Ox strengths in tradition
- Patient and persistent
- Dependable and honest
- Methodical and thorough
- Calm under pressure
1985 Chinese zodiac: Year of the Wood Ox
The 1985 Chinese year ran from Wednesday 20 February 1985 to Saturday 8 February 1986.
Its sign is the Yin Wood Ox: 乙丑 (Yǐ-chǒu) in the 60-year cycle.
Born 1 January – 19 February 1985? Then you belong to the previous Chinese year: the Wood Rat of 1984.
Chinese New Year or Lichun?
Most calendars change the animal at Chinese New Year. Four Pillars (BaZi) astrology starts the year at Lichun, the Start of Spring, instead. For births around the turn of the year the two counts differ:
- 4 February 1985 (Lichun day): by Lichun, Wood Rat before 05:12 China time and Wood Ox from then on; by Chinese New Year, Wood Rat.
- 5–19 February 1985: Wood Rat by Chinese New Year, Wood Ox by Lichun.
- 4 February 1986 (Lichun day): by Lichun, Wood Ox before 11:07 China time and Fire Tiger from then on; by Chinese New Year, Wood Ox.
- 5–8 February 1986: Wood Ox by Chinese New Year, Fire Tiger by Lichun.
Dates and times in China time. The Chinese zodiac calculator converts them for your birthplace and shows both counts.
The Wood Ox in Chinese astrology
A Wood Ox is said to be more flexible and cooperative than other Oxen, open to new methods while keeping the Ox's steady work ethic.
The Ox is the second Chinese zodiac animal, associated in tradition with patience, diligence and the quiet strength to see long tasks through. Wood is the element of growth and new beginnings, linked in Chinese tradition with spring, generosity and steady expansion.
Ox challenges in tradition
- Slow to accept change
- Stubborn once decided
- Keeps feelings to itself
- Can take on too much work
Traditions, not predictions. The Ox in love and at work · The five elements
Questions and answers
What Chinese zodiac is 1985?
1985 is the Year of the Wood Ox (yin Wood, 乙丑 Yǐ-chǒu), from 20 February 1985 to 8 February 1986. Anyone born 1 January – 19 February 1985 belongs to the previous Chinese year, the Wood Rat.
What element is 1985 in the Chinese zodiac?
Wood, in its yin form: the year’s Heavenly Stem is 乙 (Yǐ). Wood years are years ending in 4 or 5 – counted by the Chinese year, which begins in late January or February.
I was born in January or early February 1985 — which animal am I?
If you were born before 20 February 1985, the date of Chinese New Year, your sign is the Wood Rat of the 1984 Chinese year; from 20 February 1985 on, it is the Wood Ox. Four Pillars (BaZi) astrology counts from Lichun instead (4 February 1985, 05:12 China time).
When was Chinese New Year 1985?
It was on Wednesday 20 February 1985 (China time). The next one, on Sunday 9 February 1986, began the Year of the Fire Tiger.