Year of the Ox 牛: every year and its exact dates
Last checked · calculated, then checked against the Hong Kong Observatory tables
Most recent Year of the Ox
2021: Metal Ox, Feb 12, 2021 to Jan 31, 2022
Next Year of the Ox
2033: Water Ox, from Jan 31, 2033
Earthly Branch
丑 Chou, 2nd of 12
The Ox is the 2nd of the twelve zodiac animals, the Earthly Branch 丑 (Chou). From 1900 to 2100 there are 17 Years of the Ox. Their Chinese New Year comes as early as Jan 23 (2069) and as late as Feb 20 (1985), so check the exact start date for a January or February birthday. 6 of them have a leap month (1925, 1949, 2009, 2033, 2069, 2093). In the traditional calendar the branch 丑 also marks the double hour from 1 am to 3 am, the direction North-northeast and the fixed element Earth; it is a Yin branch.
Every Year of the Ox, 1900 to 2100
Age is the age reached at the birthday in 2026. Open a year for its exact boundaries.
| Year | Element | Stem-branch | Starts | Ends | Age in 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1901 | Yin Metal | 辛丑 Xin-Chou | Feb 19, 1901 | Feb 7, 1902 | 125 years |
| 1913 | Yin Water | 癸丑 Gui-Chou | Feb 6, 1913 | Jan 25, 1914 | 113 years |
| 1925 | Yin Wood | 乙丑 Yi-Chou | Jan 24, 1925 | Feb 12, 1926 | 101 years |
| 1937 | Yin Fire | 丁丑 Ding-Chou | Feb 11, 1937 | Jan 30, 1938 | 89 years |
| 1949 | Yin Earth | 己丑 Ji-Chou | Jan 29, 1949 | Feb 16, 1950 | 77 years |
| 1961 | Yin Metal | 辛丑 Xin-Chou | Feb 15, 1961 | Feb 4, 1962 | 65 years |
| 1973 | Yin Water | 癸丑 Gui-Chou | Feb 3, 1973 | Jan 22, 1974 | 53 years |
| 1985 | Yin Wood | 乙丑 Yi-Chou | Feb 20, 1985 | Feb 8, 1986 | 41 years |
| 1997 | Yin Fire | 丁丑 Ding-Chou | Feb 7, 1997 | Jan 27, 1998 | 29 years |
| 2009 | Yin Earth | 己丑 Ji-Chou | Jan 26, 2009 | Feb 13, 2010 | 17 years |
| 2021 | Yin Metal | 辛丑 Xin-Chou | Feb 12, 2021 | Jan 31, 2022 | 5 years |
| 2033 | Yin Water | 癸丑 Gui-Chou | Jan 31, 2033 | Feb 18, 2034 | – |
| 2045 | Yin Wood | 乙丑 Yi-Chou | Feb 17, 2045 | Feb 5, 2046 | – |
| 2057 | Yin Fire | 丁丑 Ding-Chou | Feb 4, 2057 | Jan 23, 2058 | – |
| 2069 | Yin Earth | 己丑 Ji-Chou | Jan 23, 2069 | Feb 10, 2070 | – |
| 2081 | Yin Metal | 辛丑 Xin-Chou | Feb 9, 2081 | Jan 28, 2082 | – |
| 2093 | Yin Water | 癸丑 Gui-Chou | Jan 27, 2093 | Feb 14, 2094 | – |
FAQ
Which years are Years of the Ox?
From 1900 to 2100: 1901, 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021, 2033, 2045, 2057, 2069, 2081, 2093. Each one starts on Chinese New Year, not on January 1, so the first weeks of each of those calendar years belong to the previous animal.
When is the next Year of the Ox?
The next one runs from January 31, 2033 to February 18, 2034; it is a Water Ox year (癸丑).
Which elements can a Ox year have?
All five, each once every 60 years: Water Ox (1973), Wood Ox (1985), Fire Ox (1997), Earth Ox (2009), Metal Ox (2021).
Is the Ox the Buffalo in the Vietnamese zodiac?
Yes. The Vietnamese zodiac uses the water buffalo for the same Earthly Branch 丑 (Chou).
Other animals
Dates are calculated with astronomical algorithms in China Standard Time (UTC+8) and checked against the Hong Kong Observatory, Gregorian-Lunar Calendar Conversion Table from 1901. This page describes the traditional calendar; it does not describe personality or fortune.