Ox strengths in tradition
- Patient and persistent
- Dependable and honest
- Methodical and thorough
- Calm under pressure
1997 Chinese zodiac: Year of the Fire Ox
The 1997 Chinese year ran from Friday 7 February 1997 to Tuesday 27 January 1998.
Its sign is the Yin Fire Ox: 丁丑 (Dīng-chǒu) in the 60-year cycle.
Born 1 January – 6 February 1997? Then you belong to the previous Chinese year: the Fire Rat of 1996.
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 1997 (Lichun day): by Lichun, Fire Rat before 03:02 China time and Fire Ox from then on; by Chinese New Year, Fire Rat.
- 5–6 February 1997: Fire Rat by Chinese New Year, Fire Ox by Lichun.
Dates and times in China time. The Chinese zodiac calculator converts them for your birthplace and shows both counts.
The Fire Ox in Chinese astrology
A Fire Ox is described as more forceful and decisive, with strong convictions and the energy to lead.
The Ox is the second Chinese zodiac animal, associated in tradition with patience, diligence and the quiet strength to see long tasks through. Fire is the element of warmth and energy, linked in Chinese tradition with summer, passion and outward expression.
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
Other Ox years
The Fire Ox every 60 years
Questions and answers
What Chinese zodiac is 1997?
1997 is the Year of the Fire Ox (yin Fire, 丁丑 Dīng-chǒu), from 7 February 1997 to 27 January 1998. Anyone born 1 January – 6 February 1997 belongs to the previous Chinese year, the Fire Rat.
What element is 1997 in the Chinese zodiac?
Fire, in its yin form: the year’s Heavenly Stem is 丁 (Dīng). Fire years are years ending in 6 or 7 – counted by the Chinese year, which begins in late January or February.
I was born in January or early February 1997 — which animal am I?
If you were born before 7 February 1997, the date of Chinese New Year, your sign is the Fire Rat of the 1996 Chinese year; from 7 February 1997 on, it is the Fire Ox. Four Pillars (BaZi) astrology counts from Lichun instead (4 February 1997, 03:02 China time).
When was Chinese New Year 1997?
It was on Friday 7 February 1997 (China time). The next one, on Wednesday 28 January 1998, began the Year of the Earth Tiger.