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The Twelve
Animals of the Years
The Chinese name the years with twelve animals. Do you know why these animals
were chosen? The story goes like this................
Once upon a time, Buddha told all the animals to run in a
race.
The race would be in the field and the animals had to cross a small river too.
Buddha wanted to choose twelve winners. Each winner would be the name of the year.
Twelve years would make one cycle. The first animal to win would start the cycle.
Thirteen animals wanted to run in the race. They were: Rabbit, Rooster,
Tiger, Snake, Horse, Monkey, Dog, Pig, Ox, Ram,
Rat, Cat and Dragon.
Dragon was strong and could run fast. Buddha thought that dragon would be the first win.
Who do you think would be the winner?
Cat and Rat were good friends. The evening before the race, Cat told Rat to go to
bed early. '' We must rest well so that we can run fast. Please wake me up at six
o''clock tomorrow morning,'' said Cat. '' Don''t worry, I will,'' promised Rat.
The next morning, Rat woke up early but he did not wake Cat up.
He wanted to go to the race alone.
Buddha told the animals to stand behind a line. The race started. Rat jumped and
sat on Ox''s head. Ox did not know it because Rat was small and light. Ox was
strong and he ran fast. Rat won the race. Ox was second. He was very angry.
The other animals ran across the finishing line one after another. Tiger came third.
Rabbit was fourth. Dragon was ill and could not run fast. He came fifth.
Snake finished sixth. Horse came seventh and ram came eighth. Monkey came
ninth and Rooster came tenth. Dog was the second last. He came eleventh.
Pig came last because he was too fat.
When cat woke up, it was too late to run in the race. He had no chance to be
the animal of any year. Cat was very angry and chased Rat.
Even today, cats always chase rats and want to catch them.
A myth is a story that explains what many people beleive.
Animals or things in a myth often act like people.
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