Traditions

The Selection & Arrangement of the 12 Zodiac Animals

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The selection and arrangement of the 12 zodiac animals are said to be based on the active time of each animal during a day. The period from11:00 pm to 01:00am is the Chinese hour of Zi, during which the mouse gets most active. During the Chinese hour of Chou, i.e. the period of 01:00am and 03:00am, the ox is chewing the cud. In the Yin hour, which is from 03:00am to 05:00am, the tiger is loitering and seeking food. This is the time of day the tiger becomes most ferocious. The time period between 05:00am and 07:00am is called the hour of Fan. During this time, the sun is not out yet and the moon is in the sky. The Jade Rabbit in the moon is said to be busy pounding medicine in a mortar.
When the hour of Chen, 7:00am to 9:00am, arrives, it's time for the divine dragon to control the rain. The period between 9:00am and 11:00am is called the Si hour, during which the snake becomes active. The Wu hour, which is between 11:00am and 01:00pm, the world abounds in the energy of yang. It's time for the heavenly horse to soar across the sky. The period from 01:00pm to 03:00pm is the Wei hour, during which the sheep is eating grass and it'll grow stronger. The Shen hour is from 03:00pm to 05:00pm. The monkey gets active during this period. When the You hour, i.e. 05:00pm to 07:00pm, comes, the rooster begins to return to its cage. The period from 07:00pm to 09:00pm is the Xu hour, during which the dog keeps watch. And the period between 9:00pm and 11:00pm is the Hai hour. During this period, everything is quiet and the pig is fast asleep.

Twelve Chinese Zodiac Signs

The twelve Chinese zodiac signs are the twelve animals Chinese people customarily use to mark the year in which a person was born. The twelve animals are rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.

Details

Benming Year

Benming Year

One of the most important parts of the Chinese belief of the 12 zodiac animals is the concept of "benming year"...
The Chinese Time-Reckoning System by the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches

The Chinese Time-Reckoning System by the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches

The Chinese time-reckoning system by the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches is a way of countering the years in ancient China...
The Mouse Marrying Off His Daughter

The Mouse Marrying Off His Daughter

In ancient China, there was a custom to celebrate the day of the mouse marrying off his daughter...
Ox-Bonded Relatives

Ox-Bonded Relatives

In the social customs of the Han people, there is a custom of "making ox-bonded relatives" popular ...
Hanging up Tiger Buns

Hanging up Tiger Buns

In China's Shaanxi area, there's a popular marriage custom called "hanging up tiger buns"...
The Jade Rabbit Pounding Medicine in a Mortar

The Jade Rabbit Pounding Medicine in a Mortar

Legend has it that there were three immortals that turned themselves into three poor old men asking a fox, monkey and rabbit for food...
The Festival of Dragon Raising Its Head

The Festival of Dragon Raising Its Head

The second day of the second lunar month is the Festival of Dragon Raising Its Head...
The Snake-Related Taboos

The Snake-Related Taboos

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The Mongolian Horse Festival

The Mongolian Horse Festival

In Inner Mongolia of China, there's a traditional festival that features mare's milk and horseracing...
The Sheep-Presenting Custom

The Sheep-Presenting Custom

In former times, there was an annual folk custom of sheep presenting among the Han people, popular in southern Hebei...
Monkeys Getting the Moon

Monkeys Getting the Moon

One night, a group of monkeys are gamboling beside a well.One of them sees the swaying shadow of the moon in the well and...
Letters with Chicken Feathers

Letters with Chicken Feathers

In the past, if a letter needed to be delivered immediately, people would attach a chicken feather to it as a sign of urgency...
The Divine Dog Eating the Moon

The Divine Dog Eating the Moon

In ancient times, when a lunar eclipse occurred, people thought it was caused by the evil god on the moon-the divine dog...
The Fat Pig Pushing the Door Open

The Fat Pig Pushing the Door Open

Of the twelve zodiac animals, the pig comes last, but it is a symbol of good fortune...