There are several legends and stories about the animals chosen to make up the Chinese astrological system. One of these legends refers to the intention of the Jade Emperor to know the animals that inhabited the Earth. He decided that some of them should be brought before him. To facilitate the selection, the Emperor defined two criteria: they would have to be valuable animals for Man or be one of the first to arrive at the Celestial Palace on the day of the election of the animals.
The Ox was one of the first servants of the Celestial Palace, acting as a messenger between Heaven and Earth. Thanks to his strength and dedication to work, his usefulness to men was recognized by all. When the Jade Emperor decided to choose the 12 animals of the Zodiac, the farmers happily recommended the Ox for a place.
Thanks to its dynamic character, the Ox was the first animal to arrive at the doors of the Celestial Palace, but it was not the first to enter. When the doors opened, the Rat, who had climbed on the back of the giant animal, clinging to its horns, lunged for the entrance before the Ox could advance. However, the Jade Emperor attributed second place to the Ox to reward his generosity for Rat sitting on his back playing the flute.
In the Chinese Astrological system, each sign of the Zodiac is associated with one of the five elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. The characteristics of a person's personality are influenced by various influences, including the sign and the element of the year of birth. For example, a Wood Ox appears once in the 60-year cycle. Thus, there are five types of Oxen, each with its own characteristics: