Now! Especially commissioned for Tao of Meow! The opening sequence of the "Al Dente" Movement from Clyde's Harp Concerto arranged by Lady Gertrude Dainty Paws copyright©ClydeSight2.0! - 2001 Mew, Mew, Liddle Kitties (and Furriends). Many of you have visited the Chinese Horoscopes page and are puzzled by the choice of animals for the Chinese years. Why those particular animals? Why isn't there a cat? The best way to answer is to tell you the story of "How the animal years were selected." Once upon a time the Lord Buddha invited all the animals to visit him on New Years Day before he departed from Earth. Only twelve of the animals came to bid him farewell, so Buddha honored them each with a year. The order was taken from the sequence that they appeared to him; first the Rat, then the Ox, the Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. Another legend tells us that the Jade Emperor assigned the animals to the zodiac wheel. Since it involves us cats, I shall tell it in more detail. One day the Jade Emperor, ruler of the heavens, summoned his chief advisor and said, "I have ruled for many years and know all that the heavens contain, but I have never seen these strange animals. What are they like? How do they move? What sounds do they make? How intelligent are they? Bring me one of each so I can study them." "Oh, Great Emperor"’ replied the chief advisor, "there are so many animals that it would take many years to gather them all." "In that case," the Jade Emperor decided, "I cannot take time to inspect them all. Just bring the twelve most interesting ones to me." The chief advisor thought of the animals he knew. He sent an invitation to Rat and asked him to bring Cat along. When Cat heard about the invitation, he became furry excited. Since he wanted to be sure to meet the Jade Emperor, he got Rat to promise to come wake him up and they would go together. The chief advisor also sent invitations to Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Rooster, and the Dog. They were all to be present at six o’clock the next morning. During the night Rat began to think about how handsome and graceful Cat was and realized he would look furry ugly and awkward in comparison. He decided to let Cat oversleep the following morning so that he wouldn’t get all the praise. So, at six o’clock the following morning, only eleven animals were present! The chief advisor sent a servant to earth to get another animal. He found a pig that was being taken to market by a farmer. "Give me that pig," requested the servant, "so that I can show it to the Jade Emperor." The farmer gave Pig to him. Now there were twelve animals. Rat had been busy thinking how he could make the best impression so he jumped up on Ox’s back and began playing a flute. Jade Emperor was so pleased by this that he gave Rat first place in the Chinese zodiac. He gave Ox second place because he had been kind enough to let Rat ride on his back. Courageous looking Tiger was given third place, and handsome, white-furred Rabbit was given fourth place. The Emperor thought Dragon looked like a powerful snake with legs; he was given fifth place. Sleek, sinuous Snake was given sixth place. Elegant Horse, the seventh, and Ram was given eighth place because of his impressive horns. Monkey impressed the Emperor by being so active and alert, so he was given ninth place. Rooster, with his gorgeous feathers, was given tenth place. Dog, loyal and protective, was given eleventh place. Pig, although invited at the last moment, was included in the final place. Just as the ceremony ended, Cat arrived and begged to be included, but it was too late because all the animals had been chosen. When Cat saw Rat and realized the trick Rat had played, Cat chased him with an intent to kill. And that’s why, even today, a cat and a rat cannot be friends. More legends and customs Dragons and Monsters: |Dragon Toes| |Nian| Chinese Festivals: |Spring Festival (New Year)| |Lantern Festival| |Moon Festival| Options: |Tao of Meow Main Page| |Chinese Horoscopes| |Basic Feline Ninja| |Advanced Feline Ninja| |Teachings of Lao Tzu| |Teachings of Confucius| |Folklore and Legends| |Meditation for Humans| Meet the Ashram Staff Mitzi made the background, buttons,and bars. Visit Mitzi's page. Tommye's robe is courtesy of the Royal Artist at dorissimo's domain. Please report broken links or send comments to: The Wicked Twins (wickedtwins@hotmail.com) Copyright © 2000-2001 by Tao of Meow. All rights reserved.
Once upon a time the Lord Buddha invited all the animals to visit him on New Years Day before he departed from Earth. Only twelve of the animals came to bid him farewell, so Buddha honored them each with a year. The order was taken from the sequence that they appeared to him; first the Rat, then the Ox, the Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.
Another legend tells us that the Jade Emperor assigned the animals to the zodiac wheel. Since it involves us cats, I shall tell it in more detail.
One day the Jade Emperor, ruler of the heavens, summoned his chief advisor and said, "I have ruled for many years and know all that the heavens contain, but I have never seen these strange animals. What are they like? How do they move? What sounds do they make? How intelligent are they? Bring me one of each so I can study them."
"Oh, Great Emperor"’ replied the chief advisor, "there are so many animals that it would take many years to gather them all."
"In that case," the Jade Emperor decided, "I cannot take time to inspect them all. Just bring the twelve most interesting ones to me."
The chief advisor thought of the animals he knew. He sent an invitation to Rat and asked him to bring Cat along.
When Cat heard about the invitation, he became furry excited. Since he wanted to be sure to meet the Jade Emperor, he got Rat to promise to come wake him up and they would go together.
The chief advisor also sent invitations to Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Rooster, and the Dog. They were all to be present at six o’clock the next morning.
During the night Rat began to think about how handsome and graceful Cat was and realized he would look furry ugly and awkward in comparison. He decided to let Cat oversleep the following morning so that he wouldn’t get all the praise.
So, at six o’clock the following morning, only eleven animals were present! The chief advisor sent a servant to earth to get another animal. He found a pig that was being taken to market by a farmer. "Give me that pig," requested the servant, "so that I can show it to the Jade Emperor." The farmer gave Pig to him.
Now there were twelve animals. Rat had been busy thinking how he could make the best impression so he jumped up on Ox’s back and began playing a flute. Jade Emperor was so pleased by this that he gave Rat first place in the Chinese zodiac. He gave Ox second place because he had been kind enough to let Rat ride on his back. Courageous looking Tiger was given third place, and handsome, white-furred Rabbit was given fourth place. The Emperor thought Dragon looked like a powerful snake with legs; he was given fifth place. Sleek, sinuous Snake was given sixth place. Elegant Horse, the seventh, and Ram was given eighth place because of his impressive horns.
Monkey impressed the Emperor by being so active and alert, so he was given ninth place. Rooster, with his gorgeous feathers, was given tenth place. Dog, loyal and protective, was given eleventh place. Pig, although invited at the last moment, was included in the final place.
Just as the ceremony ended, Cat arrived and begged to be included, but it was too late because all the animals had been chosen. When Cat saw Rat and realized the trick Rat had played, Cat chased him with an intent to kill. And that’s why, even today, a cat and a rat cannot be friends.
Chinese Festivals: |Spring Festival (New Year)| |Lantern Festival| |Moon Festival|
Copyright © 2000-2001 by Tao of Meow. All rights reserved.