rat

Twelve species turned up at the start line: a pig, dog, rooster, monkey, sheep, horse, snake, dragon, rabbit, tiger, ox and rat. As a reward for turning up, the Emperor named a year in the zodiac after each one, while the race would determine the order each animal would be placed.

People’s birth years determine their Chinese zodiac signs. However, things are not that easy! There is an animal representing each year, but the “year” is defined by Chinese lunar calendar, not the Gregorian year you are familiar with from Jan. 1st to Dec.

The Heavenly Gate Race Story – Reasons for Zodiac Rankings. Long, long ago, there was no Chinese zodiac. The Jade Emperor wanted to select 12 animals to be his guards. He sent an immortal being into man’s world to spread the message that the earlier one went through the Heavenly Gate, the better the rank one would have …

Legends relating to the order of the Chinese zodiac often include stories as to why the cat was not included among the twelve. All the other animals made it to the Jade Emperor, while the Cat was left to drown in the river after being sabotaged by the Rat. It is said that this is also the reason cats always hunt Rats.

At last, the ox and rat arrived first. The ox was happy thinking that he would be the first sign of the years, but the rat had already slid in front, and became the first lucky animal of the Chinese zodiac. That’s how did the rat win the race.

Recent Rat years are 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, and 2020.

Chinese Zodiac Signs for the Months of the Year

Emperor Huangdi

It has been long believed that the Rabbit is the luckiest Chinese Zodiac sign, however new research may show otherwise. According to data collected by Australia’s official lottery provider, the Lott, those born in the year of the Rat were the luckiest when it came to winning the lotto last year.

What Chinese Zodiac Year was I born?

Chinese Zodiac in Japan: 2021 is the Year of the Metal Ox!

• #Winter.
• #How To: Japanese History and Tradition.

The Japanese believe that zodiac signs can influence all sorts of things and even individuals. It is a widely-held belief that people who are born in the same animal year share similar personality and character.

The Japanese 12 zodiac animals in order are: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Boar. Japan’s zodiac signs were directly derived from China’s. The only difference is that the last animal is the Boar in Japan but the Pig in China.

What’s My Chinese Zodiac Sign?

Hatori Sohma

The gray wolf is the spirit animal for anyone born between September 23 to October 22.

When the Jade Emperor – the Emperor of Heaven and Earth – decided it was time his earthly subjects were given the means to measure the passing of the seasons, he turned to the animal kingdom for help. The emperor decided he would hold a race to determine which of the animals he would include.

The Supreme August Jade Emperor is the supreme deity of Chinese tradition and is otherwise known as Yuhuang Shangdi (Yu-huang Shang-ti), Yudi (Yu Ti) or Mr. Heaven (Lao-t’ien ye). The Jade Emperor should not be considered a creator god as in Chinese traditional religion no deity is involved in the Creation.

The Emperor was very pleased that the animals had worked together. He said the goat would be the eighth zodiac animal, the monkey the ninth and the rooster the tenth. The next animal to finish was the dog.

However, in the grand schemes of things, power and rank, Buddha is ranked below the Jade Emperor, The three Pure ones, Pan Gu, Fu Xi, Nu Wa, Mother of the West, Four Symbols aka Four God Beasts and a handful of Taoist creation deities and god kings.

Supreme God of Chinese folk religion, the Jade Emperor is Ruler of all Heavens (of which the Chinese have over 30), Earth and the Underworld/ Hell, Creator of the Universe, later the Emperor of the Universe, and Lord of the Imperial Court.

Remember that Buddhas are not gods but “Enlightened Souls” and are considered to be orders of magnitude above the gods. well,for most chinese people,sun wukong is the most powerful person.

Sheng dan lao ren