Race for the best place in the
zodiac
Every year,
one of the 12 animals featured in the Chinese calendar steps into
the limelight. But what are these dozen creatures that make the cut
- and what are their stories?
There are twelve animals in the Chinese horoscope.
Starting with the rat, this is followed by the ox, tiger, rabbit,
dragon, snake, horse, monkey, cockerel, dog and pig. But why does
the rat lead the pack, while the mighty tiger is third in line? And
why is the dragon the only mythical creature in the zodiac? There
are probably more legends that attempt to explain this than animals
to which they relate.
A test of clever and
cunning
Let's take Buddhism. Before his journey to the
earth, Buddha called all the animals together. Only 12 followed the
instructions, and by way of reward, they were each given a year of
their own. The order in which the animals appear on the zodiac is
the order in which they arrived at the designated meeting
point.
Another legend says God ordered a feast, which 13
animals were supposed to attend. They included the 12 mentioned
above, and the cat - which did not turn up because the rat tricked
it into believing the dinner was the next day. So the cat slept and
dreamed of the banquet, while the others lined up in the order of
their arrival, and ate their fill.
The cat - and again here, there are different takes
on the tale - has never forgiven the rat for its ploy. It has been
out to seek revenge - not only on rats, but mice too - ever
since.
The great race
But the most cited story goes something like this:
Since the beginning of time, cats and rats have been known as the
worst swimmers in the entire animal kingdom. But they made up for
this deficit by being particularly clever. So when the Jade Emperor
called the animals together to determine the order in which they
should appear in the zodiac, the cat and the rat came up with a
ploy. Because they could not reach the meeting point without
crossing a river, and because they were known to be such poor
swimmers, they convinced the ox to carry them across on his
back.
Being a good-natured and short-witted creature, the
ox agreed. But halfway across the water, the rat pushed the cat
into the water, where it drowned. The ox, being the ox, didn't even
notice - and when it reached the other side, the rat hurried down
from its back and scurried off to become the first animal to join
the emperor. In second place was the ox, who is next in line in the
zodiac.
A short while later, the tiger turned up wheezing
and trembling with exhaustion, and complaining of currents strong
enough to drag it under the water. It was only thanks to his mighty
strength, the big cat explained, that he arrived alive. From then
on, he was third in the zodiac.
Following the tiger, no less happy but a little less
exhausted, was the rabbit, who had crossed the river by hopping
from one stone to the next. On one, however, he stumbled and almost
slipped into the water. Only at the last moment was he able to grab
hold of a tree trunk and make it to the other side.
It is also said, however, that the dragon - who was
next to arrive - helped the rabbit. When the Jade Emperor asked the
dragon, who is a fast, winged creature, why he only made it in
fifth place, he explained that he had repeatedly stopped to help
others. He was, he said, a helpful creature. As helpful, indeed, as
rats are sneaky. As he was approaching the destination, the dragon
continued, he found the rabbit clinging helplessly to a tree trunk,
and ensured his safe passage to shore.
The Jade Emperor was so delighted by the
selflessness of the dragon, that he included him in the
zodiac.
At that point, the river swelled with the thunder of
hooves that heralded the horse's arrived. The snake was wrapped
around one of its legs, and when it jumped off, the horse was so
stunned that it missed its footing, and its chance to be the sixth
animal in the lineup - a spot the snake took. So the horse had to
make do with seventh place.
The grand finale
Not long thereafter - and in quick succession - the
goat, the monkey and the cockerel also reached the riverbank. They
had helped each other across the water. Having spotted a raft, the
cock asked the others to help him use it. Both the monkey and the
goat were happy to oblige. And because they had worked so well
together, the Emperor gladly gave them places eight, nine and 10 on
the Chinese calendar.
The remaining two places in the group of 12 went to
the dog and the pig. The former was the 11th to arrive - and
although he was a good swimmer and could have been there sooner, he
couldn't resist the opportunity to play in the water. Dogs will,
after all, be dogs.
Just as the Jade Emperor was about to declare the
race finished, with 11 animals in the zodiac, he heard a pig
squealing in the distance. Along it trotted, explaining as it
reached the others that it had gotten hungry en route, and had
therefore decided to take a short break. Short became long when the
pig fell asleep. Nonetheless, it became the last of the chosen
12.
But what of the cat? To this day it is still chasing
mice and rats. And it will continue to do so until the very end of
time.