Zodiac Origin Stories
There are many stories and fables to explain the beginning of the zodiac. Since the Han Dynasty, the 12 Earthly Branches have been used to record the time of day. However, for the sake of entertainment and convenience, they have been replaced by the 12 animals. The 24 hours are divided into 12 periods, and a mnemonic refers the behaviour of the animals:
A Branch may refer a double-hour period. In the latter case it is the center of the period; for instance, 马 (the Horse) means noon or a period from 11am to 1pm.
- Rat (Zishi): 23:00 to 1:00. This is the time when Rats are most active in seeking food. Rat also have a different number of digits on front and hind legs, thus earning Rat the symbol of "turn over" or "new start".
- Ox (Choushi): 01:00 to 02:59. This is the time when Oxen begin to chew the cud slowly and comfortably.
- Tiger (Yinshi): 03:00 to 04:59. This is the time when Tigers hurt their prey more and show their ferocity.
- Rabbit (Maoshi): 05:00 to 06:59. This is the time when the Jade Rabbit is busy pounding herbal medicine on the Moon according to the tale.
- Dragon (Chenshi): 07:00 to 08:59. This is the time when Dragons are hovering in the sky to give rain.
- Snake (Sishi): 09:00 to 10:59. This is the time when Snakes are leaving their caves.
- Horse (Wushi): 11:00 to 12:59. This is the time when the sun is high overhead and while other animals are lying down for a rest, Horses are still standing.
- Goat (Weishi): 13:00 to 14:59. This is the time when Goats eat grass and urinate frequently.
- Monkey (Shenshi): 15:00 to 16:59. This is the time when Monkeys are lively.
- Rooster (Youshi): 17:00 to 18:59. This is the time when Roosters begin to go back to their coops.
- Dog (Xushi): 19:00 to 20:59. This is the time when Dogs begin to carry out their duty of guarding the houses.
- Pig (Haishi): 21:00 to 22:59. This is the time when Pigs are sleeping sweetly.
Read more about this topic: Chinese Zodiac
Famous quotes containing the words zodiac, origin and/or stories:
“We need not feel ashamed of flirting with the zodiac. The zodiac is well worth flirting with.”
—D.H. (David Herbert)
“High treason, when it is resistance to tyranny here below, has its origin in, and is first committed by, the power that makes and forever re-creates man.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“Every one of my friends had a bad day somewhere in her history she wished she could forget but couldn’t. A very bad mother day changes you forever. Those were the hardest stories to tell. . . . “I could still see the red imprint of his little bum when I changed his diaper that night. I stared at my hand, as if they were alien parts of myself . . . as if they had betrayed me. From that day on, I never hit him again.””
—Mary Kay Blakely (20th century)