The legend that explains why the Chinese horoscope has 12 animals

The Chinese New Year has begun. With the first new moon of the year, a new cycle begins and each year is represented by a different animal. Every sixty years, a larger cycle repeats itself. They say that each animal represents aspects of the human personality depending on the year of our birth. This belief states that the personality of each animal will define us throughout our lives. Legend has it that the Jade Emperor, ruler of the heavens and the Earth, one day organized a race of animals to measure time based on the rotation of the Moon and thus assign a year to each of them. In this way, the first twelve animals to reach the goal would be chosen to fit this calendar.

O incredible.club tells the story behind each of the animals that make up the Chinese horoscope and how they got there.

The mouse and the cat were great friends in the beginning of time, although they were also poor swimmers. To cross the river and reach their goal, they decided to ride the ox, which agreed to help and carried them across the river. However, the mouse, who was quite ambitious and wanted to win at all costs, threw his feline friend into the water. Upon reaching the river bank, he jumped in front of the ox and got first place.

The ox was noble, persistent and agreed to carry the cat and mouse on its back, because it likes to help other animals, although it was also rigid and a little silly. He believed that his unremitting effort was the key to winning. He started the race a day early. Being heavy and slow, he knew it would be important to get ahead. The three made it across the river thanks to his help and persistence, but with the rat’s tactic, he took second place.

After the ox came the panting tiger. He enjoyed adventures and was adept at new challenges. On the way, he fought the current and took the risk of going alone until he succeeded. Then he told the emperor the story of his journey, winning third place in the competition. The tiger was known for its love of life and optimism, which rubbed off on the rest of the animal kingdom.

The rabbit, thanks to his jumping ability, could easily make it from one bank to the other, but it was too risky and he wasn’t very good at avoiding difficulties. Modest, sensitive and discreet, when he arrived after facing the long and difficult path, he timidly explained to the emperor that he clung to a floating log to avoid being carried away by the current. Thus, he managed to reach the riverbank in fourth place.

The dragon arrived in fifth place and did so by flying and watching the road, to check that everything was in order. He explained to the Emperor that, before arriving, he had to make it rain to help people and other creatures on Earth. He also found the rabbit on the way, who was about to fall into the river, clinging to a floating log. He used his breath to push him to the shore and made sure he was safe. The emperor, grateful for his benevolence, congratulated him and awarded him fifth place.

In the distance, the gallop of a horse could be heard surprised by the calculating and analytical serpent that scared it and made it fall into the river, taking advantage of the free path. The serpent was an excellent mediator and, by his grace, easy to be deceived. It was also very solitary and quick to flee if need be. Skillfully crawling and calculating her every move, she was the sixth to arrive before the emperor.

When frightened by the serpent, the horse took a while to recover. was known for
being impulsive, acting rashly and reacting in a hurried manner, so it was easy to surprise him. But when he got up, he picked up the pace and rode with all the grace that characterizes him, catching the attention of all the other competitors. He reached the bank of the river and the emperor awarded him seventh place.

The goat, the monkey and the rooster soon approached. The goat, with its great enthusiasm and ability to work as a team, began to clear the bush to make way for the river and thus cross it, along with the other two, aboard a raft. The Goat was creative and generous and liked to feel supported by others. That’s how she managed to reach the bank and the emperor conferred eighth position on her.

The monkey, who was very funny and made all the animals laugh, helped the goat clear the weeds and make way for the raft, with which they managed to cross. He knows how to have fun in any situation, for him life was just a game. Impertinent and optimistic, he arrived with his friends across the river, and that’s how the emperor gave him the ninth place in the zodiac.

The rooster led the construction of the raft. As leader, he gathered wood to help his companions, the goat and the monkey, who made their way through the bush to the river bank to cross it and reach the end of the competition. When he arrived, while everyone admired him for his beautiful colors, courage and generosity, the emperor awarded him tenth place.

If the dog was the best swimmer of all animals, why didn’t it come in the top positions? Simply because he was the most faithful animal, he really didn’t care about being first, he just wanted to be in the competition and with his mates. After running through the woods to win the race, the dog needed to cool off. Upon reaching the river, the water was so delicious that he couldn’t resist and enjoyed the moment, trusting his skills. That’s why he came in eleventh position.

When the emperor called the race over, the pig arrived. This animal was characterized by its almost cynical honesty, it seemed insecure, but it was capable of reacting to any offense, only this time it was not necessary. With short steps, he approached grunting. Preparing for the race, the day before he gave himself a nice feast, which made him drowsy and made him take a nap. The result is that he reached the end of the Chinese zodiac race in twelfth place, awarded by the emperor.

This is how the Chinese horoscope assigns an animal for each year, so that those born in that year acquire some characteristics of the corresponding animal, according to legend.

Mouse: 1900, 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020
Ox: 1901, 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021
Tiger: 1902, 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022
Rabbit: 1903, 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2023
Dragon: 1904, 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024
Snake: 1905, 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025
Horse: 1906, 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026
Goat: 1907, 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027
Monkey: 1908, 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028
Rooster: 1909, 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029
Puppy: 1910, 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030
Pig: 1911, 1923, 1935, 1947, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031

If you liked the legend and agree with the personality of the animal that corresponds to its year of birth, leave your opinion in the comments.