Why Are There Only 12 Chinese Zodiac Animals?

Why Are There Only 12 Chinese Zodiac Signs?

The Chinese zodiac, believed to originate from China, comprises 12 animal signs, each representing a year in the lunar calendar. Countries like Vietnam and India adopted this zodiac system, sometimes substituting certain animals to align with local cultural beliefs. For instance, Vietnam replaces the rabbit with a cat, while India replaces the tiger, cat, and rooster with a lion, rabbit, and kim kieu bird, respectively.

Several theories attempt to explain the significance of the number 12. In ancient Chinese culture and its perception of the human body and the Earth, 12 held sacred value. It corresponds to the 12 primary meridians in the human body, the 12 tones in ancient music, and even the Emperor’s diet and wardrobe, which were organized into 12 categories. According to the five elements theory, the 12 animals are also associated with the 12 Earthly Branches and the 10 Heavenly Stems, with the five natural elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth completing a 60-year cycle.

One theory suggests that the number 12 relates to the active periods of these animals within a day. A Qing dynasty book, ‘Tong Xia Guan Zhuan Yan,’ explains that the selection and ordering of the 12 animals are based on their peak activity times, corresponding to the 12 two-hour periods of the day:

– 11 PM to 1 AM: The hour of the rat, when mice are most active.

– 1 AM to 3 AM: The hour of the ox, when well-fed cows chew their cud before dawn, preparing to plow the fields.

– 3 AM to 5 AM: The hour of the tiger, when these big cats go hunting, exhibiting their fiercest behavior.

– 5 AM to 7 AM: The hour of the rabbit, as the sun rises while the moon still shines, with the moon rabbit busy pounding medicine for the lunar goddess, Chang’e.

– 7 AM to 9 AM: The hour of the dragon, when these mythical beasts perform their morning dance.

– 9 AM to 11 AM: Snakes return to their dens and stop biting people, marking the hour of the snake.

– 11 AM to 1 PM: The hour of the horse, when the sun is at its brightest, and horses run at full speed.

– 1 PM to 3 PM: The hour of the goat, as they graze on grass.

– 3 PM to 5 PM: The hour of the monkey, when they become playful and vocal.

– 5 PM to 7 PM: The hour of the rooster, as chickens return to their coops to sleep.

– 7 PM to 9 PM: The hour of the dog, when they begin their nightly hunt.

– 9 PM to 11 PM: The hour of the pig, when pigs sleep soundly.

Why These 12 Animals?

The 12 animals selected as zodiac signs are those that are most familiar and culturally significant to the local population. In China, they are the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. However, when this zodiac system spread to other countries, some animals were substituted to align with local beliefs. For instance, in Vietnam, the rabbit was replaced by a cat, and in India, influenced by Buddhist scriptures, the tiger, cat, and rooster were swapped for a lion, rabbit, and kim kieu bird.

To date, researchers have not conclusively determined why these 12 animals were chosen over others. One of the oldest texts in China, ‘Lun Heng,’ written by Wang Chong during the Eastern Han dynasty, offers some insight. It states, “The earth created the ox, and the ox plows the earth, so the ox belongs to the earth. People are born in the year of the tiger, and when they die, they become tigers, so the tiger belongs to man…” This text indicates that the 12 animals were established during the Han dynasty in China, but it still does not explain the reasoning behind the selection of these specific animals.

Numerous legends surround the 12 Chinese zodiac signs, with most stories sharing similar plots. In ancient times, it is said that humans did not know how to calculate and differentiate between days, months, and years. The Jade Emperor decided to choose 12 animals to represent each year. However, selecting which animals would be included proved challenging, as each animal wanted to be chosen and desired to be first. The Emperor decided to hold a race, inviting all the animals to participate. The first 12 animals to reach the finish line, after overcoming obstacles of mountains, forests, and rivers, would be selected. The rat and cat, known for their cunning, hitched a ride on the ox, promising it victory. As they neared the finish line, the rat pushed the cat into the water and jumped ahead of the ox, securing first place. Despite being the king of beasts, the tiger had to settle for third place. The rabbit, with help from other animals, managed to secure fourth place. The dragon, capable of flight, was delayed due to its task of creating rain for humans and came in fifth. Following the dragon were the snake, horse, goat, monkey, and rooster. The pig, due to its love of eating and sleeping, finished last.

To this day, many people in East Asian cultures believe that individuals born in a particular zodiac year share personality traits with that animal. The Chinese zodiac is also used in fortune-telling, including predictions about one’s career, finances, and love life.

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