A subject that never fails to peak the interest of Chinese people is the Chinese Zodiac. As the chronological record of the Chinese Lunar New Year, it is the longest chronological record in history. The Chinese animal signs are a 12-year cycle used for dating the years. They represent a cyclical concept of time, rather than the Western linear concept of time. The rotating cycle of twelve animal signs was a folk method for naming the years in traditional China. The animal signs following one another in an established order, and are repeated every twelve years.
Legends
The Chinese zodiac consists of a twelve-year cycle, with each year corresponding to one of the twelve Earthly Branches and represented by a different animal. But how did the 12 animals to represent the 12 earthly branches? There are different explanations. According to one myth, on the Chinese New Year Buddha convened the animal kingdom to determine how to restore order in the world; however, only 12 animals showed up. Thus the 12 animals came to represent the Chinese zodiac cycle, each presiding over one year. The order of the 12 signs was determined by Buddha at the celebration based on the chronology of the animals'arrival to the meeting: the first was the rat, followed by the ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon,snake,horse,sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig successively.
According to another legend, the twelve animals quarreled one day over who would be the head of the cycle. So the gods decided to hold a contest: whoever reached the opposite bank of the river first would be the leader and the rest would follow in turn. All the animals gathered at the riverbank and jumped in. Unbeknownst to the ox, the rat jumped on his back. As the ox was about to climb ashore, the rat jumped off its back and won the race.The lazy pig finished last. The rat, therefore, is the first animal in the cycle; the ox is second; and the pig,last.
As one circle of 12 zodiac signs lasts 12 years, everyone will meet his or her year of birth every 12 years. This year is called Black Snow. Do not think that the Black Snow year will bring you good opportunity; in fact, Chinese people regard it as an year during which everything will go wrong. Therefore, many people wear a red belt or underwear to ward off evil. Around 100 million people among China's 1.3 billion will experience their Black Snow each year. Let's assume that every- one of 100 million spends 5 Yuan to avoid bad luck during their Black Snow, a great deal of profit will be produced because of this consumption habit.
