What are the stories behind the animals of the zodiac?

The story of the 12 animals of the zodiac has different versions in different regions. But generally, the Jade Emperor called for animals to come to his place. The rat's victory was quite cunning. The 12 animals that reached there in different order now mark the 12 - year cycle. In Chinese tradition, these animals are associated with various aspects of life. For instance, the dragon is seen as powerful and auspicious. The zodiac story also has influenced art, literature, and daily life in many ways. People often use their zodiac sign to predict their fortune or to simply have a fun conversation starter.

Well, the story goes like this. The animals were challenged to a race to determine the order of the zodiac. Each animal had its own traits and strategies. The rat was clever and ended up first, while the dog was loyal but didn't finish as early. It's a fun and symbolic story.

The Zodiac animal was a dog.

The Sheep in the zodiac has some nice stories too. Sheep are considered gentle and kind. In some tales, they are symbols of peace. For instance, there might be a story where a flock of sheep brought calmness to a chaotic place just by their presence, highlighting their positive influence.

The stories behind the zodiac signs often have roots in ancient mythologies and cultural beliefs. Each sign is associated with unique characteristics and traits based on these tales.

The Dragon has a very special place in the 12 zodiac animal stories. It is a symbol of power, good luck and royalty. In many legends, the Dragon can control the weather and bring rain for the crops. The Snake, on the other hand, is seen as mysterious. Some stories say that the Snake has great wisdom hidden beneath its cold exterior. The 12 zodiac animal stories are full of such interesting tales that have been passed down through generations.

Another famous one is about the Monkey. In some stories, the Monkey is portrayed as a mischievous but intelligent character. There are tales where the Monkey outsmarts other animals or even humans. For example, it once stole the peaches of immortality from the heavenly garden. This story is famous because it reflects the Monkey's clever and tricky nature which is an important part of the lunar zodiac animals' lore.

The zodiac animals of the Five Blessings were rat, dragon, ox, crane, and fish.

The Chinese zodiac story is about twelve animals competing to be part of the zodiac cycle. Legend has it that the Jade Emperor decided to select twelve animals to represent the years. The rat tricked the ox into carrying it across the river and then jumped off at the last minute to be first. Then came the ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig in order. Each animal is believed to have certain characteristics associated with it.

There were many different versions and legends about the twelve zodiac animals. One of the most popular versions was about the Jade Emperor's birthday. It was said that when the Jade Emperor celebrated his birthday, he ordered all the animals to come to celebrate his birthday on the ninth day of the first month. He also decided to select twelve animals according to the order of registration as guards on the road to heaven, and they would take turns to be on duty every year. In this story, the mouse and the cat were neighbors, but the cat often bullied the mouse. In order to be able to attend the Jade Emperor's birthday celebration, the cat asked the mouse to wake it up and go with him. The mouse agreed to the cat's request and set off quietly on the morning of the ninth day of the first month. When the mouse faced the wide river, it was worried. However, the cow that was the first to go out silently walked to the river. The mouse took advantage of the moment when the cow swam into the water and nimbly jumped into the cow's ear. The cow did not care about the speculation of the mouse because it was usually known for its simplicity. This story showed the relationship and mutual help between the twelve zodiac animals. Other stories about the twelve zodiac animals included the story of the monkey and the rooster participating in the selection, as well as the story of the origin of the dragon.