For those who follow the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac, the dependability and strength characteristics symbolised by the Year of the Ox, specifically the metal ox, represent a welcome contrast to the wild and erratic period associated with the departing Year of the Rat.
In Chinese culture, every year is represented by one of the 12 animals in a set consecutive order, starting with the rat and ending with the pig, with each bringing its own characteristics to the year it denominates, factors to which Hong Kong’s business community pay close attention.
According to feng shui practitioners who base their forecasts on the Chinese zodiac, the Year of the Ox, which kicked off on 12 February, is an ‘earth’ year, the calmest of the five earth, water, fire, wood and metal feng shui elements, which are believed to maintain the balance of the universe.
Every cycle an element sign is attributed to each Chinese zodiac creature. While the past year has been one of few earthly comforts, the ox’s earthly branch is associated with ‘stability and nourishment’ – the necessary ingredients to generate positive energy.
Perhaps it is more than a coincidence that the last time the Ox displayed its horns was in 2009, when hot on the hooves of the Global Financial Crisis, economic recovery got under way. However, in the parlance of financial disclaimers, past performance should not be considered as a reliable indicator of future results.
While the past year has been one of few earthly comforts, the ox’s earthly branch is associated with ‘stability and nourishment’
While the people of Hong Kong consult feng shui masters on all aspects of their lives – from relationships to ways of boosting their good fortune to advice on home décor – they are routinely asked to weigh in on business matters too. And after a year when businesses have been upended by Covid-19, they are finding a receptive audience, even if predictions come with a health warning.
For example, investment group CLSA, which stresses that its annual Feng Shui Index offers a lighthearted look at Hong Kong’s stock market, is still seen by many investors as an important informal indicator of stock performance. While the economic environment is expected to remain challenging, CLSA predicts an auspicious period for logistics, shipping and financial services – industries that are linked to the ox’s natural elements.
Feng Shui Lo
Meanwhile, the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong engaged the services of Grand Master Raymond Lo, popularly known as ‘Feng Shui Lo’, to provide a Year of the Ox forecast webinar for its members – presented digitally due to the need for social distancing.
Offering a general trajectory for how the year ahead is likely to pan out, unlike the broad-based Bull Run in 2009, Lo predicts structural growth themes will likely prevail, with industry sectors symbolically linked to the metal Ox and the earth leading the growth recovery.
With metal associated with activity and productivity, Lo predicts that earth industries – including real estate, land development, mining, insurance, computer software and technology – are in a good position to prosper and make progress during 2021.
At the same time, because fire dominates metal and metal is fire’s metaphoric money, industries associated with the fire element – which include energy and power producers, restaurants and the entertainment industry – can also expect to register an uptick in their prospects. This will be welcome news to Hong Kong’s restaurant and entertainment sectors, which have been hit particularly hard by the repercussions of the pandemic.
While even the most optimistic of forecasts have Covid-19 dominating much of 2021, the Year of the Ox is already looking like a step up from the year just passed.
