Who was the official person to certify the Chinese New Years Emblems?

Question

Who was the guy to certify all the Chinese Emblems? You know, the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Boar, Dragon, Dog, Snake, Rooster, Monkey, Sheep, and Horse.

Answer 1

No one can say exactly who was the guy or gal to first give animal concepts to the terrestial cycle. Archaeological evidence confirms that pottery showed the 12 animal pictures about 2,500 years ago and it became identified with the 12 year terrestial cycle around 2,000 years ago during the Xi Han dynasty. If you ask a Chinese on the streets, they may say 5,000 years ago because their teachers have drilled into them that their country is that old so it has become the answer for anything ancient.

By the way, did you know that sometimes the year-only chart is not correct for identifying your sign? Chinese years begin the morning after a new moon evening that could occur between January 15 and February 18. So if your birthday were any day from January 1 to February 17, 1977, that disposable placemat in a Chinese restaurant will say your sign is snake for 1977. In fact, your sign would still be in the "1976" period of the dragon.