Once upon a time, in ancient China, there was a great competition among all the animals to determine who would be the first in the zodiac calendar. The Emperor of China decided that the animals who crossed the river first would be ranked in the order of the zodiac.
The twelve animals who decided to participate were the rat, the ox, the tiger, the rabbit, the dragon, the snake, the horse, the goat, the monkey, the rooster, the dog, and the pig. Each animal had its own unique strengths and weaknesses, and they all set out with great determination.
The rat was clever and cunning. It managed to sneak onto a boat that was already moving across the river, thus becoming the first to cross. The rat was proud and jumped off the boat, claiming the first position in the zodiac.
The ox, a strong and hardworking animal, saw the rat’s cunning trick and decided to be more straightforward. It patiently waited for its turn and then stepped onto the boat, pulling it across the river with great effort. The ox was the second to cross and was grateful for the rat’s earlier strategy.
The tiger, known for its bravery and strength, wanted to show off its power. It tried to leap across the river, but it missed and fell into the water, causing quite a splash. The tiger was embarrassed and had to wait for the next boat.
The rabbit, a quick and nimble creature, saw the tiger’s failure and decided to take a different approach. It hopped onto the boat and, with a swift kick, pushed the boat across the river. The rabbit was the third to cross.
The dragon, a symbol of power and majesty, soared above the river on its mighty wings, making a grand entrance and becoming the fourth to cross.
The snake, smooth and agile, slithered up the side of the riverbank and slinked across the river, becoming the fifth to cross.
The horse, with its strong legs and endurance, galloped across the river, becoming the sixth to cross.
The goat, a symbol of perseverance, climbed up the riverbank and then leaped across, becoming the seventh to cross.
The monkey, known for its cleverness and agility, swung from tree to tree, finally landing on the other side of the river, becoming the eighth to cross.
The rooster, a symbol of courage and vigilance, crowed loudly and then flew across the river, becoming the ninth to cross.
The dog, a loyal and protective animal, swam across the river, becoming the tenth to cross.
Finally, the pig, a symbol of happiness and prosperity, waddled across the river, becoming the eleventh to cross.
The pig, realizing that it was the last to cross, decided to celebrate its victory with a grand feast. As the sun set, the Emperor of China declared the order of the zodiac based on the animals’ crossing of the river. The rat was the first, followed by the ox, the tiger, the rabbit, the dragon, the snake, the horse, the goat, the monkey, the rooster, the dog, and the pig.
From that day on, the order of the zodiac was set, and the animals lived harmoniously, each representing a year in the Chinese calendar. The story of the Great Zodiac Competition was passed down through generations, reminding people of the importance of determination, courage, and the unique qualities of each animal.
