The Story of the Chinese Zodiac
Long ago, there was a great race between the gods and the animals to determine who would be the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. The gods wanted to honor the animals for their contributions to the world and decided to choose the twelve most virtuous creatures to represent the years of the zodiac.
The race was set to take place on the riverbanks of the Yellow River. The gods decreed that the first twelve animals to cross the river would be chosen. All the animals gathered at the riverbank, eager to participate in the race.
The wise and clever rat was the first to think of a strategy. He knew that the cat was his enemy, so he cleverly convinced the cat to join him in the race. The cat, being lazy and greedy, agreed, but only if the rat promised to carry her across the river.
As they reached the middle of the river, the rat pushed the cat into the water, leaving her to swim to the other side on her own. The rat then quickly swam to the shore and was the first to cross the river, making him the first animal of the zodiac.
Next in line was the ox, a strong and hardworking animal. The ox was patient and steady, and he crossed the river without any trouble, making him the second animal of the zodiac.
The tiger, a fierce and powerful creature, was next. The tiger was fast and strong, but he had to wait for the other animals to catch up. Once he reached the shore, he was the third animal of the zodiac.
The rabbit, a graceful and agile animal, was next. The rabbit was quick and clever, and he managed to cross the river before the dragon, making him the fourth animal of the zodiac.
The dragon, a majestic and powerful creature, was next. The dragon was born from the river and was able to fly, but he had to wait for the other animals to cross the river before he could take off. Once he reached the shore, he was the fifth animal of the zodiac.
The snake, a wise and mysterious creature, was next. The snake was able to slither through the water, and he crossed the river quickly, making him the sixth animal of the zodiac.
The horse, a strong and fast animal, was next. The horse was able to run across the riverbank, and he was the seventh animal of the zodiac.
The goat, a gentle and kind animal, was next. The goat was able to climb the riverbanks, and he was the eighth animal of the zodiac.
The monkey, a playful and clever animal, was next. The monkey was able to jump across the river, and he was the ninth animal of the zodiac.
The rooster, a brave and loud animal, was next. The rooster was able to fly across the river, and he was the tenth animal of the zodiac.
The dog, a loyal and protective animal, was next. The dog was able to swim across the river, and he was the eleventh animal of the zodiac.
Finally, the pig, a kind and generous animal, was the last to cross the river. The pig was able to waddle across the riverbank, and he was the twelfth and final animal of the zodiac.
From that day on, the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac have represented the years in a cycle, each animal bringing its own unique qualities and characteristics to the world.
