How the 12 Chinese Zodiacs were formed

FOR over two millennia, the Chinese Zodiac has helped people, especially the Chinese, glimpse what the future might hold. Beyond fortune-telling, it has also been used to explain the personality traits of individuals, offering a way to rationalize why we are the way we are.

Despite the advancement in science, many are still believers of this ancient way, while others, who fancy themselves to be of a more pragmatic nature, dismiss it merely as silly astrology. 

But whether you are a believer or not, you can’t deny that the Chinese Zodiac fascinates many people today, even some Filipinos who are not of Chinese descent. There is just something so fun and interesting about using animal signs to predict your future and traits. 

Yet, it’s also fascinating to view the Chinese Zodiac as a lens through which we can observe the evolution of Chinese history and its rich culture. From ancient myths to real historical events, the Zodiac offers a glimpse into the complex mosaic that is ancient China.

The myth of the animal race

Have you ever wondered why only certain animals were chosen to represent the signs? And why are they ranked as they are? Why do they follow this order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. 

Chinese mythology answers these questions in their story of the heavenly race. 

Legend has it that back then, people had no concept of time. They had no idea how to determine the season of the year. 

And so, they appealed to the Jade Emperor, the ruler over the court of celestial gods and goddesses who provided guidance for Earth. 

The emperor saw the people’s needs and he agreed to help them. He decreed that there would be 12 years to each cycle. To make these 12 cycles easier to remember, he announced that he would name them after the 12 animals who would win in a race to be held on his birthday. 

He decreed that the first 12 animals to cross the river and finish the line would have the honor of being declared as zodiacs. 

This news spread across the kingdom and caused quite a stir among the animals. All of them wanted to participate in the race and gain the glory of having a zodiac spot. 

Along the way, however, the animals find themselves caught up in everything from mischief to acts of heroism. 

The rat, for example, used its cleverness by jumping onto the back of the ox in exchange to be a lookout for the other animals who would catch up to them. 

Meanwhile, the dragon who could have easily finished in victory had landed fifth because it had to stop and help a village experiencing drought. The dragon was believed to have control over the rain. 

And so, as each of the animals reached the finish line, the zodiacs were completed. They were ranked based on the order they arrived. 

A look beyond the myth

The Heavenly Race might only be a legend, but it doesn’t mean that it’s worthless. Historians have viewed the fable as a reflection of the animal domestication of ancient civilizations— one of which started on the banks of Yang Tze or the Yellow River in China. 

The horse, pig, ox, and roosters were the earliest animals to be domesticated and be part of the human household. 

Meanwhile, the presence of tiger and dragon in the story are due to their revered position in Chinese mythology. 

There are also theories suggesting that the concept of the Chinese Zodiac was influenced by Buddhism, with its related practices and beliefs spreading to China through cultural exchange along the Silk Road, connecting Central Asia, India, and China.

Artifacts from the Tang Dynasty, China’s golden age (618–907 A.D.), as well as from earlier periods like the Warring States Period (475–221 B.C.), which predates Buddhism, show evidence that beliefs in the Zodiac were already present.

The Zodiac signs also align with Confucian beliefs, particularly the idea that everyone—and every animal—has a role to play in society, often within a hierarchical structure.

Chinese New Year and zodiacs in the Philippines

The belief in Chinese Zodiac signs is not exclusive to China. In the Philippines, Chinese New Year is celebrated annually, and many Filipino-Chinese, or even Filipinos in general, embrace the practices and beliefs associated with the zodiacs.

This reflects how Filipino culture is not a rigid, isolated one, but a dynamic and evolving force that intertwines with various influences from the outside world. 

It also highlights our deep-rooted relationship with the Chinese, whose culture has been present throughout all stages of our history, even during precolonial times.