As legend would have it, it was Buddha himself who gave each animal its place in the Asian zodiac. When he called all the animals together following the creation, only twelve felt it necessary to attend the meeting. As a reward for their effort in making the long journey, Buddha offered each of them their own year, which would from then on bear the name of that animal. In addition, each animal was also given the opportunity to directly influence history during that time – and thus, in turn, the fate of those humans born in that year. Analogous to the characteristics of the respective animal symbol, and by means of your date of birth, you too can read those characteristic traits that may – or may not – apply to you. 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997—People born in the Year of the Ox are patient, speak little, and inspire confidence in others. They tend, however, to be eccentric, and bigoted, and they anger easily. They have fierce tempers and although they speak little, when they do they are quite eloquent. Ox people are mentally and physically alert. Generally easy-going, they can be remarkably stubborn, and they hate to fail or be opposed. They are most compatible with Snake, Rooster, and Rat people.