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The Chinese Lunar Calendar names each of the twelve years after an animal. Legend has it that the Lord Buddha summoned all the animals to come to him before he departed from earth. Only twelve came to bid him farewell and as a reward he named a year after each one in the order they arrived. The Chinese believe the animal ruling the year in which a person is born has a profound influence on personality, saying: "This is the animal that hides in your heart."
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoThe use of animal symbols in the Chinese Zodiac dates back to the 6th Century. According to legend, the Jade Emperor, invited all the animals in the kingdom to celebrate the New Year, at the end of the first lunar month.
For unknown reasons, only twelve animals came (Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit "In some versions it's Cat," Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig", . The Jade emperor was so happy to see them that he decided to name a year after each of them. The animal would have an influence on everyone born in that year and would bestow its main characteristics on them.
These twelve animals formed the Chinese Zodiac, based on the lunar calendar, by order of their arrival, and are listed above.
All the animals lined up on the bank of a river and were given the task of getting to the opposite shore. Their order in the calendar would be set by the order in which the animals managed to reach the other side. The cat wondered how he would get across if he was afraid of water. At the same time, the ox wondered how he would cross with his poor eyesight. The calculating rat suggested that he and the cat jump onto the ox's back and guide him across.
The ox was steady and hard-working so that he did not notice a commotion on his back.
In the meanwhile, the rat snuck up behind the unsuspecting cat and shoved him into the water. Just as the ox came ashore, the rat jumped off and finished the race first. The lazy pig came to the far shore in twelfth place.
And so the rat got the first year named after him, the ox got the second year, and the pig ended up as the last year in the cycle. The cat finished too late (thirteenth) to win any place in the calendar, and vowed to be the enemy of the rat forevermore.
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoIt refers to the Chinese zodiac - which is a order of 12 animals and in the calendar years, they go through a 12-year cycle with 7 iterations for each element (7*12 = 84 years).
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Who gives each year the name of an animal?
The Chinese.
Why is each year in the Chinese calendar named after an animal?
because of ya balls
What animal is 1980 in the Chinese New Year?
The animal that represented the Chinese New Year in 1981 was the rooster.
What is the animal for the Chinese year 2002?
The animal for the 2002 chinese year was the horse.
How is the Chinese calendar organised?
It is organized based on the lunar (moon) cycles. For each year in the 12-year-cycle, there is a different animal. 2012's Chinese animal is the amazing dragon.
What was the animal in the 1997 Chinese New Year?
The animal that represented the Chinese New Year in 1966 was the horse.
What was the 1940 Chinese New Year animal?
The animal that represented the Chinese New Year in 1940 was the dragon.
Does each month of the year have an aminal?
Yes, in Chinese astrology every month does have an animal.
What animal is the next Chinese New Year?
The animal that represented the Chinese New Year in 1967 is the sheep.
What years are Chinese New Year and ash Wednesday on the same day?
Chinese new year is every year its just a different animal for each year this year (2013) is the year of the snake
What was the Chinese new year animal in 1992?
The animal that represented the Chinese New Year in 1992 was the monkey.
What was the Chinese New Year animal in 1954?
The animal that represented the Chinese New Year in 1954 was the horse.
