how did the 12animals become symbolic in chinese zodiac?

Answer 1

The Chinese people place a great deal of faith in the Yinyang principle. This is especially noticeable during the Chinese New Year. According to reliable legend, a mythical monarch named Yao was patron to two perceptive astronomers. These gentlemen constructed a fantastic system of 10 heavenly stems and 12 mundane branches. The latter correspond to 12 animals with two symbolic functions. Each animal is mystically related to one year in a 12-year cycle. Each animal also represents two hours or one-twelfth of every day. A person's future is defermined by this intriguing system.
The animal astrological chart must be understood against the background of the Chinese Yinyang principle. It is a concept of symbotic dualism. Everything, physical and spiritual, has an opposite and corresponding condition. In other words, every Yin has its Yang, and every Yang has its Yin. Yang is the positive principle: male , light, heaven and sun. Yin is the negative counterpart: female, shade, earth and moon. Yin and Yang have their designated hours of the day, an important factor in Chinese astrology.

Answer 2

Each individual personality is associated with an animal which represents it. This is where many Chinese Astrology descriptions in western society draw solely from. Each year in the 60 year cycle contains twelve animals, each with five possible elements, which distinctively vary the base animal's personality which equals to 60 possible combinations.

It is a common misconception that there are only the singular animals assigned by year. These yearly cycles represent what others perceive you as being: while a person might appear to be a Dragon they might actually be a Snake internally and an Ox secretively. Combined with 5 elements, this makes for 8640 combinations (5 elements, 12 animals, 12 months, 12 times of day). The inner animal is assigned by the month of birth. This dictates your love life and inner persona and is critical to a proper understanding of your compatibility with other signs. It may be considered what the individual wishes to become, or believes to be their true self. The secret animal is determined by exact time of birth and is your own true sign which your personality is based on. It is important to compensate for daylight savings or any clock adjustment performed by your country, as it is mapped according to the sun's location and not the local time.

These are said to be critical for the proper use of Chinese astrology. Many Western displays of the Chinese zodiac omit these, as well as the elements, for easier consumption and understanding.

Answer 3

The Rat made it to the top of the zodiac chart. To convince their piers why they deserved to be at the top of the zodiac chart, each animal gave an account of its merit.

The Bull said it helped the farmer to plow the fields.
The Tiger said it was strong and powerful.
The Rabbit said it was the famous Jade Rabbit of Chang Er.
The Dragon said it symbolized Kingship and Royal Descendant.
The Snake said it was smart.
The Horse said it could travel thousands of miles.
The Lamb said it provided wool for clothing.
The Monkey said monkey-see-monkey-do, and it could do whatever human could.
The Rooster said its calling woke up the farmer in the morning.
The Dog said it was the best friend of human and it protected them.
The Pig said its meat tasted good.


When it came to the Rat, it simply said, 'I am the king of the jungle!' Everyone laughed but the Rat continued, 'Who do you think was the king of the jungle?' When all the animals agreed that the Elephant was, the Rat swiftly ran into the ear canal of the Elephant and brought it to its knees. After this, all animals agreed that the Rat should make it at the top of the list. Rats!

Answer 4

Dragon People born in the Year of the Dragon are healthy, energetic, excitable, short-tempered, and stubborn. They are also honest, sensitive, brave, and they inspire confidence and trust. Dragon people are the most eccentric of any in the eastern zodiac. They neither borrow money nor make flowery speeches, but they tend to be soft-hearted which sometimes gives others an advantage over them. They are compatible with Rats, Snakes, Monkeys, and Roosters.

Answer 5

if i have some faint remebrance of wot i read long ago its like this....once Buddha wanted to have a conference/ meeting with all the animals in a forest to which 1 animal of the twelve species namely ox,rat,dragon,snake,horse,rabbit,pig,dog,rooster,monkey,tiger,goat responded......so the chinese had these animal representatives,

Answer 6

its a culture, believe,art and tradition of Chinese.

Answer 7

chinese LOVE ANIMALS!!!

They love them so much that not only do they worhip all animals (and turn them into zodiac signs) but they also EAT any animals!!

Dogs,cats,horses,rats...u name it, they will eat it!!