In the oracle bone inscriptions, the character niu (牛) is like a simple sketch of an ox head, highlighting its horns and ears. From ancient times to the present, the character basically remains the original form. In Chinese characters, “niu” is not only the name of the animal ox, but also a radical. Characters with the “niu” radical are mostly related to oxen, bovine animals and their movements, such as “mu”(牧, meaning “to herd cattle”), “xi” (犀, meaning “rhinoceros” ), “li” (犁, meaning “plough”) and “du” (犊, meaning “calf” ) etc.

An ox is a symbol of hard work in Chinese culture and is something Chinese farmers are deeply attached to. In some areas, the custom of paying tribute to farm cattle is still observed. “Niu” or “ox” is also one of the most commonly-used colloquial expressions, meaning “good or skillful”. It can also be used as a noun to mean an extraordinary person or thing. The phrase “niu piqi” or “ox temper” means “stubborn or unyielding temper”.