Year of the Snake: Unveiling the Chinese Zodiac’s Origins
Spending Spring Festival in Beijing will allow you to witness many changes in the people, the environment and the overall attitude of the city. There is this tension and buzz of anxiety over preparations being made, but this anxiety really stems from excitement — the chance to see loved ones and have a much-needed break. Lanterns and lights fill the city, and many of us start to notice a familiar animal rearing its head. The Chinese zodiac is an enticing part of the culture during Spring Festival, so let's dive deeper into its origins and learn more about its deep history! In ancient China, people used the Earthly Branches (地支 dìzhī) as a way to divide the 24 hours of each day. The time was divided into 12 two-hour periods, and an animal signified each time period. A specific animal also signifies each month, and, you guessed it, those animals are the same ones used in the Chinese zodiac to signify each year. The Great Race The Great Race is a Chinese folk tale passed down since ancient times, possibly as a way to describe the Earthly Branches to children. There are many different versions of this story, but basically it's the tale of when the Jade Emperor invited all of the animals to partake in a race across the river to his palace. The first 12 animals to make it across would be placed in the zodiac. As the story goes, the rat got first place because it asked the ox to carry it over the river along with the cat. However, the cat fell off and drowned in the river. Many Chinese people say that this is why cats hate rats. The ox came in a close second place as its strength propelled it across the river. The tiger swam quickly, making it to third place. The rabbit jumped over rocks and came in fourth, and the dragon flew across the river and made it to fifth place. If you're wondering why the dragon didn't come first since it can fly, apparently it stopped to take care of some people and animals on the way. Meanwhile, the snake hitched a ride on the leg of the horse, startling it just enough for the snake to come in sixth place ahead of the horse, which came in seventh. The goat, monkey and rooster worked as a team and make a raft to go across the river, putting them in eighth, ninth and tenth places, respectively. The dog was eleventh because it got distracted and played in the river, and finally the pig came in last because it took a nap after eating. This fun tale is one that can be heard every year during Spring Festival, especially in schools, Though it is a fun and entertaining story seemingly created for the ears of children, there are many instances of philosophy and symbolism that play into this story. The way each animal gets to the emperor’s palace describes its character, and people born in each year are said to possess the same qualities as their respective zodiac animal. Themes like teamwork, adaptability, and resourcefulness also come up in this story. Though each animal was different, they all won the prize of making it to the Jade Emperor’s palace. Zodiac Polarity and Elements This year is the Year of the Snake. The snake is known to be stealthy, wise, resourceful, mysterious and intuitive. In the Chinese zodiac, animals also have added characteristics based on their polarity (yin/yang), which alternate each year, and their element. Yang polarity is an active energy, while yin is a more passive energy. The snake’s primary polarity is yin, meaning it has a more subtle, introverted and calm energy. The elements also play a part in the characteristics of each animal. Earth is seen as the most stable and grounding element, while water is seen to have flexibility and intuition. Metal is seen as strength and resilience, while fire is seen as passion and liveliness. Lastly, wood is seen to have gentle and cooperative qualities. However, depending upon which year it is, the snake has an added element to it. The snake’s primary element is fire, making it ambitious and determined, however for 2025, we have a wood snake even though its primary element is fire, and here's why. All years are assigned one of the five elements, and this changes every two years. For example, 2024 and 2025 are wood years, but 2023 and 2022 were water years. 2026 and 2027 will be fire years, and so on. There is a 6-year cycle that combines the elements, along with yin and yang, the ten heavenly stems and the zodiac animals, so this year we have a wood snake. This cycle has massive significance in Chinese culture, and turning 60 years old is a huge deal and warrants a big party. The Significance of the Chinese Zodiac So, what exactly do people do with all of this information? Well, the Chinese zodiac is not just a fun way to enter the New Year. Some people use the zodiac for match making, fortune telling, finding auspicious dates for events like business openings and weddings, and even for which year they want their child born in. The Year of the Dragon is considered very lucky and prestigious, and in the past dragon
Spending Spring Festival in Beijing will allow you to witness many changes in the people, the environment and the overall attitude of the city. There is this tension and buzz of anxiety over preparations being made, but this anxiety really stems from excitement — the chance to see loved ones and have a much-needed break. Lanterns and lights fill the city, and many of us start to notice a familiar animal rearing its head. The Chinese zodiac is an enticing part of the culture during Spring Festival, so let's dive deeper into its origins and learn more about its deep history!
In ancient China, people used the Earthly Branches (地支 dìzhī) as a way to divide the 24 hours of each day. The time was divided into 12 two-hour periods, and an animal signified each time period. A specific animal also signifies each month, and, you guessed it, those animals are the same ones used in the Chinese zodiac to signify each year.
The Great Race
The Great Race is a Chinese folk tale passed down since ancient times, possibly as a way to describe the Earthly Branches to children. There are many different versions of this story, but basically it's the tale of when the Jade Emperor invited all of the animals to partake in a race across the river to his palace. The first 12 animals to make it across would be placed in the zodiac. As the story goes, the rat got first place because it asked the ox to carry it over the river along with the cat. However, the cat fell off and drowned in the river. Many Chinese people say that this is why cats hate rats.
The ox came in a close second place as its strength propelled it across the river. The tiger swam quickly, making it to third place. The rabbit jumped over rocks and came in fourth, and the dragon flew across the river and made it to fifth place. If you're wondering why the dragon didn't come first since it can fly, apparently it stopped to take care of some people and animals on the way. Meanwhile, the snake hitched a ride on the leg of the horse, startling it just enough for the snake to come in sixth place ahead of the horse, which came in seventh. The goat, monkey and rooster worked as a team and make a raft to go across the river, putting them in eighth, ninth and tenth places, respectively. The dog was eleventh because it got distracted and played in the river, and finally the pig came in last because it took a nap after eating.
This fun tale is one that can be heard every year during Spring Festival, especially in schools, Though it is a fun and entertaining story seemingly created for the ears of children, there are many instances of philosophy and symbolism that play into this story. The way each animal gets to the emperor’s palace describes its character, and people born in each year are said to possess the same qualities as their respective zodiac animal. Themes like teamwork, adaptability, and resourcefulness also come up in this story. Though each animal was different, they all won the prize of making it to the Jade Emperor’s palace.
Zodiac Polarity and Elements
This year is the Year of the Snake. The snake is known to be stealthy, wise, resourceful, mysterious and intuitive. In the Chinese zodiac, animals also have added characteristics based on their polarity (yin/yang), which alternate each year, and their element. Yang polarity is an active energy, while yin is a more passive energy. The snake’s primary polarity is yin, meaning it has a more subtle, introverted and calm energy.
The elements also play a part in the characteristics of each animal. Earth is seen as the most stable and grounding element, while water is seen to have flexibility and intuition. Metal is seen as strength and resilience, while fire is seen as passion and liveliness. Lastly, wood is seen to have gentle and cooperative qualities. However, depending upon which year it is, the snake has an added element to it.
The snake’s primary element is fire, making it ambitious and determined, however for 2025, we have a wood snake even though its primary element is fire, and here's why. All years are assigned one of the five elements, and this changes every two years. For example, 2024 and 2025 are wood years, but 2023 and 2022 were water years. 2026 and 2027 will be fire years, and so on. There is a 6-year cycle that combines the elements, along with yin and yang, the ten heavenly stems and the zodiac animals, so this year we have a wood snake. This cycle has massive significance in Chinese culture, and turning 60 years old is a huge deal and warrants a big party.
The Significance of the Chinese Zodiac
So, what exactly do people do with all of this information? Well, the Chinese zodiac is not just a fun way to enter the New Year. Some people use the zodiac for match making, fortune telling, finding auspicious dates for events like business openings and weddings, and even for which year they want their child born in. The Year of the Dragon is considered very lucky and prestigious, and in the past dragon years have seen higher birth rates, although it's interesting to note that 2024 did not see this usual uptick.
Now, not every single Chinese person follows these traditional rules, but there are enough people following these rules to affect the population. I spoke to a few friends, coworkers and ayis to ask if they had planned their wedding date around the zodiac. Those of them who had lived in small towns or villages usually had done so, while people who had lived in Beijing their whole life took more of a Western approach. Finding out a wedding date using the zodiac is not an easy task, either! To find the date, your spouse's birthday, year, and hour must be known along with yours. Then you have to find a day and hour that is compatible with your zodiac and theirs. Perhaps this is why Chinese weddings are always at strange hours?
Whether you think the Western or Chinese zodiacs are true or not, the history is pretty compelling, and it's interesting to see these ancient teachings expressed in modern-day culture. If you want to find more specifics about your Chinese zodiac sign like your element, polarity and what 2025 has in store for your sign, you can check out this link.
What's your Chinese zodiac sign? Do you think it's accurate? Let us know in the comments!
READ: Dumplings: A Brief History Ahead of CNY
Images: Canva, the Beijingers
Resources
www.historicmysteries.com/myths-legends/chinese-zodiac/29205/
chinesenewyear.net/zodiac/
en.chinaculture.org/chineseway/2010-12/21/content_402062_6.htm
www.aljazeera.com/features/2024/2/8/auspicious-but-unlucky-the-perils-of-a-lunar-new-year-dragon-baby-boom
