Chinese (And Japanese) Zodiac
The Japanese exhaust the Chinese Zodiac for counting years. This is a 12-year cycle, each year represented by an animal. Why the Japanese spend it? Well, recognize relieve in the day every time the Japanese invaded China (all the time) they stole something or other. Kanji, Buddhism, tea, etc, etc. Along with the zodiac, they also took the Chinese original year, which might command you why unique year is such a great event here. Unfortunately for China, after Japan opened to the West in 1853 they shifted unique Years to Jan 1st in an difficulty to be more like the successful West.
Anyways, so each year is represented by an animal. Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig. In that order. Last year was the year of the Boar, so this year the cycle started over and it's the year of the Rat. Why these animals and this order? Who knows, but there is a fun limited mythological anecdote for the origin of it:
The Jade Emperor (basically the top god in Chinese narrative) held a bustle to settle what animals would narrate to him. There was a mountainous river, and the rat and the cat were terrible swimmers, so they decided to hitch a walk on the encourage of the mighty ox. Overcome by competitiveness, the rat pushed the cat into the river, which is why the cat today hates water and hates rats even more. So after the ox crossed the river, the rat jumped off and won easily, with the ox a discontinuance second. The first and second animals of the zodiac.
The tiger came next, panting, and told how the original was so strong he never would have made it if not for his grand strength. He was made the 3rd animal of the zodiac.
The rabbit hops up next, and tells how he crossed the river by hopping from stone to stone and using the occasional log. He became the 4th animal of the zodiac.
The dragon came next. "How is it that a worthy creature such as yourself was not first? " asked the Emperor, deeply animated. The dragon replied that he had to end to fabricate rain to benefit all the people of earth, and so was delayed. (Note: The Chinese Dragon is considered a pleasant creature as opposed to the somewhat demonic belief of European Dragons, also they peep more like giant snakes. assume the dragon (Falkor) in "The Neverending account"... Well actually Falkor was a luckdragon, a dragon with the head of a dog... but, well, you salvage the concept) Then on his intention to the conclude, he saw the rabbit struggling to heinous the river and so gave a puff of breath to blow the awful creature to shore. The Emperor was deeply contented by his kindness, and made him the 5th animal of the zodiac.
The horse comes galloping up next, but hidden in the horse's hoof is the snake. The snake's appearance frightens the horse so distinguished he momentarily falls abet, letting the snake beat him, giving the snake the 6th area while the horse took the 7th.
The ram, monkey, and rooster came next. They worked together to dwelling a raft and employ it to net to shore. The rooster is the one who spotted the raft, so I'm not determined why he got the bum deal here, but the ram takes 8th, the monkey 9th, and the rooster 10th.
The dog is next. His excuse for not coming in first despite being the best swimmer of the bunch was that he hadn't taken a bath in a long time and the water of the river impartial gave him too mountainous of a chance to pass up. He takes 11th.
The pig comes in last, explaining that he got so hungry during the hasten he decided to have a feast, then promptly fell asleep afterwards. After waking up, he continued on the run. He was named the 12th and last animal of the zodiac.
Almost immediately after the pig, the cat comes across, but he was too tedious, there is no room for 13. He swears vengeance against the rat and all of his children for ever.. or something like that.
So there you have it. The only change the Japanese design here is they change the pig to a wild boar.
It's actually a obedient deal more complicated than this, lively hours and directions and all that fun feng shui (FUNG-SHWAY) stuff, but these are the only details most people know.
I'm a Horse, by the design. What are you?
