Mine is the stabilizing force That perpetuates the cycle of life. I stand immobile against the Test of adversity, Resolute and unimpeachable. I seek to serve integrity, To bear the burdens of righteousness. I abide by the laws of nature – Patiently pushing the wheel of Fate.. Thus, I shall weave my destiny. I AM THE OX
According to Chinese legend, when Lord Buddha decided to establish order in the affairs of the world, he invited all the animals for a consultation. Only 12 animals appeared, the wily rat jumping on the back of the ox and jumping off to arrive first. Buddha assigned these animals the responsibility of the zodiac – its order follows the sequence in which the animals arrived.
The Chinese lunar calendar is the longest chronological record in history, dating from 2637 B.C. Unlike the Westerners 100-year centuries, the Chinese divided Time into periods of sixty years made up of five cycles of 12 years each. First came the Rat, then the Ox, the Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and the Boar. The animal ruling the year in which you were born exercises a profound influence on your life.
Those born in the Year of the Ox are very much like the stereotype of the animal itself:- dependable, hard-working, calm and modest. For thousands of years, the ox has been valued for its meat and milk as well as the labour it performs. Since the ox is responsible for tilling the land, it is a very important asset. “Ox people” are endowed with characteristics of unswerving patience, tireless in their work, and capable of enduring any amount of hardship without complaint.
Although he is generally fair-minded and a good listener, it is difficult to make him change his views as he is stubborn and often can be strong-minded. But they are more often said to be kind, caring souls who are logical, positive-thinking, filled with common sense with their feet planted firmly to the ground. Still, because of his steady and trustworthy character, the Ox person will be entrusted with positions of authority and responsibility. He will not fall short when duty calls!
Ox people are also exceptional at handcrafts or the Arts, a fact attested to by many famous artists and celebrities around the world. A partial list would include Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Walt Disney, Charlie Chaplin, Anthony Hopkins, Meryl Streep, Sammy Davis Jr.
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The Ox years in the 20th and 21st centuries, so far, are 1901, 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, and of course, 2009. Following the 12-year cycle, the next one will be 2021.
Here are some interesting trivia:--
Kingston College was opened at 114 East Street with 49 boys on April 16, 1925.
In 1937, Kingston College won the First Athletics Championships.
1949 ushered in the “Golden Run of 1949 – 1975” of Kingston College.
In 1949 - the year of the earth Ox - with the victory of the Communists under Mao Zedong in the civil war, China began its radical reunification. And, true to form, she has progressed largely through her own hard work and the total dedication of her people.
August 4, 1961 is the birthday of President Barack Obama.
Our editor born in 1949 is also an ox.
As we welcome The Year of the Ox, the sign representing solemn hard work and prosperity, it is aptly symbolic for these difficult times!
Here are some other famous persons born in The Year of The Ox --- Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Emperor Hirohito, Nehru, Margaret Thatcher, Adolph Hitler, Richard Burton, Dustin Hoffman, Robert Redford.
