12 Earthly Branches

rat , ox , tiger , hare , dragon , snake , horse , goat , monkey , rooster , dog , and pig

On January 24, the first day of the Chinese lunar calendar, the nation bid farewell to the Year of Dragon and ushered in the Year of Snake.

Ancient Chinese people used a dozen animals to symbolize the 12 Earthly Branches. They are the rat, ox, tiger, hare, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. When the cycle of 12 years is completed, a new round begins.

As is true of most anything ancient, the origin of the Chinese Zodiac animal signs is a mix of legend and folklore.

It is said that, at the dawn of civilization, the Emperor of Heaven summoned all animals to compete for 12 representatives of the Earthly Branches.

The rat and the cat, a pair of good friends, planned to go together the next morning. Since the cat was an insatiable sleeper, the rat promised to wake him up.

Yet the rat broke his promise. He rose early and went to see the Emperor of Heaven alone.

Arriving at the heavenly court, the rat found a queue of 11 other animals, with the ox in the lead. Without hesitation, the rat jumped the queue and took position on the ox's back.

When the Emperor of Heaven appeared, he slipped from the ox's back and stole pole position.

Such treacherous success aroused public indignation, so from that moment on the wily rat has been forced to live murky underground corners. And, of course, it must endure much grief from the cat.

Despite idioms based on the perceived characteristics of some animals---including "short-sighted as a rat," "lazy as a pig" and "narrow-minded as a chick"---they all receive considerable respect in the years they rule.

People born in the Year of Snake are considered rich in wisdom and charm. Usually they are romantic and deep thinking, folks whose intuition guides them strongly.

Worshipping the snake
In China, worship towards the snake traces back to primitive society. Pan Gu, creator of the universe in Chinese mythology, has the body of the snake and head of the dragon.

There is also the God with a snake in hand in the Chinese primitive religion.

People used to regard the snake as a relative of the dragon, so they sometime call the snake a "small dragon."

During the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, the ceremonial robes for the emperors were embroidered with dragons while the robes for the princes and court ministers were embroidered with boa designs to show their royal position.

In some places of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, people give the snake many respectable names, instead of calling it "snake."

People in Yixing, East China's Jiangsu Province, call it "savage creature" or "black dragon."

People in East China's Zhejiang Province call it "celestial being" or "dragon in heaven."

At Dangtu in East China's Anhui Province, snake is called "dragon at home." At Qingjiang, in East China's Jiangsu Province, it is called "snake ancestor."

There are many superstitions related to the snake.

People in Qingjiang resent the snake shedding its skin or moving out from its lair.

In Yixing, people consider it lucky to see the snake in the granary or the bed but unlucky to see the snake on the beams or eaves of the house.

People in Dangtu believe seeing the snake at home is a bad omen that the head of the house-old will die or some unexpected disaster will befell the family. If the children see it, they know not to tell the head of the household.

But people also have ways of turning bad luck into good.

Some people burn joss sticks to ward off baneful influence. Some present special food such tofu, fish, wine or tea as offerings.

If the snake is still alive, it will be sent to the wild. If it is dead, people will bury it respectfully. At Qingjiang, burying a dead snake is equal to prostrating before the Buddha.

The snake also symbolizes wealth in some places. Many people believe that if they see a snake winding around a rabbit, they will make a fortune soon.

Thus, rabbits winded by snakes are popular images for paper-cuts in the Spring Festival in northern China.

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