2012 The Year of the Dragon
2012 The Year of the Dragon
Stories of How the Animals Got into the Chinese Calendar
First, the Chinese Calendar is not a "zodiac" at all. It is not based on constellations or ecliptics. The history of the calendar is based on observation of cycles related to the ancient Chinese use of "heavenly steams" and twelve "earthly branches, which were used as time cycle for the month, year, day and hour. Each Chinese New Year is linked to one of the twelve animals in the calendar. There are many stories of the origin of the calendar and the animals in the animals.
First, the Chinese Calendar is not a "zodiac" at all. It is not based on constellations or ecliptics. The history of the calendar is based on observation of cycles related to the ancient Chinese use of "heavenly steams" and twelve "earthly branches, which were used as time cycle for the month, year, day and hour. Each Chinese New Year is linked to one of the twelve animals in the calendar. There are many stories of the origin of the calendar and the animals in the animals.
The Chinese New Year is determined by the Lunar calendar, therefore the New Year usually begins between January 21st and February 20th. There are endless variations of the folklore story and legends explaining how the order of the animals of the zodiac were chosen. A few are below.
The Chinese New Year is determined by the Lunar calendar, therefore the New Year usually begins between January 21st and February 20th. There are endless variations of the folklore story and legends explaining how the order of the animals of the zodiac were chosen. A few are below.
One story credits the calendar to the famous Yellow Emperor as the first to use the Chinese Zodiac. He introduced it in the year 2,600 B.C. to begin the Chinese Lunar Year. In ancient China, the emperors were well schooled in astrology. It was believed that one had to know the ways of the stars and the heavens to be a worthy ruler.
The first story I hear is one of the popular tales:
When it came time for the Jade Emperor in heaven to decide the order of the zodiac, he invited all the animals to participate in a race. The order of the calendar would be decided by the order in which animals finished the race.When the competition started, the ox was leading the pack, but the rat jumped on his back. Since the rat was so light and small, the ox did not realize that the rat was hitching a ride. As the ox approached the finish line, the rat leap off his back and was crowned as the first animal to complete the race.After all the creatures finished the race, the order was finalized: rat, ox,tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.According to legend, those born in a particular year of an animal are said to possess particular character traits associated with that animal.
A second version of this story narrates how the beasts argued over who should come first in the yearly cycle. So the Jade Emperor told them to race across a river and whoever reached the other side first would win. The rat mounted the ox and won by sticking out its nose at the finish line. The snake too, was dishonest – it frightened the horse to get ahead of it. The dragon would have won easily since it had wings. But it paused to help the tiny rabbit cross the river. This legend suggests the dragon was held as the noblest of all the Chinese animals.
Here is another popular Legend has it that one day the gods ordered that animals be designated as signs of each year and the twelve that arrived first were selected. At that time, the cat and the rat were good friends and neighbors. When they heard of this news, the cat said to the rat: 'We should arrive early to sign up, but I usually get up late.' The rat then promised to awaken his friend and to go together. However, on the morning when he got up, he was too excited to recall his promise, and went directly to the gathering place. On the way, the rat encountered the tiger, ox, horse, and other animals that ran much faster. In order not to fall behind them, he thought up a good idea. He made the straightforward ox carry him on condition that he sang for the ox. The ox and the rat arrived first. The ox was happy thinking that he would be the first sign of the years, but the rat had already slid in front, and became the first lucky animal of the Chinese zodiac. Meanwhile his neighbor the cat was too late so when it finally arrived, the selection was over. That's why other animals appear behind the little rat and why the cat hates the rat so much that every time they meet, the cat will chase and kill the rat.
Wishing You a Health, Wealth and Prosperity2012 The Year of the DragonSaquina AkanniThe Dragon TrainerThe Prosperity DoctorThank You for your contribution to this blog:http://bit.ly/chinesezodiac2012 http://bit.ly/chinesezodiaclegends2012
http://bit.ly/chinesezodiacinvented
One story credits the calendar to the famous Yellow Emperor as the first to use the Chinese Zodiac. He introduced it in the year 2,600 B.C. to begin the Chinese Lunar Year. In ancient China, the emperors were well schooled in astrology. It was believed that one had to know the ways of the stars and the heavens to be a worthy ruler.
The first story I hear is one of the popular tales:
The first story I hear is one of the popular tales:
When it came time for the Jade Emperor in heaven to decide the order of the zodiac, he invited all the animals to participate in a race. The order of the calendar would be decided by the order in which animals finished the race.
When the competition started, the ox was leading the pack, but the rat jumped on his back. Since the rat was so light and small, the ox did not realize that the rat was hitching a ride. As the ox approached the finish line, the rat leap off his back and was crowned as the first animal to complete the race.
After all the creatures finished the race, the order was finalized: rat, ox,tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.
According to legend, those born in a particular year of an animal are said to possess particular character traits associated with that animal.
Here is another popular Legend has it that one day the gods ordered that animals be designated as signs of each year and the twelve that arrived first were selected. At that time, the cat and the rat were good friends and neighbors. When they heard of this news, the cat said to the rat: 'We should arrive early to sign up, but I usually get up late.' The rat then promised to awaken his friend and to go together. However, on the morning when he got up, he was too excited to recall his promise, and went directly to the gathering place. On the way, the rat encountered the tiger, ox, horse, and other animals that ran much faster. In order not to fall behind them, he thought up a good idea. He made the straightforward ox carry him on condition that he sang for the ox. The ox and the rat arrived first. The ox was happy thinking that he would be the first sign of the years, but the rat had already slid in front, and became the first lucky animal of the Chinese zodiac. Meanwhile his neighbor the cat was too late so when it finally arrived, the selection was over. That's why other animals appear behind the little rat and why the cat hates the rat so much that every time they meet, the cat will chase and kill the rat.
Wishing You a Health, Wealth and Prosperity
2012 The Year of the Dragon
Saquina Akanni
The Dragon Trainer
The Prosperity Doctor
Thank You for your contribution to this blog:
http://bit.ly/chinesezodiac2012
http://bit.ly/chinesezodiaclegends2012
http://bit.ly/chinesezodiacinvented
