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?
Rat 鼠
In 2008, which was the last year of the rat, this animal achieved new levels of popularity in Russia. Pet stores in China's neighbor ran out of the rodents that typically have a bad reputation - and had to sell mice and hamsters in their place. Store owners now have plenty of time to replenish stocks before the next year of the rat, in 2020.
Ox 牛
South Korea has some interesting ox sayings. For example, a common response to someone who is not listening, is "read the Buddhist scriptures into the ear of an ox."
Tiger 虎
Dubbed "king of the mountains" in ancient China, the big cat was once said to rule over its fellow animals. Legend has it that when a tiger reaches 500 years old, it turns white, becoming even more mighty than its gold-colored counterparts. That could be why they are seen as protectors of the imperial army, and guardians of the souls of the dead.
Rabbit 兔
In Chinese mythology, the rabbit is a symbol of the moon. The ancient Chinese believed a rabbit lived on the moon. According to local myth, the rabbit arrived in Beijing as a girl on a horse, tiger or lion, and saved swathes of the population from succumbing to an epidemic.
Dragon 龍
Once upon a time, the dragon was a symbol reserved for the Chinese emperor. The only mythical creature in the zodiac, it stands for (imperial) success and happiness. In keeping with that belief, Hong Kong's 2000 birth rate was up 5.6 percent over the previous year.
Snake 蛇
Those born in the year of the snake join the ranks of the good - and the great. John F. Kennedy, Pablo Picasso and Audrey Hepburn are all serpents of note. Nu Wa, to whom Chinese legend attributes the creation of humankind, was half-woman, half-snake. According to other myths, snakes are dragons in the early stages of a 1,000-year-long development.
Horse 馬
The Chinese saying "Tiānmǎ xíngkōng" [天马行空], which translates to "a heavenly stallion gallops through the air," has been in use for more than a thousand years. Could that explain the 2014 baby boom? Some parts of China witnessed such an increase in newborns last year, that they almost ran out of birth registration documents.
Goat 羊
Children born in the year of the goat (or the sheep - the sign in the zodiac can be interpreted as either), are said to be unambitious and boring. With that stereotype in mind, many mothers-to-be opt for induction or cesarean section so their infants can enter the world as horses.
Monkey 猴
Chinese mythology gives the monkey more than one face. It might appear as a long-armed primate called a "xiao," or as a mountain dweller with a human face and ape's body. Monkeys also have a reputation for divinity, and feature in literary works such as "Journey to the West" by Wu Cheng’en.
Cockerel 雞
In Chinese mythology, the early-morning crowing of the cock stands represent not only a new beginning, but also serves to ward off evil spirits. The cockerel is said to have been created on the same day as heaven and earth. Then came the dog, the goat, the pig, the ox and the horse. Man did not see the light until the seventh day.
Dog 狗
There are many myths relating to dogs in Chinese mythology - but they all agree that humans have dogs to thank for the crops they use today. One variation of the myth from southern China says the dog once had nine tails, but lost eight of them in a fight with the divine legion when it stole seeds from heaven to give to man.
Pig 豬
Although the pig is the last animal in the zodiac, it is of great importance in China. Researchers believe the Chinese were the first to tame wild boar 10,000 years ago. Goods included in burials in the Han Dynasty included small pig, ox, sheep and dog figures made of clay.