Do you want your children to learn about different cultural beliefs?
As a parent, it is pretty understandable to wish the same. So, how to entice the child's brigade towards various traditions and festivals that people celebrate?
A great way to start is with engaging Chinese zodiac stories for children, such as the story of the Great Race involving 12 Chinese New Year Animals.
Let us kickstart with the story of the 12 animals and how they made it to the finishing line without much ado.
You will also find an exciting video about the Great Race on our YouTube channel in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!
It's Story Time!
As in any story from mythology or folklore, the story of the Great Race also has many versions. It is one of the most-loved Chinese zodiac stories for children. So, gear up for the Great Race!
Once upon a time, Buddha decided to organize a race and invited all the animals to it. Although only 12 animals came to the event, Buddha was elated with their presence and rewarded them. The reward was pretty fascinating. He named every year of the Chinese zodiac calendar after the participants.
Here is the list of the participants:
Tiger
Snake
Rat
Rabbit
Monkey
Dog
Pig
Rooster
Goat
Horse
Ox
Dragon
Why did the Cat go missing?
On learning about the race and the invitation, the Cat called its best friend, the Rat, to join. As the Cat was a late riser, he told the Rat to call him in early in the morning.
However, the Rat, being too excited to run in the race, did not wake him up and left for the race all by himself. Finally, when the Cat woke up, the time was up!
So, this is how the Cat went missing from the Chinese zodiac calendar. Now, do you understand why the vendetta between the Cat and the Rat runs to date?
The Rat and his cunning idea
While the race was on, the Rat found himself behind the other animals as the latter ran much faster than him.
Before the finishing point, however, there was a big hurdle waiting for the participants. It was a river. As the Rat was already tired and not a good swimmer, he got an idea in his tiny cunning head.
The kind-hearted Ox and the Rat
Among the participants, the Ox was a brilliant swimmer. The Rat requested the Ox to let him sit on its head while crossing the river.
The Ox was a kind-hearted animal. So, he gave the Rat a ride on his head, and they swam together. When they came near the bank, the Rat jumped off the back of the Ox and quickly ran to the finishing line. It disappointed the Ox.
So, the one to arrive first was the clever Rat, followed by the kind Ox. Therefore, the first year of the zodiac calendar features the Rat (Year of the Rat), while the second year is the Ox (Year of the Ox).
The poor Tiger and river currents
Then came the Tiger. Although he ran and swam pretty fast, heavy currents in the river kept him pushing back. Therefore, he secured the third position in the race, and the third year is called the Year of the Tiger.
The fortunate Rabbit
Then, the Rabbit appeared out of the blue, all drenched and exhausted. This little creature jumped from one stone to the other to cross the river. Unfortunately, it slipped and fell into the river. However, the Rabbit managed to float using a log and made it to the river bank.
That way, the Rabbit secured the fourth stand. And hence, the fourth year is called the Year of the Rabbit.
The merciful Dragon and his deeds
The fifth position holder was the Dragon. Even though he can fly, he decided to slow down upon seeing the Rabbit struggle through the river. He managed to push the log of the wood that the Rabbit was holding on to the shore.
Plus, he needed to make rain for the Earth. Therefore, he came fifth, making the fifth year the Year of the Dragon.
Did you know the Rabbit never realized that the Dragon saved him?
The mighty Horse and the clever Snake
Then the mighty Horse came like a warrior, considering himself the sixth one in the lot. However, the Horse did not notice that the Snake had attached itself to his leg in the meantime. And the latter sprinted to the finishing line as soon as the Horse landed safely on the shore.
So, the Snake was to come Sixth, and the Horse secured the seventh position, making it the sixth and seventh year, the Year of the Snake and Year of the Horse, respectively.
The trio of the Monkey, Goat, and Rooster
A few moments later, the Monkey, Goat, and the Rooster came more or less together. When the Rooster was on the verge of crossing the river, he saw the Goat, also known as Ram or Sheep, and Monkey. The Rooster convinced them to work as a team. So, they made themselves a raft.
However, the raft was too heavy with the weight of three animals. So, they managed to cross the river after a lot of struggle. The Goat touched the finishing line first, and the Monkey and Rooster followed him.
This way, the eighth, ninth, and tenth holders were the Goat, the Monkey, and the Rooster, respectively. It is how the eighth, ninth, and tenth years got their names: the Year of the Goat, the Year of the Monkey, and the Year of the Rooster, sequentially.
The happy-go-lucky Dog
The Dog acquired eleventh place. You might be wondering: Dogs are good swimmers. Then, why did he come eleventh?
Yes, they are good at swimming. But, they love playing too. So, the Dog came playing and splashing water through the river. So, he came eleventh, and the eleventh year is celebrated as the Year of the Dog.
Oink! Oink!! It is the Pig
After a long time, the Pig appeared with an oink. While running in the race, he became hungry and decided to eat something.
However, he ate a lot and finally dozed off to sleep. As there were no other animals in the race, he came twelfth, marking it as the Year of the Pig.
Let the New Year celebrations begin!
So, this is how the Chinese zodiac story came into being, and the years got their names and positions in the Chinese zodiac calendar, and the Chinese zodiac signs originated. When you read this story to your children, they will love it, for sure.
FAQs About the Chinese Zodiac Animals
1. Is the Chinese zodiac the same as the Chinese New Year animals?
Yes, they are the same. The 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac are also known as the Chinese New Year animals because a new animal's year begins with the Chinese New Year.
2. Why isn’t the Cat in the Chinese zodiac?
According to legend, the Cat was tricked by the Rat and missed the Great Race. The two animals have been enemies ever since.
3. What is the most powerful zodiac sign?
In Chinese culture, the Dragon is considered the most powerful and auspicious sign. People born in the Year of the Dragon are believed to be charismatic, intelligent, and lucky.
4. Can my zodiac sign predict my future?
While many people enjoy looking at their zodiac forecast for the year, the Chinese zodiac is primarily a tool for understanding personality traits and compatibility, not a guaranteed predictor of future events.
Conclusion
The Chinese zodiac animals offer a fantastic and engaging way for children to learn about culture and identity. The captivating story of the Great Race teaches lessons of cleverness, teamwork, and kindness. By discovering their own zodiac animal, children can feel a special connection to this beautiful and ancient tradition.
If you also want to introduce your child to the Mandarin Chinese language through engaging and educational programs, sign up for a free trial lesson with us today! At LingoAce, each lesson is a product of over 100 hours of curriculum creation to ensure an engaging, interactive, and high-quality learning experience.
