"Happy Year of the xOXo" Designed by Monique Zhang

The Happy Year of the xOXo ox represents the vigor and vitality of the elders in our community. In the position of strength, the Ox stands proud in colorful textures to represent the silk fabrics of the traditional Chinese attire. The various colors overlap to symbolize the coming together of family. The intricate design in the front signifies the wisdom of the ancestors and the older generation. As the design progresses back, the colors and textures are simplified to represent the younger generation. The heart motif throughout symbolizes shared roots, history, love, and family connections. On the body of the Ox, there are four calligraphy symbols representing joy, age, vigor, and strength, to depict a "joyful silver hair(ed) life with vigor."

"Golden Ox" Designed by Jill Jiang

During the gold rush days, San Francisco was referred to as Old Gold Mountain. SF Chinese Chamber of Commerce is proud to present the Golden Ox, which symbolizes a future with prosperity, good fortune, and freedom from poverty.

"New Hope" Designed by Deyi (Robin) Zhao

The New Hope Ox statue showcases themes of springtime, strength, and peace. With its eyes looking ahead, the statue conveys progress and forward movement into the new and unknown horizon. The Chinese plum blossom branches and flowers featured throughout the statue's design represent perseverance, strength, and bravery. Red fire strips fuel the flames of success in business and life, while the Chinese clouds signify luck and peace.

"Auspicious Ox" Designed by Stephanie Tsao

The Chinese character for ox is pronounced niú. According to Chinese legends, in times of turmoil, the ox refuses to be intimated and walks with its head held high. Through the strength of will, diligence, and perseverance, the ox will restore order in the new year.

The colors and symbols on the Happy Year of the Ox were selected for their auspicious meanings in Chinese culture. The color red represents good fortune and joy. The color gold and the circular symbols on the ox's knees representing traditional Chinese coins signify wealth and prosperity. The plum blossoms, peonies, and clouds adorned on the ox and the pattern on the ox's hooves are a nod to a long lineage of Chinese artistic expression. The symbols represent many blessings including good luck, power, beauty, and success. Because plum blossoms bloom in cold winters and are the first flowers of the year, they also represent perseverance and renewal.

On the front of the ox, the eternity knot is an ancient auspicious symbol representing the interconnectedness of the universe. It reminds us to let go of challenging situations and see differing perspectives in a new light. Scribed above the eternity knot is the Chinese character for good luck, pronounced fú. The character is written upside down because the character for upside down is the homonym of arrive, pronounced dào. Placing good luck upside down means good luck is arriving.

"Lucky Feast" Designed by Eduardo Valadez Arenas

The Lucky Feast ox design illustrates ingredients commonly seen and used in the New Year meal as well as everyday life. The shrimp represents liveliness, happiness, and good fortune. Dumplings symbolize wealth due to their resemblance to ingots, an old Chinese currency. Tofu is for the fulfillment of wealth and happiness while mushrooms are for longevity. Never left off the dinner table is a hot pot of tea to wash down the delicious meal, but also to pay respects to the elders.

"Ancient Technology" Designed by Stephanie Mufson

The Ancient Technology Ox features colorful clouds that serve a double meaning: they are a traditional symbol of good fortune, and also allude to the modern meaning of the cloud as part of the technological society we now share. Rounded rectangles refer to the various screens of our favorite devices, offering windows into the history and cultural impact of various Chinese Inventions. Just as our connection to each other is made stronger through the various methods of communication offered to us through our screens, the gold linework dancing from one window to the next connects them all to each other. Each rounded rectangle also emits 3 lines and three curves, illustrating the use of wifi and voice communication in our highly connected world. The use of the plum blossom branches represents family, culture, and history. Each blossom is an individual - part of and connected by shared roots.

"Tea Time" Designed by Stephanie Mufson

The Tea Time ox is a colorful dreamscape. Three golden teapots are seen pouring tea, each representing respect, family, and hospitality. The scale of the teapots symbolizes the traditions passed down from generation to generation with the largest pot representing the ancestors and the smallest representing the youngest generation. The Chinese-stylized clouds symbolize good fortune and happiness, while the pink plum blossoms represent purity and perseverance. Its use of bold red and gold colors honors and celebrates this cultural tradition.

"Unity" Designed by Eduardo Valadez Arenas

The Unity Ox stands in confidence, looking towards the future to a new year filled with happiness and prosperity, together with the community. The modern take on traditional celebratory Lunar New Year colors overlaps to provide a sense of movement and flow to represent the coming together of people. Floral accents on the horns and body symbolize the coming of spring and new beginnings. A wave pattern covers the hooves signifying a sea of blessings for the new year. Scribed across the body of the Ox is a common phrase that echoes the sentiment of togetherness and community translating to, "millions of people together as one."