The 12 Chinese zodiac animals are quite familiar to all of us. But do you know the origin story of these 12 zodiac signs? Let’s explore this fascinating tale together in the article below!
1. The Origin of the 12 Chinese Zodiac Signs
In ancient times, the Jade Emperor was responsible for naming all the creatures in the world. As the ruler of the heavenly realm, he sought to find a select few species that could govern the mortal realm on his behalf and assign names to the years. Thus, he summoned all the animals to heaven.
The Jade Emperor summons the animals to heaven
Among them was the Dragon, a majestic creature that ruled over the rivers and seas. Confident in its grandeur, the Dragon believed it would surely be chosen for a prominent name and position. Adorned with gleaming armor, its body exuded a valiant aura. However, there was one thing missing—the Dragon had no horns on its head. Determined to enhance its appearance, the Dragon set out to borrow a pair of horns.
That’s when the Dragon encountered the Rooster, who was also on his way to heaven. The Dragon admired the Rooster’s golden-hued comb and requested to borrow it. Initially, the Rooster refused, but the Dragon persisted, arguing that the comb didn’t suit the Rooster anyway. Just then, the Centipede appeared and vouched for the Dragon, convincing the Rooster to lend his comb. Reluctantly, the Rooster agreed.
The origin of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs
The following day, countless creatures gathered in the heavenly court. The Jade Emperor proclaimed:
“From now on, the years will be named after the animals, and the order will be decided by your own consensus for fairness!”
And so, the creatures chose: Ox, Tiger, Dragon, Horse, Goat, Dog, Pig, Rabbit, Snake, Monkey, Rooster, and Rat. With 12 animals selected, they struggled to determine the final sequence. Eventually, the Jade Emperor intervened, declaring that the Ox, being the largest, should lead. Everyone agreed, except for the Rat, who had a different idea.
The 12 Chinese zodiac signs
“How can I be smaller than the Ox?” the Rat argued. “When people see me, they exclaim, ‘Look at that huge rat!’ But no one ever says, ‘Wow, what a big ox!’ Clearly, humans consider me larger than the Ox.”
The Jade Emperor was perplexed and unsure how to resolve this dispute. After much debate, the Dog, Rabbit, and Rooster suggested seeking the opinion of humans to settle the matter. Together, they approached a group of humans and noticed their reaction to the Ox. They exclaimed, “Oh, what a beautiful, robust Ox!” Just then, the cunning Rat climbed onto the Ox’s back and stroked its beard, drawing attention to itself. One of the humans shouted, “Look at that enormous rat!”
The order of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs
The Jade Emperor heard this and immediately declared, “From now on, the first year shall be the Year of the Rat (Rat), followed by the Ox (Ox), Tiger (Tiger), Rabbit (Rabbit), Dragon (Dragon), Snake (Snake), Horse (Horse), Goat (Goat), Monkey (Monkey), Rooster (Rooster), Dog (Dog), and finally, the Pig (Pig).”
Upon returning, the Rooster felt dejected, believing that it was because the Dragon had borrowed its comb that it was ranked higher. The Rooster demanded the return of its comb, but the Dragon refused and disappeared without a trace.
The legend of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs
The Rooster recalled that the Centipede had guaranteed the Dragon’s honesty, so it went to confront the Centipede. However, the Centipede made excuses and couldn’t help the Rooster retrieve its comb. Enraged, the Rooster scolded the Centipede and, in its fury, pecked the Centipede’s head several times before swallowing it. Thus, a bitter rivalry between the Rooster and the Centipede was born.
To this day, whenever the Rooster sees a Centipede, it pecks at it in anger. Additionally, every morning, the Rooster crows, “Cock-a-doodle-doo, give me back my comb, Dragon!”
2. The Legend of the Great Race
According to legend, the Jade Emperor, ruler of the heavenly realm, was responsible for naming all the creatures in the world. He intended to choose a select few species to represent the years and govern the mortal realm on his behalf.
The legend of the great race
To determine which animals would be chosen, the Jade Emperor organized a grand race. All the animals were excited to participate, knowing that the winners would become the lords of all creatures.
As per the race rules, the first 12 animals to reach the heavenly court would be selected, and their order of arrival would determine their ranking.
On the day of the race, the Rat woke up early. During its journey to the heavenly gate, it encountered a swift-flowing river that seemed impossible to cross. Soon after, it came across the Ox and quickly jumped onto its head, crossing the river without the Ox’s knowledge. The Ox continued on its way, unaware of its passenger. As they neared the finish line, the Rat leaped off the Ox’s head and dashed to the front, claiming first place. The Ox followed closely behind in second place, with the Tiger taking third.
The thrilling race among the animals
The Rabbit, known for its agility, secured fourth place. Despite its advantage, navigating the treacherous river proved challenging. The Dragon, capable of flight, came in fifth after stopping to save a village from a fire along the way.
The Snake and the Horse arrived shortly after the Dragon, taking sixth and seventh places, respectively. The Goat, Monkey, and Rooster crossed the river together on a raft. Once they reached the shore, the Goat was allowed to go first, followed by the Monkey and then the Rooster. Thus, the Goat claimed eighth place, the Monkey ninth, and the Rooster tenth.
The order of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs
The Dog, too engrossed in playing and swimming in the river, settled for eleventh place. Lastly, the Pig, despite not being particularly slow, finished in twelfth place due to its love for food and sleep.
3. Explaining the 12 Chinese Zodiac Signs
Why is it the Year of the Cat in Vietnam, while other countries celebrate the Year of the Rabbit?
The twelve branches, or “Twelve Zodiac Signs,” are an integral part of East Asian culture. However, a curious difference exists between Vietnam and other countries that follow the lunar calendar. While most countries consider the rabbit as the symbol for the fourth year, known as the “Year of the Rabbit,” the Vietnamese have chosen the cat instead. This unique variation within the twelve branches has sparked curiosity among many.
The origin of the twelve branches can be traced back to the Shang Dynasty in China, where 12 animals were selected to represent the 12 years. The rabbit, symbolizing fertility and good fortune, was placed fourth in the order. However, when this cultural tradition was adopted by the Vietnamese, a significant change was made—the rabbit was replaced by the cat.
Currently, there is no officially recognized explanation for this substitution. Several theories have been proposed, including the cat’s close association with the daily lives of the Vietnamese people and unique cultural and linguistic factors. This alteration is more than just a change in nomenclature; it reflects the distinct characteristics of Vietnamese culture and mindset.
Why does the Rooster hate the Centipede?
According to the legend, the Rooster’s enmity towards the Centipede stems from the incident where the Dragon borrowed the Rooster’s comb to participate in the great race. The Rooster initially refused, but the Centipede intervened and assured the Rooster, leading to the loan of the comb. Unfortunately, the Dragon never returned the comb, causing the Rooster to hold a grudge against the Centipede for its role in the matter.
Why does the Rooster hate the Centipede?
Why does the Rooster crow “Cock-a-doodle-doo”?
The Rooster’s distinctive crowing of “Cock-a-doodle-doo” is also tied to the story of the comb. After the Dragon borrowed the Rooster’s comb and secured a higher ranking, it refused to return the comb. The Rooster, feeling wronged, has no recourse but to crow every morning, demanding the return of its comb from the Dragon.
Why does the Rooster crow “Cock-a-doodle-doo”?
According to Chinese Mythology, Why is the Rat the First in the Zodiac Cycle?
In Chinese mythology, the creation of the world involved a primordial egg enveloped in darkness. It was the rat who chewed through this egg, separating the heavens and the earth and allowing light to enter. For this heroic act, the rat was honored as the first in the zodiac cycle, signifying its status as the savior of the world.
According to Chinese mythology, why is the Rat the first in the zodiac cycle?
These are the legends and stories surrounding the 12 Chinese zodiac signs that we wanted to share with you. We hope you found this information enlightening and engaging.
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