Learn How The Chinese Zodiac Works With This Animated Video

Our birthdays hold more meaning than just the date in which we were born. Since it also holds our zodiac sing. According to zodiacs that particular moment in which we were born holds a specific energy. That determinates certain features of our personality.

Zodiacs vary as cultures do. So despite the 12 Greco-roman signs that are costumed in western society. In others, parts of the world zodiacs go way deeper and in a more complex way.

Cracking up the myth.

The internet has become pretty much our modern-day encyclopedia. As anything you want to know is there. Also, many YouTube channels have dedicated their efforts to explain in more entertaining and simple ways many things. Like the guys from Ted-Ed.

That in this occasion have decided to break through the Chinese zodiac. Explained through a more simple cartoony video. On the other hand, they explain the most used version of the myth of the origin of this calendar system.

The Great Race.

The origin of the story is so ancient that many stories and versions of them have been done. But the one that has stuck around the most is the one about “The Great Race.”

The story starts as the Jade Emperor, ruler of the sky, wanted a way to measure time. As he organized a race and promised the first 12 animals that crossed the river a place in the calendar. In the order that they arrived.

Ready, set, go.

So the animals were on the move to reach a spot on it. So the rat waked up early, forgetting to wake up his best friend the cat and leaving him behind. The reason why the cat hates rats to the ancient Chinese. As the rat asked for help to the horse, tiger, and ox since she was too small. Being the last one the only one who agreed to help her cross the river.

When they were about to cross the rat jumped off the ox, securing the first place. Leaving the ox to reach the second place, who was too kindhearted to make a buzz of what happened. Then the tiger, thanks to his strength and mightiness arrived third. Fourth came the rabbit, who was as well small so he hoped through logs and rocks to cross the river.

The rest of the bunch.

Then came the dragon, who had lost a bit of time helping creatures it encountered on the way. Following was the horse who galloped through the river, but when it finally was reaching the goal the snake slithered by. Surprising the horse as he reared back as the snake secured the 6th spot. Then the emperor spot on a raft the monkey, the sheep and the rooster, paddling through.

All worked together so when they reach the goal they gave the sheep the 8th places. Since she had been the most harmonious of them. Followed by the monkey and then the rooster. Finally in 11th came the dog, who was a great swimmer but lost time playing on the water. Then came the pig, who came out last as he stopped to eat and take a nap.

Each year.

So each animal was assigned to a year in the order they arrived. With the cycle starting every 60 years. This is due to the fact that this calendar system is an overlapping one. As it overlaps with 2 actually.

First, each animal is linked to a certain element: steel, wood, water, earth, fire. Something that goes with the “12 Earthly Branches,” that work as months and also hours of your birth. As then each element is assigned to a yin or yang. Along the “10 Celestial Stems,” a 10 days week, that assigns you the yin or yang.

Getting more complex.

So all of this together creates 60 different combinations you can belong to. Creating a sexagenary cycle. But the Chinese didn’t stop there. Also, you have an “Inner Animal” based on your month of birth, a “True Animal” based on your day of birth and a “Secret Animal” based on the hour you were born.

So it was “The Great Race” who determined the order and which animals participate on this calendar. But also as cultures vary and the calendar spread through the whole continent of Asia. There are certain variations according to the country. In Vietnam, the cat takes the place of the rabbit and in Thailand, a giant snake called Naga takes the spot of the dragon.