The Chinese Year of the Ox

An Ox is a large animal that looks like a bull, but he is generally patient, hard-working, and easy-going. And people who are born in the year of the Ox are said to be like that too! How did humans come to have this useful animal on earth to help them farm?

If you have heard our story, the Chinese Year of the Animals, you will know that the Ox is the second animal in the Chinese Zodiac. You may recall that all the animals took part in a swimming race to decide what order they should come in. The powerful Ox was the strongest swimmer, and he kindly allowed the rat to ride on his back. But when he was close to the other side of the river, the sneaky rat jumped off the ox’s back and arrived first.