The Story :
The story that most of you know is that long ago the Jade Emperor invited the entire animal kingdom to partake in a tremendous race! The first 12 animals able to cross the river would be assigned to a year of the Chinese zodiac system in order of appearance. The news spread fast and each animal was excited and thrilled for the race to begin. On the day of the race, all the animals gathered to the bank of the river. The rat was the winner of that race, which seems impossible since he was small and not a good swimmer, but he was smart and he used his knowledge to beat each animal. The rat had convinced the ox that if they worked together they would have a better chance of winning the race. Thee ox was strong so the ox carried the rat to the finish line. As they got close, the rat jumped off the ox and crossed the finish line first. The next to cross the line was the tiger, followed by the rabbit who was followed by the dragon, then the snake, horse, goat, monkey, and rooster, the dog became the 11th animal to cross the river and following him was the pig.
This was true, but they had left out a major detail. This detail would change how you viewed this story. This is the story of the cat and the rat.
The cat and rat were the best of companions, the sort of companions that spend practically every waking hour together. Both were exceptionally excited for the news of the immense race and instantly began to make arrangements to cross the river. Upon the arrival of the race, cat needed to take a little rest before the race began, since it would likely take a great amount of effort along with a lot of energy, so he asked his best friend the rat to wake him when the race was to start. However, all rat had thought about was winning the race.
When the time came for the race to start, the rat, instead of waking up his best friend the cat, he silently snuck out and headed for the shore of the river. After enjoying his refreshing nap, cat woke up to discover that the race was already over and his best friend rat had won first place. The cat was crushed and furious, at the same time and swore to despise rat forever. That is why the cat chases the rat.
This was true, but they had left out a major detail. This detail would change how you viewed this story. This is the story of the cat and the rat.
The cat and rat were the best of companions, the sort of companions that spend practically every waking hour together. Both were exceptionally excited for the news of the immense race and instantly began to make arrangements to cross the river. Upon the arrival of the race, cat needed to take a little rest before the race began, since it would likely take a great amount of effort along with a lot of energy, so he asked his best friend the rat to wake him when the race was to start. However, all rat had thought about was winning the race.
When the time came for the race to start, the rat, instead of waking up his best friend the cat, he silently snuck out and headed for the shore of the river. After enjoying his refreshing nap, cat woke up to discover that the race was already over and his best friend rat had won first place. The cat was crushed and furious, at the same time and swore to despise rat forever. That is why the cat chases the rat.
Meanings :
Early Risers: Quick-Witted Rat and Diligent Ox
The next day, animals set off towards the Heavenly Gate. Rat got up very early. On his way to the gate, he encountered a river. He had to stop there, owing to the swift current. After waiting a long time, Rat noticed Ox about to cross the river and swiftly jumped into Ox's ear.
The diligent Ox did not mind at all and simply continued. After crossing the river, he raced towards the palace of the Jade Emperor. Suddenly, Rat jumped out of Ox's ear and dashed to the feet of the Emperor. Rat won first place and Ox was second.
Competitive and Fast: Tiger and Rabbit
Tiger and Rabbit came third and fourth because both are fast and competitive, but Tiger was faster. (Rabbit got across the river by hopping on stepping stones and a floating log.)
Good-Looking Dragon and Crafty Snake
Good-looking Dragon was fifth and was immediately noticed by the Jade Emperor, who said Dragon's son could be sixth. But Dragon's son didn't come with him that day. Just then, Snake came forward and said Dragon was his adoptive father; so Snake ranked sixth.
Kind and Modest Horse and Goat
Horse and Goat arrived. They were very kind and modest and each let the other go first. The Jade Emperor saw how polite they were and ranked them seventh and eighth.
Jumping Monkey
Monkey had fallen well behind. But he jumped between trees and stones, and caught up to be ninth.
Slow and steady rooster, dog and pig
Last were the Rooster, Dog, and Pig. they were not upset finishing last, instead they were grateful to even be apart of this calendar.
forgotten cat
the cat as we know, never got placed. instead he was left behind by the others...
The next day, animals set off towards the Heavenly Gate. Rat got up very early. On his way to the gate, he encountered a river. He had to stop there, owing to the swift current. After waiting a long time, Rat noticed Ox about to cross the river and swiftly jumped into Ox's ear.
The diligent Ox did not mind at all and simply continued. After crossing the river, he raced towards the palace of the Jade Emperor. Suddenly, Rat jumped out of Ox's ear and dashed to the feet of the Emperor. Rat won first place and Ox was second.
Competitive and Fast: Tiger and Rabbit
Tiger and Rabbit came third and fourth because both are fast and competitive, but Tiger was faster. (Rabbit got across the river by hopping on stepping stones and a floating log.)
Good-Looking Dragon and Crafty Snake
Good-looking Dragon was fifth and was immediately noticed by the Jade Emperor, who said Dragon's son could be sixth. But Dragon's son didn't come with him that day. Just then, Snake came forward and said Dragon was his adoptive father; so Snake ranked sixth.
Kind and Modest Horse and Goat
Horse and Goat arrived. They were very kind and modest and each let the other go first. The Jade Emperor saw how polite they were and ranked them seventh and eighth.
Jumping Monkey
Monkey had fallen well behind. But he jumped between trees and stones, and caught up to be ninth.
Slow and steady rooster, dog and pig
Last were the Rooster, Dog, and Pig. they were not upset finishing last, instead they were grateful to even be apart of this calendar.
forgotten cat
the cat as we know, never got placed. instead he was left behind by the others...
Years :
Rat |...1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020…|
Ox |…1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021…|
Tiger |…1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022…|
Rabbit |… 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023 ...|
Dragon |… 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024 …|
Snake |… 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025 …|
Horse |… 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026 …|
Goat |… 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027 …|
Monkey |… 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028 …|
Rooster |… 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029 …|
Dog |… 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030 …|
Pig |… 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031 …|
Ox |…1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021…|
Tiger |…1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022…|
Rabbit |… 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023 ...|
Dragon |… 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024 …|
Snake |… 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025 …|
Horse |… 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026 …|
Goat |… 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027 …|
Monkey |… 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028 …|
Rooster |… 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029 …|
Dog |… 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030 …|
Pig |… 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031 …|
