Chinese zodiac signs
2 min readThe Shengxiao,better known as Chinese zodiac signs in English,is a scheme, which uses Twelve Earthly Branches and 12 animals to Symbolize the year when a person is born.The cycle of the Chinese zodiac signs is every 12 years.
The twelve zodiac signs are Rat,Ox,Tiger,Rabbit,Dragon, Snake,Horse,Goat,Monkey,Rooster,Dog and Pig.In Chinese astrology,the animal signs represent what others perceive you as being or how you present yourself.
Chinese Zodiac years of birth are known as Ben Ming Nian in Chinese,in which people usually wear something red to avoid bad luck during this year,such as socks,a ribbon,clothes,underwear,a Waistban or a bracelet and the likes.
This is the most widespread legend about Chinese zodiac. The Jade Emperor ordered that animals would be designated as calendar signs and the twelve that arrived first would be selected. At that time,the cat and the rat were good friends and neighbors. When they heard of this news,the cat asked the rat to wake him up because he always slept in.The rat then promised to awaken his friend and 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,he encountered the tiger,ox,horse, and other animals that ran much faster.
In order not to fall behind them,the rat thought up a good idea.He made the straightforward ox carry him on condition that he sang for the ox.At last,the ox and 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 27 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 it.
