The story of the Chinese Zodiac-The race across the river
The twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac – or shengxiao as they are known in Mandarin – represent the qualities and attributes of the people born in a certain year. But how did the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig come to signify the years, and how did they achieve their rank from first to twelfth?
The legend is an interesting one. Each Chinese zodiac sign and the order they rank in was decided by the mythical Jade Emperor and his favourite creature, the rat. When the task of choosing the zodiac animals fell to the Emperor, he asked the rat to help him. The resourceful rat decided that the best way would be to arrange a race across the river. The order in which the animals arrived would decide who would be second, third, fourth, and so on.
The rat put the word out across the kingdom, and the first creature to appear on the riverbank was the cat. The pair enlisted the help of the ox, who was resting nearby, and asked him to ferry them across the river. A kind old soul, the ox agreed, but just as they set off, the rat pushed the cat into the river. Of course we all know how much cats hate water but the cat managed to get out and scurried away to dry off.
Thus, the ox was the second creature to reach the opposite shore. The strong tiger came next, followed by agile rabbit who hopped from stone to stone and floating log,The log became trapped in river weeds but a sudden gust of wind freed the log. The dragon was hot on the rabbits heels, and only came in fifth because he stopped to make rain and then help the rabbit with a gust of wind. The horse galloped effortlessly across the river, but was pipped to sixth place by the wily snake who was hiding on his hoof. The sheep, monkey, and rooster arrived together on a raft, taking eighth, ninth, and 10th places respectively. The dog was late because he had stopped for a wash in the river, and the pig had been sleeping, so took 12th place.
The poor cat finally dragged himself over to the other side, but it was too late, he had missed his place in the zodiac. His anger at the rat has lasted through the ages, and they are still mortal enemies.
The legend is an interesting one. Each Chinese zodiac sign and the order they rank in was decided by the mythical Jade Emperor and his favourite creature, the rat. When the task of choosing the zodiac animals fell to the Emperor, he asked the rat to help him. The resourceful rat decided that the best way would be to arrange a race across the river. The order in which the animals arrived would decide who would be second, third, fourth, and so on.
The rat put the word out across the kingdom, and the first creature to appear on the riverbank was the cat. The pair enlisted the help of the ox, who was resting nearby, and asked him to ferry them across the river. A kind old soul, the ox agreed, but just as they set off, the rat pushed the cat into the river. Of course we all know how much cats hate water but the cat managed to get out and scurried away to dry off.
Thus, the ox was the second creature to reach the opposite shore. The strong tiger came next, followed by agile rabbit who hopped from stone to stone and floating log,The log became trapped in river weeds but a sudden gust of wind freed the log. The dragon was hot on the rabbits heels, and only came in fifth because he stopped to make rain and then help the rabbit with a gust of wind. The horse galloped effortlessly across the river, but was pipped to sixth place by the wily snake who was hiding on his hoof. The sheep, monkey, and rooster arrived together on a raft, taking eighth, ninth, and 10th places respectively. The dog was late because he had stopped for a wash in the river, and the pig had been sleeping, so took 12th place.
The poor cat finally dragged himself over to the other side, but it was too late, he had missed his place in the zodiac. His anger at the rat has lasted through the ages, and they are still mortal enemies.
What does your animal sign mean?
The Rat: (Birthdays in 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008) The Rat is hardworking, industrious and shrewd. People born in the year of the Rat are also charming and have magnetic personalities. It's said that finding a poor Rat is rare, since they are good in business.
The Ox: (Birthdays in 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009) The Ox is dependable, patient and methodical. They pay attention to the small things in life and aren't the type of people to be noticed by superiors. They can be poor at communication.
The Tiger: (Birthdays in 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010) The Tiger is rebellious, passionate and generous. A person born in the year of Tiger is here to make a splash in whatever area he chooses. They are tolerant, staunch and vigilant. In ancient times, the sign of the Tiger was associated with emperors and kings.
The Rabbit: (Birthdays in 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011) Rabbits are gracious, kind and sensitive. They like to express themselves through art. They have strong memories and like to make other people laugh. They are good at creating fun and excitement in their lives and the lives of others.
The Dragon: (Birthdays in 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012) People born in the year of the Dragon are proud, noble and passionate. They are stately, magnanimous and loyal to their friends. They can tend toward perfectionism and are goal-oriented.
The Snake: (Birthdays in 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013) Snakes are deep thinkers and tend toward the mystical. They are intelligent but can be secretive. They are good communicators and can put others at ease with just a word.
The Horse: (Birthdays in 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014) Horses are warm-hearted and interested in improving themselves. A horse is the spotlight of his community and likes to help others. They like to stay active and are kind to most people that they meet.
The Goat/Sheep: (Birthdays in 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015) Goats have friends throughout many different social classes. People born in a Goat year are tender, kind and generous. They like to live quiet lives.
The Monkey: (Birthdays in 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016) People born in Monkey years are lively and active. A Monkey has a strong desire to be her own person and live in a way that allows her to be free of restraint. Monkeys have a genuine interest in helping others.
The Rooster: (Birthdays in 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017) Roosters are honest, bright and talkative. They have a tendency to flip-flop on issues and can be passionate about many different things.
The Dog: (Birthdays in 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018) Dogs are gentle, lovable and kind. They are loyal and courageous under pressure. They like to stay comfortable and dislike overly loud people.
The Pig/Boar: (Birthdays in 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019) The year of the Pig gives birth to people who are honest with those in their lives. They are loyal and sincere, and they expect others to be the same
The Ox: (Birthdays in 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009) The Ox is dependable, patient and methodical. They pay attention to the small things in life and aren't the type of people to be noticed by superiors. They can be poor at communication.
The Tiger: (Birthdays in 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010) The Tiger is rebellious, passionate and generous. A person born in the year of Tiger is here to make a splash in whatever area he chooses. They are tolerant, staunch and vigilant. In ancient times, the sign of the Tiger was associated with emperors and kings.
The Rabbit: (Birthdays in 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011) Rabbits are gracious, kind and sensitive. They like to express themselves through art. They have strong memories and like to make other people laugh. They are good at creating fun and excitement in their lives and the lives of others.
The Dragon: (Birthdays in 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012) People born in the year of the Dragon are proud, noble and passionate. They are stately, magnanimous and loyal to their friends. They can tend toward perfectionism and are goal-oriented.
The Snake: (Birthdays in 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013) Snakes are deep thinkers and tend toward the mystical. They are intelligent but can be secretive. They are good communicators and can put others at ease with just a word.
The Horse: (Birthdays in 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014) Horses are warm-hearted and interested in improving themselves. A horse is the spotlight of his community and likes to help others. They like to stay active and are kind to most people that they meet.
The Goat/Sheep: (Birthdays in 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015) Goats have friends throughout many different social classes. People born in a Goat year are tender, kind and generous. They like to live quiet lives.
The Monkey: (Birthdays in 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016) People born in Monkey years are lively and active. A Monkey has a strong desire to be her own person and live in a way that allows her to be free of restraint. Monkeys have a genuine interest in helping others.
The Rooster: (Birthdays in 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017) Roosters are honest, bright and talkative. They have a tendency to flip-flop on issues and can be passionate about many different things.
The Dog: (Birthdays in 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018) Dogs are gentle, lovable and kind. They are loyal and courageous under pressure. They like to stay comfortable and dislike overly loud people.
The Pig/Boar: (Birthdays in 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019) The year of the Pig gives birth to people who are honest with those in their lives. They are loyal and sincere, and they expect others to be the same