The Chinese Zodiac and the Great Race There are several different variations of the story behind the Chinese Zodiac but they tend to follow the same broad strokes. It all began with the Jade Emperor (a representation of China’s “first god”) who decreed that the years of the calendar would be named for each animal. The story is widespread (and widely varying) among Chinese. Though it is made up, it might be interesting for you to tell your children and friends. 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 Chinese New Year and the Zodiacs. Each of these zodiac animals governs a whole year, which starts at Chinese New Year according to the lunar calendar. This usually corresponds to January or February in the western calendar. When the current year has the same zodiac animal as the year you were born, you are said to be in Ben Ming Nian. Among the popular myths about the origins of the Chinese zodiac, there is one about a great race initiated by the Jade Emperor, the ruler of heaven, in order to measure time. As the rat won the The year follows the Chinese lunar calendar. The Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year signifies the end of one year, and the start of the next. 2025 – Year of the Snake. 2026 – Year of the Horse. 2027 – Year of the Goat. Chinese Zodiacs – Which one are you? Chinese Zodiac Calculator Happy Chinese New Year, and welcome the Year of the Fire Monkey! Chinese New Year falls on Monday, February 8th this year, and I thought it would be fun to share the story behind the Chinese zodiac animals. The mythological story is about a great race, during which the order of the 12 zodiac animals was determined. Beside the tricks that rat played in the great race story of the Chinese zodiac, there are other legends about its priority in those animals. In Chinese mythology about the origin of world, the universe was in dark without form like an egg before the earth and heaven was separated. It was the rat that bit a crack and let the air in. A look into the Chinese Zodiac and its significance in the Lunar New Year, and in life. The Lunar New Year, which this year falls on February 1, marks the beginning of a new yearly cycle presided over by one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac. In 2022, we usher in the Year of the Tiger. Here’s a look at how the Chinese zodiac came to be 2019 is the year of the PIG and it starts on Feb 05. THE ORIGIN OF CHINESE ZODIAC – THE GREAT RACE. According to an ancient Chinese folk story, the Jade Emperor declared a race to honor the first 12 animals who crossed the river of their very own year. So the great race started. What are the animals of the zodiac? Each year honors an animal based on the Chinese zodiac. The circle of 12 animals — the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig — measure the cycles of time. A look into the Chinese Zodiac and its significance in the Lunar New Year, and in life. The Lunar New Year, which this year falls on February 1, marks the beginning of a new yearly cycle presided over by one of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac. In 2022, we usher in the Year of the Tiger. Here’s a look at how the Chinese zodiac came to be There are many Chinese zodiac stories, and the Great Race of the 12 animals is the most famous one. The race made the zodiac order, and rat won; thus, ranked No. 1. With the Year of the Rabbit drawing to a close, devotees from all around the globe are getting ready to usher in the Year of the Dragon for 2024’s Chinese New Year festivities. And while most of us have understood the order of animals that go through the system of succession every year when celebrating [] The story goes that a race was organised by the Jade Emperor - one of the most important gods in traditional Chinese religion - who invited all the animals in the world to take part. Just as the ox was about to win the race, the rat leapt on his head and on to the bank to finish first. 'Well done,' said the Jade Emperor to the proud rat. 'The first year of the zodiac will be named after you.' The poor ox had been tricked into second place and the second year of the zodiac was named after him. We celebrate the Lunar New Year by saying goodbye to the Year of the Dragon and ushering in the Year of the Snake, the 6th zodiac animal in the twelve-year lunar calendar. Have you ever wondered what the twelve animals are and how their place in the order was determined? One of the most popular stories about this is called The Great Race. The Chinese Zodiac consists of 12 animals that signify each year, tracing their origins to a race set by the Jade Emperor. Each animal embodies distinct traits and is linked to five elements What is Lunar New Year? Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, marks the start of a new zodiac cycle based on the Chinese lunar calendar. Each year, the date shifts within the Gregorian calendar. Lunar New Year is celebrated around the world, particularly in Asian countries like China, shown here (Beijing). Learn how the Zodiac years were named by the Jade Emperor.Visit CBeebies at to find even more fun games and videos for your pre Dance workshops for primary schools celebrating Chinese and Lunar New Year. The 2025 Chinese and Lunar New Year begins on 29 January. It will be the year of the Snake! This fun and creative dance workshop is based on the origin story of the Chinese Zodiac, The Great Race. It is the most popular story told during Chinese and Lunar New Year, and
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