The origins of the Chinese zodiac date back to ancient times, with roots in China over a thousand years ago during the pre-Qin period. The true origins of the 12 zodiac animals are said to be connected to a court in the ancient state of Chu, named after the Yellow Emperor, a term used during the Eastern Han dynasty and the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern dynasties. This term is actually related to Han Chinese folktales. In ancient China, the Yellow Emperor sought to select twelve animals to represent the era and leave a good impression on people. Consequently, many interpretations and explanations about the twelve zodiac animals were discovered. As a result, people began to arrange their lives according to the zodiac animal corresponding to their birth year.
Let\’s explore the origins of the 12 zodiac animals. The ancient Chinese method of recording years was based on the lunar calendar, and the origin of the stem-branch system is directly related to what we call the twelve zodiac animals. This tradition has been passed down from the Han dynasty to the present day. Since the beginning of primitive society, our lives have been set in a pattern, leading to the formation of the twelve zodiac animals.
For instance, the \’wei\’ branch corresponds to the \’earthly branch\’, and thus the \’wu\’ hour, which is the time when yang energy is at its peak in a day. Additionally, the \’chou\’ hour, from one to three in the morning, is known as the \’ox hour\’. The \’yin\’ hour (from three to five in the morning) is when the sun has risen and the moon still shines with a golden glow through the fog, making the sunlight the warmest.
The Jade Emperor established twenty-four specific days within the year, and before the Spring Festival, people consider New Year\’s Eve as the beginning of the new year, the Year of the Tiger.
The \’mao\’ hour (from five to seven in the morning) is when the day begins to dawn, and the rabbit\’s activities just start. Thus, whenever a rabbit sees a rainbow after the rain, it thinks of its arrival and, with its small hands, turns the direction of the sky to get help from the rat. Furthermore, the character \’yin\’ is a homophone for \’horse\’, leading to the habit of pairing sheep with rabbits. Additionally, the \’mao\’ hour is after sunset, a time when humans need to graze, requiring the care of domestic animals like dogs, thus the rabbit becomes a feline creature.
The \’si\’ hour (from nine to eleven in the morning). Snakes start to forage from eight in the morning, making the \’si\’ hour the time of the snake; snakes also have the ability to crawl and control all things. When encountering troublesome matters, snakes generally do not take the initiative to solve these problems; even in the face of danger, they can remain calm, making the \’si\’ hour the hour of the snake.
The \’shen\’ hour (from three to five in the afternoon) is when monkeys like to move and jump in the forest, making the \’shen\’ hour monkeys part of the \’migrant birds\’, \’migrant birds\’.
Monkeys are known for their lively and active nature, yet they can sometimes appear clumsy. Monkeys born during the Shen hour are considered to be intelligent and resourceful. Therefore, if someone wishes to understand their future development, they must take into account the changes in their surroundings, as well as their personal characteristics and abilities.
