The Chinese zodiac

The myth behind the Chinese zodiac, or Sheng Xiao, begins millennia ago. Legend has it that the Jade Emperor, the ruler of heaven, was creating a calendar. He invited all earthly creatures to participate in a race for the chance to join the Chinese zodiac cycle. The rat, knowing its small size was a disadvantage, convinced the ox to carry it across the river, but, at the last minute, the rat jumped off and won first place. The ox finished second. Next came the tiger and then the rabbit. Despite being able to fly, the dragon arrived fifth because it had stopped to help some villagers on the way. The horse was set to finish next, but the snake slithered by, startling the four-legged animal. The snake came in sixth, with the horse right behind it. The sheep, the monkey, and the rooster together paddled a raft across the river and finished eighth, ninth, and tenth respectively. The dog, after playing in the river, finished eleventh. Finally, the pig, who had paused for a snack and a nap, came in twelfth. Elements of the myth changed as it spread throughout Asia. For example, the sheep is occasionally replaced by a goat. Unlike the Western zodiac’s 12-month cycle, the basic Chinese zodiac goes through a 12-year cycle of animals—the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig—with the animal changing every Lunar Year. For example, the year of the rat began in 2008. After going through the next eleven animals, the year of the rat arrived again in 2020. Although fewer people believe in the Chinese zodiac these days, the tradition lives on in Asian communities. The zodiac is said to influence a person’s qualities and has been used to determine career paths, judge romantic compatibility, and even predict fortunes in the coming lunar year.