Long ago, in a time when the world was young and the boundaries between the celestial and earthly realms were as thin as a silk veil, the Jade Emperor looked down upon the world and saw a chaotic mess of time. Humans had no way to track the passing of seasons or the turning of years, leading to confusion in their harvests and rituals. To remedy this, the Emperor decided to create a calendar composed of twelve animals, each representing a year in a recurring cycle.
However, he did not simply choose the animals himself; he declared that a Great Race would take place. The first twelve animals to cross the mighty Yellow River and reach the Heavenly Gate on the opposite bank would be granted a place of honor in the Chinese Zodiac for all eternity.\n\nIn those days, the cat and the rat were not the bitter enemies we know today. In fact, they were the best of friends, sharing their meals and warm sleeping spots in the village granaries.
The cat was sleek and agile but notoriously fond of sleeping late, while the rat was small, clever, and possessed an insatiable drive for status. When the news of the Jade Emperor's race reached them, they immediately agreed to help one another. They knew that as small creatures, crossing the turbulent, silt-laden waters of the Huáng Hé would be a monumental task.
The Yellow River was a formidable opponent, its waters thick with golden earth from the Loess Plateau, making it heavy and difficult to swim through. It was often called 'China's Sorrow' for its tendency to flood, and its currents were unpredictable and strong.\n\nThe night before the race, the cat and the rat made a pact. Since the cat was a heavy sleeper, the rat promised to wake him at dawn so they could start their journey together.
However, as the first light of the sun began to touch the peaks of the Henan mountains, the rat’s ambition began to gnaw at his heart. He looked at his sleeping friend and realized that if they traveled together, the cat’s superior speed on land might allow him to finish ahead of the rat. Driven by a sudden, cold desire to be the very first animal in the zodiac, the rat crept away silently, leaving the cat to slumber in the hay.\n\nBy the time the rat reached the banks of the Yellow River, the race was already in full swing.
The mighty Tiger was battling the currents with raw strength, and the Dragon was descending from the clouds. The rat looked at the churning, golden water and knew he could not swim across on his own. He waited and watched until he saw the Ox, a kind and hardworking creature, approaching the water's edge.
The rat, using his most persuasive voice, asked the Ox for a ride. The Ox, being of a generous nature, agreed to let the rat sit upon his broad head. Just as they were about to set off, the cat, who had finally woken up and sprinted to the river in a panic, arrived at the shore.
Gasping for breath, the cat begged to join them. The Ox, always patient, allowed the cat to jump onto his back as well.\n\nAs they moved into the center of the Yellow River, the water became deeper and more treacherous. The silt made the water dense, and the Ox had to exert all his strength to stay afloat.
The cat, terrified of the water, clung tightly to the Ox's fur, his eyes closed. The rat, however, remained perched on the Ox's head, his eyes fixed on the distant shore. He could see the Jade Emperor waiting at the finish line, and he could see other animals gaining ground.
The thought of sharing his victory with the cat—or worse, the cat jumping ahead at the last moment—filled him with a ruthless resolve. As they approached the steepest part of the current, where the waves were most chaotic, the rat crept back and, with a sudden and forceful shove, pushed the cat into the freezing, muddy water.\n\nThe cat’s cry was drowned out by the roar of the river. He struggled desperately, his paws thrashing against the thick silt, but he was not a strong swimmer.
The golden mud of the Yellow River filled his fur, weighing him down. Meanwhile, the Ox, unaware of the rat’s treachery, continued to plod toward the bank. Just as the Ox reached the shore and was about to step onto the grass, the rat leaped from his head and scurried across the finish line, claiming the first spot in the zodiac.