Why are there 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac?
This is the Year of the Pig, but have you ever wondered why and how the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac were chosen? According to legend, the heavenly Jade Emperor wanted to segment time into cycles of 12 years with an earthly animal guarding each cycle.
Do you know the story of the Chinese zodiac?
The story is widespread (and widely varying) among Chinese. Though it is made up, it might be interesting for you to tell your children and friends. Long, long ago, there was no Chinese zodiac. The Jade Emperor wanted to select 12 animals to be his guards.
What is the sequence of the Chinese zodiac?
The traditional sequence of the Chinese zodiac is: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.
How many Chinese zodiac signs are there?
There are 12 Chinese zodiac signs, in the following order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Each sign is named after an animal, and each animal has its own unique characteristics. Choose your date of birth and find out about your Chinese zodiac sign.
Where did the Chinese zodiac animals come from?
It's known from pottery artifacts that the animals of the zodiac were popular in the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.), but they were also seen much earlier from artifacts from the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.), a period of disunity in ancient Chinese history, as differing factions fought for control.
How did the Jade Emperor decide on the order of animals?
To determine which animals, Jade Emperor invited them to a party and would see the order each animal reached him. To reach Jade Emperor's party, the animals would have to cross a river in what is known as The Great Race.
Why are there 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac?
The Heavenly Gate Race Story - Reasons for Zodiac Rankings Long, long ago, there was no Chinese zodiac. The Jade Emperor wanted to select 12 animals to be his guards. He sent an immortal being into man's world to spread the message that the earlier one went through the Heavenly Gate, the better the rank one would have.
Why was the cat left out of the Chinese zodiac?
Because the Rat tricked the cat into missing the banquet with the Jade Emperor, the cat was not included and was not aware that the banquet was going on and was not given a year, thus began the antipathy between cats and rats.
Which Chinese animal won the race?
Rat1. Rat. According to legend, in the competition held by the Jade Emperor to decide the zodiac animals, the quick-witted rat asked the diligent ox to take him on a ride to cross the river and jumped down before the ox crossed the finish line, so the rat won the race and became the first of the zodiac animals.
Why is the Chinese zodiac not a lion?
At the ancient times, the lion was a Chinese zodiac; there was no tiger at all. However the lion is very cruel, so the supreme god wants to take away the lion's Chinese zodiac status. But the supreme god cannot do so because the lion is the king of all animals.
Which animal came in first?
the RatOnly 12 animals came to bid him farewell. As a reward he named a year after each other one in the order that they arrived. First came the Rat, then the Ox, the Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. Thus we have 12 signs today.
Which animal came first in the Chinese race?
ratAt last, the ox and rat arrived first. The ox was happy thinking that he would be the first sign of the years, but the rat had already slid in front, and became the first lucky animal of the Chinese zodiac. That's how did the rat win the race.
How many animals are in the Chinese zodiac?
There are 12 animals, and together, they make up the Chinese zodiac. The traditional sequence of the Chinese zodiac is: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Like the zodiac signs of Western astrology, it is also traditionally believed by the Chinese that one’s personality is influenced by ...
What is the Chinese zodiac sign?
Like the zodiac of Western astrology, it is believed by many that the zodiac signs allow a person to tell one’s fortune. Forecasts are also generally presented for all signs at the beginning of each New Year.
What is the zodiac sign of a rat?
The zodiac year that a person was born in is called his / her 本命年 (‘Ben Ming Nian’). As an illustration, the Year of the Rat is the 本命年 of people born under the sign of the Rat. It is commonly held that people in their own 本命年 would have a higher chance of facing misfortunes during that year.
What was the first animal to arrive?
For example, the Rat was the first animal to arrive thanks to its cunning nature. Towards the end of the race, there was a river that the animals needed to cross. As the Rat could not swim, it decided to hitch a ride on the back of the Ox without it knowing.
What is the origin of Lunar New Year?
The Origin of Lunar New Year and the Legend of Nian. A Loyal Companion and Much More: Dogs in Ancient China. The Four Mythological Symbols of China. In some versions of the story, the Jade Emperor is replaced with the Buddha. Also, some versions have the race substituted with a banquet.
What was the prize for the first 12 animals that arrived?
Regardless, the prize for the first 12 animals that arrived was their induction into the zodiac. The order of their arrival determined their place in this cycle. 16th century ink, color, and gold on silk image of the Jade Emperor. Museum of fine Arts, Boston.
What is the fifth animal in the zodiac?
During the course of the race, however, the Dragon met with people who were in trouble (villagers caught in a flood, and / or a drought killing the farmers’ crops, etc.), and decided to help them, thus making it the fifth animal in the zodiac.
What Animals Are Included in the Chinese Zodiac?
Chinese zodiac symbols comprise the following 12 animals, here presented in alphabetical order rather than in their traditional line-up:
What Is the Legend of the Chinese Zodiac?
The legend behind the Chinese zodiac began in the oral tradition. Therefore, there are many different versions of it. The central figure of the story is usually the Jade Emperor, an important figure in Chinese mythology. The Jade Emperor wanted to choose 12 animals to be his guards.
How many Chinese zodiac signs are there?
There are 12 Chinese zodiac signs, in the following order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Each sign is named after an animal, and each animal has its own unique characteristics. Choose your date of birth and find out about your Chinese zodiac sign.
What animals did the Jade Emperor want to guard?
Long, long ago, there was no Chinese zodiac. The Jade Emperor wanted to select 12 animals to be his guards. He sent an immortal being into man's world to spread the message that the earlier one went through the Heavenly Gate, the better the rank one would have. Early Risers: Quick-Witted Rat and Diligent Ox.
What did Rat say to himself when he heard the Emperor's decree?
Upon hearing the Emperor's decree Rat chuckled to himself and thought: "This is an opportunity". The sleepyhead Cat kicked open Rat's door, ordering Rat to keep him informed of when he was going to the Emperor's birthday party, and Rat readily promised that he would.
Is Heavenly Gate a Chinese story?
Though it is made up, it might be interesting for you to tell your children and friends. The Heavenly Gate Race Story - Reasons for Zodiac Rankings. Long, long ago, there was no Chinese zodiac. The Jade Emperor wanted to select 12 animals to be his guards.
Did Rat and Cat wake up?
On the morning, however, Rat left quietly without informing Cat. Cat didn't wake upuntil the race was over and it was too late - he was not able to make it into the cycle. After the party, a great enmity grew between Cat and Rat, so that rats scatter in all directions when a cat appears.
How many animals are in the Chinese zodiac?
The Chinese Zodiac, originated from the zoolatry in remote antiquity with 12 animals to represent the rotating 12 years as a cycle is a traditional calculation of the age of people. It is very popular in China, especially in the rural areas. You will find it so magic that your age will be worked out within seconds once you tell what animal year you were born into. It is also an easy way to get to know how many years older or younger you are than someone you are comparing with.
How many animals were chosen to be the guards of the Celestial Palace?
At the beginning of the creation of the world, Jade Emperor in Chinese culture wanted to select 12 animals to be the guards of the celestial palace, a place where gods live. The news went round quickly. Many animals wanted to be enlisted.
What animals were matched to the terrestrial branches?
The snake, the horse, the sheep, the monkey, and the rooster all showed their uniqueness in the competition and got their positions accordingly. Now that all the 12 animals got their places, they were matched to the terrestrial branches according to their peculiar characteristics of life.
Why did the cat ask the rat to register for him?
On hearing the news, the cat asked the rat to register for him because it could not go there for some reason, but the rat didn't. Maybe the rat forgot, or it didn't do it purposely in order to get more possibilities for itself. As a result, the cat missed the chance permanently.
