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Rat
Ox
Tiger
Rabbit
Dragon
Snake
Horse
Goat
Monkey
Rooster
Dog
Pig

The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac

In ancient times, our ancestors counted the years with 10 celestial stems and 12 terrestrial branches. Although this was scientific, most people were illiterate and could not memorize or calculate easily. Thus the animals that influenced people's lives were chosen to symbolize the terrestrial branches: the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.

Legend has it that one day the gods ordered that animals be designated as the signs of each year with the twelve who arrived first selected. At that time, the cat and mouse were good friends and neighbors. When they heard of this news, the cat said to mouse: 'We should arrive early to sign up, but I usually get up late.' The mouse then promised to awaken his friend and to go together. However, on the morning when he got up, he was too excited to recall his promise, and went directly to the gathering place. On the way, the mouse encountered the tiger, ox, horse, and other animals that ran much faster. In order not to fall behind them, he thought up a good idea. He made the straightforward ox carry him on condition that he sang for the ox. The ox and mouse arrived first. The ox was happy thinking that he would be the first sign of the years, but the mouse had already slid in front, and became the first lucky animal of the Chinese zodiac. Meanwhile his neighbor the cat was too late; when it finally arrived, the selections were over. That's why other animals appear behind the little mouse and why the cat hates mice so much that every time they meet, the cat will chase and kill the mouse.

It is also said that this order of the zodiac originated in the Han Dynasty (206 - 220) according to the 12 time periods of a day:

The first period is from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m., the time rats actively seek food;
The second one is from 1 to 3 a.m., a time that oxen regurgitate;
From 3 to 5 a.m. tigers hunt prey and display their fiercest nature;
From 5 to 7 a.m., based on tales, the jade rabbit on the moon was busy pounding medicinal herb with a pestle;
From 7 to 9 a.m. dragons were said to hover in the sky to give people rainfall;
From 9 to 11 a.m. snakes start to leave their burrows;
From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. the day is flourishing, as vigorous as an unconstrained horse;
From 1 to 3 p.m. it was said that if sheep ate grass at this time, they would grow stronger;
From 3 to 5 p.m. monkeys become lively;
From 5 to 7 p.m. roosters return to their roost as it is dark;
From 7 to 9 p.m. dogs begin to carry out their duty to guard entrances;
From 9 to 11 p.m. all is quiet and pigs are sleeping soundly.

For a long time there has been a special relationship between humans and the 12 zodiacal animals. Humans admired them, took them as totems, and in the artistic field, those animal signs were among the features of those themes. This can be reflected in artisans' paper-cut works, New-Year pictures, pottery and bronze wares, especially on the bronze mirrors before the appearance of glass ones, on which elaborate forms showed creativity and passion as well as wishes for a good life.

In the Lunar calendar and Chinese astrology, the years are named for the different animals in a 12 year sequence. The year of your birth is what determines your astrological sign.

So, Now you know a little bit about the legend, click on one or all of the above links which detail each sign in the Chinese Zodiac.