12 Animal Signs Of The Zodiac
The longest chronological record in
history, Chinese lunar calendar dates to 2637BC when Emperor Shi Huang
Ti introduced the first cycle fof the 12 animal signs of the zodiac.
According to Chinese lunar calendar
there are 12 cyclic years. A complete cycle takes 60 years and is made
up of 5 cycles of 12 years. Twelve animals are assigned to each of the
12 years.
A folklore lists its origin to
the time when Buddha called for a meeting with animals before departing
from earth. Twelve were chosen - the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake,
horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and the pig - to rule for a year each.
The Chinese believe that the
animal that rules the year in which you were born exercies a strong influence
on your life.
Why The Cat Hates The Rat
- A Chinese Legend
In a very distant past, the
cat and rat wer good friends, sharing even the same bed. It was also the
unwritten rule that whoever got up first also had to wake the other.
On the day when Buddha was to
have called a meeting animals the rat up first.
As the rat wanted to be the first
to be selected by Buddha, he did not wake the cat.
When the cat awoke, much later,
and discovered that the rat had deliberately left him behind, he vowed
to get even with the rat. He sought to kill the rat as well as any other
rat that corsses his path!
