they are not very fond of socializing. The Snake and the Ox will support each other when they are suffering difficulties and are likely to understand and appreciate each other's preferences. The Snake likes the hardworking dedication and loyalty of the Ox, while the Ox prefers the energy and passion of the Snake.

3. Ox and Rooster

The straightforward Rooster likes the Ox because they are hardworking, dependable, and strong. The Rooster can help the Ox in finance, and the Ox may make a lot of money with the help of the Rooster. Both signs can handle criticism well and both have the same goals and ambitions in life.

Worst Matches: Horse, Tiger, Sheep

1. Ox and Horse

The Ox and the Horse are both very fond of home, but once they get together, they may break up because one of them does not like to take the initiative. The Ox is humble and down-to-earth, while the carefree, sometimes self-centered, Horse often overlooks the Ox’s needs.The Ox feels unable to depend on the Horse and doesn’t feel appreciated enough, while the Horse feels that the Ox is holding it back in life and that it cannot easily adapt to a sedentary lifestyle.

2. Ox and Tiger

The Ox is a practical, well-organized, and dependable person, but the Tiger sees this as being too dull since the Tiger is unpredictable and unrestrained.The Ox is conservative and methodical, while the Tiger is passionate and flirtatious and enjoys attention and compliments. The Ox will not appreciate the Tiger’s thirst for adventure.

3. Ox and Sheep

Both signs can be very pushy and narrow-minded, which makes it difficult for them to compromise.The Sheep like the Ox's protectiveness, but the Ox want support and affirmation in return which is difficult for the Sheep.The Ox won’t appreciate the Sheep's meekness, indecision, indulgence, and impulsiveness. The Sheep often finds the Ox to be too conservative and overly moderate.

Lucky and Unlucky Things

Career and Health Outlook

Career

The Ox is the symbol of hard work and determination. They are responsible, hardworking, and they finish what they start. Short-term projects or temporary positions make them uncomfortable and some Oxen have trouble advancing through the first phases of their career. Oxen are the perfect candidates for any job that requires vast field knowledge and a keen eye for detail. Oxen often lack effective communicating skills, so they are more productive when allowed to work alone. Oxen often like to pursue careers in fields which utilizes their talents and not so much because of their personal interests. They do well being self-employed or having people working under them.
Good career choices: Lawyer, architect, doctor, pharmacist, horticulturist, engineer, carpenter, broker, banker, manufacturer, craftspeople, inventor, beauty specialist, painter, interior designer, archaeologist, mechanic.

Health

Oxen are generally strong and healthy individuals able to enjoy long and fulfilled lives. With their stubborn, tough exterior personality, they don’t have as much difficulty handling stress and tension. However, they tend to work hard and sometimes they can get so caught up in their work that they forget the importance of taking time to relax. They also can skip meals when extra busy which can cause problems with their digestive and immune systems. Oxen could benefit from incorporating more non-work-related activities into their daily routines.

2026 Ox Horoscope

2026 Overall: 3/5 stars

In 2026, people born in the Year of the Ox may encounter many frustrating things. All in all, when it comes to life progress, their careers may stall and relationships can turn tiring. When difficulties arise, they must reset their mindset and approach the future with optimism.

Career: 3/5 stars

Career paths may not run smoothly for those born in the Year of the Ox in 2026. Projects that were progressing well could be held back by competitors and suddenly come to a standstill. Their own carelessness may bring criticism from superiors and drag down their overall career path. Thus, they need to keep conflicts and disagreements with colleagues and superiors to a minimum and put harmony first. When thier workload becomes too heavy, slow down to relax and don't get hung up on polishing every small detail.

Wealth: 3/5 stars

People born in the Year of the Ox will have favorable financial luck in 2026. Though they may win small prizes and get unexpected income, they must carefully assess all investment and cooperation projects. Careless actions or overly obvious displays of wealth can easily leave them vulnerable to schemers, so always keep this in mind: never show off your money.

Love: 3/5 stars

In 2026, single people born in the Year of the Ox may miss opportunities to meet potential partners due to their idealized views on choosing a spouse. It is recommended that they step out of their comfort zones and participate in more outdoor activities. This way, they can meet more like-minded friends and thus have a chance to find their ideal partners.

Health: 3/5 stars

This year's health fortune carries certain risks, so you should watch out for sleep or digestive system issues. You need to get adequate rest and do more exercise in daily life. Elderly people can take up gentle exercises such as tai chi or walking, while children should participate in more outdoor activities to boost their immunity. Accidents or injuries may occur during trips or travels this year, so it's essential to stay cautious and take preventive measures.

• Chinese Zodiac
• Year of the Rat
• Year of the Ox
• Year of the Tiger
• Year of the Rabbit
• Year of the Dragon
• Year of the Snake - Zodiac Sign 2025
• Year of the Horse - Zodiac Sign 2026
• Year of the Sheep | Goat
• Year of the Monkey
• Year of the Rooster
• Year of the Dog
• Year of the Pig
• Exclusive Travel Destinations for Chinese 12 Zodiac