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The four main Chinese religions are Buddhism, Taoism, Confucian and Chinese folk Religion. Zodiac animal signs belong to four elements Fire, Earth, Air, Water. There are only twelve animals. Each year is assigned to a Zodiac animal in a repeating twelve-year cycle. Having a baby in the year of the dragon is good luck in the Chinese culture it means that the baby will be smart, strong and healthy. Identifying this scheme using the term "zodiac" reflects several superficial similarities to the Western Zodiac : both have time cycles divided into 12 parts, each labels at least the majority of those parts with names of animals, and each is widely associated with a culture of ascribing a person's personality or events in his or her life to the supposed influence of the person's particular relationship to the cycle.
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Zodiac animals story.
Long ago in ancient China, Jade Emperor, who was ruler of Heaven and Earth, proclaimed a mighty race. 'The first twelve animals to cross the river will each have a year named after them,' he announced. The animals lined up along the shore eager to begin. The waters slapped and swirled. The mountains trembled. Jade Emperor's gong rang out. Courageous tiger leapt into the river, striking out with his powerful paws. Peaceful rabbit jumped onto a log, holding on with all her might. Charming rat and friendly cat did everything together. 'Take us across on your back, ox, and we will show you the way.' Kind ox agreed and they climbed on board. Faithful dog played in the shallows, jumping and splashing and chasing his shadow. Lucky rooster found a raft. 'Who will give me a hand?' he asked. 'I will,' said Clever monkey and he cleared the needs. Then gentle goat pushed the raft into the water. Spirited horse plunged into the river, hooves churning mud from the riverbed. But who was hiding in Horse'e mane? It was wise snake, getting a free ride! Happy pig put her toe in the water. Then drew it out again. 'I'm hungry I need something to eat,' she said. So pig ate and ate and ate until her tummy was as big as a balloon. Then she fell a sleep in the mud. Powerful dragon flew out across the river, scales shimmering like pearls in the sun.The clouds parted. Thunder rumbled, shaking the mountain tops. 'We're winning!' cried rat. When cat stood up to look, rat pushed her into the water. 'What was that?' Ox asked. 'Oh, nothing,' rat would do anything to come first. As ox dragged herself onto the bank, rat leapt across the finish line. 'The first will be named after you , rat', Jade Emperor declared. 'And the second year after ox.' 'Why so slow , tiger?' Rabbit called out. ' I was carried downstream on a strong current,' tiger replied. ' But I'm back on course now!' Just then, a breath of wind blew rabbit all the way to shore. She leapt off her log and hopped across the finish line, right behind tiger. Next came dragon swooping down from the sky. 'What held you up?' Jade Emperor asked. 'I saw people and animals suffering a terrible drought so I stop to make rain,' dragon replied. 'Then I saw a poor little rabbit clinging to a log and blew her to the shore.' ' You have a kind heart. The fifth year of the Zodiac will be named after you,' Jade Emperor declared. Horse galloped towards the finish line I'm next, she thought. But at the last second, Snake sprang to the ground beating horse by a flicker of his tongue. Goat, monkey and rooster jumped off their raft. 'You three work well together,' Jade Emperor said. 'In eighth, ninth and tenth places will be the year of the goat, monkey and rooster.' Dog dashed towards the emperor,wagging his stumpy tail. 'I was playing in the shallows and almost forgot the race,' he barked. Jade Emperor smiled. 'The eleventh years will be after you, little dog.' After waking from a long nap, pig floated across on her tummy. 'You have done well too,' Jade Emperor said. 'And so, the final spot on the Zodiac belongs to you.' Poor cat dragged herself up on the bank. But she was to late There are only twelve places on the Chinese Zodiac. And that is why, to this very day, cats have hated rats.
Long ago in ancient China, Jade Emperor, who was ruler of Heaven and Earth, proclaimed a mighty race. 'The first twelve animals to cross the river will each have a year named after them,' he announced. The animals lined up along the shore eager to begin. The waters slapped and swirled. The mountains trembled. Jade Emperor's gong rang out. Courageous tiger leapt into the river, striking out with his powerful paws. Peaceful rabbit jumped onto a log, holding on with all her might. Charming rat and friendly cat did everything together. 'Take us across on your back, ox, and we will show you the way.' Kind ox agreed and they climbed on board. Faithful dog played in the shallows, jumping and splashing and chasing his shadow. Lucky rooster found a raft. 'Who will give me a hand?' he asked. 'I will,' said Clever monkey and he cleared the needs. Then gentle goat pushed the raft into the water. Spirited horse plunged into the river, hooves churning mud from the riverbed. But who was hiding in Horse'e mane? It was wise snake, getting a free ride! Happy pig put her toe in the water. Then drew it out again. 'I'm hungry I need something to eat,' she said. So pig ate and ate and ate until her tummy was as big as a balloon. Then she fell a sleep in the mud. Powerful dragon flew out across the river, scales shimmering like pearls in the sun.The clouds parted. Thunder rumbled, shaking the mountain tops. 'We're winning!' cried rat. When cat stood up to look, rat pushed her into the water. 'What was that?' Ox asked. 'Oh, nothing,' rat would do anything to come first. As ox dragged herself onto the bank, rat leapt across the finish line. 'The first will be named after you , rat', Jade Emperor declared. 'And the second year after ox.' 'Why so slow , tiger?' Rabbit called out. ' I was carried downstream on a strong current,' tiger replied. ' But I'm back on course now!' Just then, a breath of wind blew rabbit all the way to shore. She leapt off her log and hopped across the finish line, right behind tiger. Next came dragon swooping down from the sky. 'What held you up?' Jade Emperor asked. 'I saw people and animals suffering a terrible drought so I stop to make rain,' dragon replied. 'Then I saw a poor little rabbit clinging to a log and blew her to the shore.' ' You have a kind heart. The fifth year of the Zodiac will be named after you,' Jade Emperor declared. Horse galloped towards the finish line I'm next, she thought. But at the last second, Snake sprang to the ground beating horse by a flicker of his tongue. Goat, monkey and rooster jumped off their raft. 'You three work well together,' Jade Emperor said. 'In eighth, ninth and tenth places will be the year of the goat, monkey and rooster.' Dog dashed towards the emperor,wagging his stumpy tail. 'I was playing in the shallows and almost forgot the race,' he barked. Jade Emperor smiled. 'The eleventh years will be after you, little dog.' After waking from a long nap, pig floated across on her tummy. 'You have done well too,' Jade Emperor said. 'And so, the final spot on the Zodiac belongs to you.' Poor cat dragged herself up on the bank. But she was to late There are only twelve places on the Chinese Zodiac. And that is why, to this very day, cats have hated rats.