The 12 Animals of the Chinese Zodiac Story in Order
The Chinese Zodiac is an ancient tradition that has been a part of Chinese culture for thousands of years. It is based on a 12-year cycle, with each year represented by an animal from the Chinese mythology. The story of the Chinese Zodiac is a fascinating one, and it's interesting to learn about the legend behind each of the 12 animals.
The Great Race
According to legend, the Jade Emperor, the ruler of heaven and earth, decided to hold a great race to determine the order of the 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac. He invited all the animals in the forest to participate in the race, with the first 12 animals to cross the finish line winning a place in the Zodiac.
The 12 Animals in Order
Here are the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac in the order they finished the great race:
1. Rat (1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020)
The rat was the first to cross the finish line, thanks to his cunning and cleverness. He tricked the cat into missing the race, and then exploited the ox's kindness to get a ride across the river.
2. Ox (1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021)
The ox was second to cross the finish line, thanks to his hard work and determination. He would have come first if the rat hadn't tricked him into giving him a ride.
3. Tiger (1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022)
The tiger came third, thanks to his bravery and strength. He would have come first if he hadn't been so proud and confident, causing him to slow down towards the end.
4. Rabbit (1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023)
The rabbit came fourth, thanks to his quick thinking and agility. He would have come earlier if he hadn't stopped to admire his reflection in the river.
5. Dragon (1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024)
The dragon came fifth, thanks to his mighty strength and power. He would have come earlier if he hadn't stopped to help the other animals along the way.
6. Snake (1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025)
The snake came sixth, thanks to his cunning and stealth. He would have come earlier if he hadn't been so lazy and wanted to take a nap halfway through the race.
7. Horse (1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026)
The horse came seventh, thanks to his speed and agility. He would have come earlier if he hadn't stopped to eat along the way.
8. Goat (1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027)
The goat came eighth, thanks to his creativity and determination. He would have come earlier if he hadn't stopped to admire the scenery.
9. Monkey (1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028)
The monkey came ninth, thanks to his agility and quick thinking. He would have come earlier if he hadn't stopped to play along the way.
10. Rooster (1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029)
The rooster came tenth, thanks to his punctuality and attention to detail. He would have come earlier if he hadn't stopped to fix his feathers.
11. Dog (1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030)
The dog came eleventh, thanks to his loyalty and honesty. He would have come earlier if he hadn't stopped to help
