The Legend of the 12 Animals of the Chinese Zodiac
The Chinese Zodiac is an ancient cycle of twelve animal signs that are used to represent the years in a repeating cycle. But have you ever wondered how these twelve animals came to be? According to legend, the story of the Chinese Zodiac is a fascinating tale of cleverness, cunning, and a dash of good luck.
The Great Race
The story begins with the Jade Emperor, the ruler of heaven and earth, who decided to call upon all the animals of the forest to gather before him. He declared that he would hold a great race, and the first twelve animals to cross the finish line would be granted a place in the Chinese Zodiac.
The Animals Gather
All the animals of the forest gathered at the starting line, each one eager to participate in the great race. There was the rat, who was small but quick-witted; the ox, who was strong and hardworking; the tiger, who was fierce and powerful; the rabbit, who was gentle and kind; the dragon, who was majestic and proud; the snake, who was sly and cunning; the horse, who was fast and agile; the goat, who was gentle and creative; the monkey, who was agile and mischievous; the rooster, who was proud and loud; the dog, who was loyal and faithful; and the pig, who was gentle and indulgent.
The Race Begins
At the starting signal, the animals set off, each one determined to be the first to cross the finish line. The rat, being quick-witted, decided to hitch a ride on the back of the ox, who was strong and steady. As they approached the river, the rat jumped off the ox's back and swam across, emerging first on the other side.
The ox, who was surprised by the rat's cunning, was second to cross the finish line. The tiger, who was fierce and powerful, was third, followed closely by the rabbit, who was gentle and kind.
The Rest of the Animals
The dragon, who was majestic and proud, was fifth, but only because he had stopped to help the rabbit, who was struggling to cross the river. The snake, who was sly and cunning, was sixth, having slipped across the finish line unnoticed.
The horse, who was fast and agile, was seventh, followed by the goat, who was gentle and creative. The monkey, who was agile and mischievous, was ninth, and the rooster, who was proud and loud, was tenth.
The Final Two
The dog, who was loyal and faithful, was eleventh, having stopped to help an old friend who was struggling to cross the finish line. And finally, the pig, who was gentle and indulgent, was twelfth, having stopped to enjoy a snack halfway through the race.
The Zodiac is Born
And so, the Jade Emperor declared that the first twelve animals to cross the finish line would be the twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac, each one representing a year in the repeating cycle. The rat was declared the first animal, followed by the ox, the tiger, and so on, until the pig, who was the twelfth and final animal.
And so, the legend of the Chinese Zodiac was born, a story of cleverness, cunning, and a dash of good luck that has been passed down for generations.
