The Chinese Zodiac

Hello everybody! This is the transcript for the intro episode to my podcast We're all Stories. I hope you like it!

First of all, Happy lunar new year everyone!! In honour of the holiday I am going to share with you the story behind the Chinese zodiac. There are many versions of this story. I go with my favourite version but I'll flesh in with some details from other versions here and there. Enjoy!

A long time ago the Buddha (not just Buddha mind. There have been multiple Buddhas, the number varies depending on who you ask. A Buddha begins life as a person. Through the cycle of reincarnation they are reborn over and over again until they reach the point of obtaining enlightenment. At this point they can leave behind the cycle of reincarnation and enter nirvana. Some choose to forsake nirvana and come back to help other people achieve enlightenment. These are the Bodhisattva. This selfless act is the next step on the path to becoming a Buddha. Over time, through teaching, meditation and sacrifice they may become a Buddha themselves and transcend the physical to the divine.)

Some versions of this story instead of the Buddha have the Jade Emperor, he is the heavenly grandfather or emperor of the heavens from daoist tradition. Some say it was the Yellow Emperor of Chinese folk religion, part historic person, part divine being he is considered the progenitor of Chinese culture. He is at the center of the universe and is the god of centeredness. It all depends on your region and religion of choice.

Anyway the Buddha decides to throw a party. He invites all the animals to a great feast. He invites Cat and Rat, Tiger and Rabbit, Dragon and Horse, Snake and Ox, Rooster and Monkey, Dog and Pig and Sheep. All of the animals wanted to be the first to arrive to show their respect and to be honoured. In some versions, instead of a feast, a great race is held. The animals all went home to prepare for the next day's festivities.

At this time Cat and Rat were best friends and neighbours. Cat had a habit of sleeping late so he asked his friend Rat to wake him up in the morning so they could set out together. Rat agreed. Rat was clever. He knew with his short legs he wasn't as fast as the other animals so he decided he would start out extra early in the morning to give himself a head start. Some say it was on purpose and others that he simply forgot in his excitement. For one reason or another, Rat left Cat behind, sleeping peacefully and dreaming of the feast to come. Leaving Cat, Rat set out on his way. As he was walking, he heard Ox charging along behind him. If the other animals were waking up, they would soon outpace him. As Ox went running past, Rat leapt onto his back. Some say Rat struck a bargain with Ox. Ox let him ride on his head and they would arrive together. In exchange Rat would sing to Ox as he ran. Think of him as the first Walkman. Whether by trickery or trade, Rat rode along on Ox's head. Just before they reached the table, or finish line, there was a mighty river. Big, strong Ox had no difficulty fording the river and Rat went along for the ride. Having cleared the river, Rat leapt off Ox and became the first to arrive followed by Ox.

Tiger and Rabbit were equally matched. Tiger was big and powerful, taking long, groundeating strides while Rabbit was small and speedy, taking great leaps as he went along. The two were neck and neck. They came to the river and Tiger easily swam across. Rabbit stopped. He knew that if he tried to cross the river he would be swept away. As he sat dejected, he noticed some debris heading towards him down the river. Rabbit used the debris and froggered across to be fourth at the table.

Dragon was flying through the air, shooting like an arrow towards his target. Some say he would have been first but as he got to the river, he saw a nearby village burning. Kind, benevolent Dragon gave up his place in the race, taking some of the water from the river to rain down on the village, putting the fires out. Only after the last ember had been quenched did Dragon continue on. He was fifth to arrive.

Snake was slowly slithering along, making his way to the finish. As he was going down the path, he heard Horse galloping up behind him. Taking a leaf out of rat's book snake leapt on, riding on horse's back to the finish line. As they got close, Snake jumped out in front, scaring skittish Horse to take sixth place. Horse soon returned and was seventh to arrive.

Ram, Monkey and Rooster were friends. They all went together in a group. When they reached the river they worked together to build a raft and poled their way across to be eight nine and ten.

Dog loved to race and was a strong swimmer. He would have arrived much earlier, he was far ahead, until he got to the river. He jumped right into the cool water, delighting in how it splashed around him. He was having so much fun jumping and splashing and playing that the other animals went on by unnoticed. Dog played until he could play no more. He was eleventh to arrive.

Pig was trotting merrily along. As he was on his way he smelled something good. He followed his nose and soon came to a farm where a family was just sitting down to lunch. He WAS on his way to a feast but that lunch sure smelled good and it was making his stomach rumble. He decided it couldn’t hurt to stop in for a snack to tide himself over. He passed the afternoon with the farmer and his family, eating to his heart's content. Only after he was stuffed did he continue on his way. He was the last to arrive.

The Buddha was happy that so many of his animal friends came. He chose to honour them by naming the years of the calendar after them in the order in which they had arrived. Cat would have been the thirteenth year but, thanks to Rat, he was still home sleeping and dreaming the day away. Since he didn’t show up, the Buddha left him out, leaving twelve years in the zodiac for the twelve animals that had attended. Cat blamed Rat for his being excluded and was very angry. That is why to this day cats chase rats.

In some of the versions where the Jade Emperor was holding a race it was to appoint twelve guards. The years of the zodiac were named after these guards but the real prize was the honour of serving.

Other versions also have it that Cat and Rat did run the race together and both rode on Ox but as they were crossing the river, Rat pushed Cat in. It was through this betrayal that Cat was left out.

So that is the story behind the chinese zodiac. As a little bonus for sticking around, I'll give you some tips to help you have a better year. Red is considered a lucky colour. Make sure to wear some red this lunar new year to have good luck in the coming year! Dragons are also lucky. Wear red clothes with dragons on them and you will be super lucky! For dinner extra long noodles are traditionally served. Make sure not to bite them! These long noodles should be slurped up whole for a long life. For desert you should eat oranges and candy for a sweet life. Another new year's tradition, especially for the children, is the giving of red envelopes. Parents give their children a red envelope with money in it to bless them in the year to come. While this is largely for the kids, it is not unknown for grown up children to present their parents with red envelopes or boss's to their employees. Thanks for sticking around and have a great new year! Shie shie!