The Chinese zodiac Ox year that began on February 12, 2021, was accompanied by the Metal element.
This made 2021 the Year of the Metal Ox, also called the Xin Chou year in the sexagenary cycle. The cycle combines 10 heavenly stems with 12 earthly branches, producing 60 distinct stem-branch pairings. The Ox is associated with the earthly branch Chou.
The five elements used in this system are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. Each element remains linked with two consecutive animal years, creating a 60-year rhythm rather than a simple 12-year repetition.
The previous Ox year was 2009, associated with Earth, while the next Ox year will occur in 2033. Zodiac-year boundaries follow the traditional lunar calendar, so January and early-February birthdays require date checking.