The Chinese zodiac is a cultural tradition, shared here for reflection, not as a prediction or a Buddhist teaching.
1997
Fire Ox
牛 (niú) · Ox year 2 of 12
When the 1997 zodiac year began
In 1997, the Lunar New Year fell on Friday, February 7, 1997. The year of the Fire Ox ran from that day until January 27, 1998.
If you were born between January 1 and February 6, 1997, your animal is the Rat (Fire Rat, the 1996 year). People born from February 7, 1997 onward belong to the Ox.
The Fire Ox
In tradition, Fire is linked with warmth, passion and enthusiasm. Each animal comes around every 12 years, and with the five elements the same combination returns every 60 years. The Ox is traditionally linked with being patient and dependable. Read more about the Ox in Chinese tradition.
A practice for the Ox
Give your steady heart some rest: end each day by noticing three good moments. Try the 5-minute gratitude meditation.
Not sure of your animal? Enter your full birth date in the zodiac animal finder.