Born in 1949: the Ox
A Yin Earth Ox 🐂
The Ox is the steady worker of the zodiac: disciplined, calm under pressure, and trusted to finish what it starts. Loyalty runs deep. As a Earth-element year, 1949 adds a grounded, practical and patient streak to the usual Ox character.
The 1949 lunar year ran from January 29, 1949 to February 17, 1950. If you were born on or after January 29, 1949 you are a Ox; if you were born earlier in 1949, you belong to the previous year's sign, the Rat.
What the Earth element adds
Earth is the element of the harvest, stability and realism. An Earth year makes an animal steadier and more dependable, focused on security and the long game, though it can also make it slower to change course.
The full 60-year cycle pairs each of the 12 animals with each of the 5 elements, so a Earth Ox year comes around only once every 60 years — the last one before 1949 was 1889, and the next is 2009. People born in it are said to combine dependable and patient with the element's grounded nature. Its Yin/Yang polarity is fixed as Yin for every Ox year. See the Earth element and the full Earth Ox profile.
1949 at a glance
| Animal | 🐂 Ox (牛) |
|---|---|
| Element | Earth |
| Polarity | Yin |
| Best match | Rat |
| Hardest match | Goat |
| Lucky numbers | 1, 4 |
| Lucky colors | white, yellow, green |
Ox compatibility
In the traditional chart, a 1949 Ox gets on best with the Rat (the "secret friend" pairing), and also with Snake and Rooster. The hardest pairing is the Goat, six years apart in the cycle. See the full Ox compatibility table.
Your zodiac years
The Ox returns every 12 years, so someone born in 1949 is back in their own zodiac year in 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997 and so on. Tradition calls this your běnmìngnián — despite being "your" year, it is thought to clash with Tài Suì (the God of Age) and to carry a higher chance of setbacks, so many people wear red through it for protection.
Other Ox years
1937 1961 1973 1985 1997 2009 2021 2033
Full Ox personality profile → Ox compatibility with every sign →
Know your exact birth date? Use the calculator for your full combination →
Frequently asked questions
What Chinese zodiac sign is 1949?
1949 is the year of the Ox (Earth Ox, Yin polarity). Anyone born on or after January 29, 1949 is a Ox; a birthday earlier in 1949 belongs to the previous sign, the Rat.
What element is the 1949 zodiac year?
1949 is a Earth-element year. Earth is the element of the harvest, stability and realism. An Earth year makes an animal steadier and more dependable, focused on security and the long game, though it can also make it slower to change course.
Who is a 1949 Ox most compatible with?
Best matches are the Rat (the "secret friend"), plus the Snake and Rooster. The hardest match is the Goat.
Is 1949 a lucky year to be born in?
Chinese tradition does not rank whole years as lucky or unlucky to be born in — every animal has strengths and weaknesses. The one combination widely treated with caution is the Fire Horse, and 1949 is not a Fire Horse year.