Chinese Zodiac Coins and The Stories/legend of the origins of the Twelve Chinese Zodiac Animals
Posted by slang on June 2, 2010
BELOW ARTICLE IS PERTAINING TO THE CHINESE ZODIAC SIGNS, EACH ZODIAC IS DEPICTED BY A COIN. NOTE THAT THIS COIN IS NOT A SILVER COIN BUT A MIXTURE OF METAL COMPOSITION. THESE COINS IF EXPOSED TOO LONG IN THE AIR OR ALBUM CAN RUST! [ bought from a street vendor, I like it so much because of the design/legend on the coins- anyway they are very cheap coins]
For those who are not familiar with the Chinese Zodiac or Horoscope, you might not know:
- How many animals are there in the Chinese zodiac?
- What are these animals?
- What is the myth/story/ legend behind these Chinese zodiac
Firstly, we have 12 animals that appear on the Chinese Zodiac calendar.
The animals are rat(1), buffalo (ox)(2), tiger(3),rabbit(4), dragon(5), snake(6), horse(7), goat(8), monkey(9), rooster(10), dog(11) and pig(12).
There are a few stories about the origin of these twelve Chinese Zodiac:
The most popular story/myth/legend is about:
The Buddha invited the animals to participate in a race. The prize was a coveted position on the Chinese Zodiac calendar. The first 12 animals to cross the river would appear on the Chinese Zodiac calendar in the order in which they completed the race.
The Rat as No 1 in the Chinese Zodiac /horoscope
The first animal to make it across the finish line according to Chinese Zodiac legends and mythology was the rat. It seems unlikely that such a small animal could win such a strenuous race, especially when one considers all the contenders.Chinese Zodiac legends and mythology explains that the rat used his brain rather than his brawn. The hitched a ride on what it perceived was the strongest swimmer.
The Buffalo or Ox As No 2 In Chinese Zodiac Horoscope
Just before the buffalo reached the shore, the rat jumped off the buffalo’s back and crossed the finish line before the buffalo, putting the rat in first place.The buffalo came in second and as promised in the legends and mythology, was the second animal listed on the Chinese Zodiac.
The Tiger as No 3 in Chinese Zodiac Horoscope
The tiger, also being strong, came in third,
The Rabbit as No. 4 in Chinese Zodiac /Horoscope
followed by the rabbit that jumped his way across and
The Dragon as No. 5 in the Chinese Zodiac / Horoscope
was helped during the last stretch by the dragon.
The Snake as No.6 in the Chinese Zodiac or Horoscope
A snake hid in the hoof of the horse which is how it managed to make it across the river. At the last minute the snake jumped out and scared the horse into seventh place.
The Horse as No.7 in Chinese Zodiac or Horoscope
The sheep, monkey and rooster helped one another across and earned their spots on the calendar as well.
The Sheep or Goat as No.8 in Chinese Zodiac
The Monkey as No.9 in the Chinese Zodiac
The Rooster as No.10 in Chinese Zodiac
The dog made it too, but decided a bath was more important than the position which is why it came in eleventh.
The Dog as No.11 in the Chinese Zodiac or Horoscope
Finally, the pig appeared and is listed last. According to Chinese Zodiac legends and mythology, the pig feasted and rested half-way through the race, but made it across guaranteeing its position.
Another story about the origin of these twelve Chinese Zodiac is as follows:
The Pig As No.12 in the Chinese Zodiac or Horoscope
Twelve Chinese Zodiac or Horoscope Animals
This one tells of an invitation to a grand feast. All the animals were invited to join Buddha at either a birthday celebration, a New Year celebration, or a celebration for his departure from this world. Only 12 animals showed up at the festivities and that’s how they ended up being featured on the Chinese Zodiac calendar. Another of the legends of the Chinese Zodiac states that instead of Buddha, it was the Jade Emperor who invited the animals.
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