There are many theories about the historical origins of the twelve zodiac animals.
The most common one is derived from ancient Chinese mythology. It is said that the immortals once summoned twelve animals to participate in the Immortal Assembly, but they ran too fast. Only the twelve animals, including the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, ox, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig, could arrive in time. Therefore, they are regarded as symbols of the Chinese zodiac.
Another theory suggests that ancient Chinese agricultural activities were also related to the twelve zodiac signs, which can represent the time of twelve months or the agricultural activities of each month.
The twelve zodiac animals had a sacred significance in ancient China. They were endowed with the power to symbolize people's ideals and hopes, and were also a way of communication between people. They are not only used in traditional Chinese New Year greetings, weddings, festival celebrations, etc., but also in traditional Chinese calligraphy and painting art, and even in traditional Chinese sports activities such as horse racing.
In short, the twelve zodiac animals have sacred calendar significance in ancient China and are extremely common in modern Chinese culture. They have been endowed with profound cultural connotations and are an important component of Chinese culture.
