In the primordial days of the world, when the boundaries between the heavens and the earth were still thin, the Jade Emperor, Yu Huang, sat upon his throne in the Celestial Palace. He looked down upon the mortal realm and noticed a profound confusion among the people. They had no way to track the passage of years, no method to honor the seasons, and no system to mark the stages of their lives. Seeing this chaos, the Jade Emperor decided to create a calendar, but he wished for it to be more than just numbers and stars; he wanted it to be populated by the living creatures of the earth, so that every person might share an affinity with the natural world.
The Jade Emperor issued a divine decree, sent forth by his swiftest messengers to every corner of the woods, mountains, and plains. The proclamation stated that a Great Race would be held on his birthday. The first twelve animals to cross the treacherous currents of the Yellow River and arrive at the finish line—the Heavenly Gate—would be honored with a place in the Chinese Zodiac. Their names would be immortalized, and each would rule over one year in a twelve-year cycle.
At this time, the Cat and the Rat were the best of friends. They shared their food, slept in the same warm spots, and promised to help each other win the race. However, neither was a strong swimmer. Knowing that the crossing of the Yellow River would be the most difficult part of the journey, they approached the Ox, the most diligent and kind-hearted of all animals. They asked if they could ride upon his broad back while he swam. The Ox, being humble and patient, agreed to carry both small creatures across the water.
As the dawn of the race broke, the riverbank was crowded with animals of every shape and size. The Tiger roared with confidence, the Dragon descended from the clouds, and the Rabbit twitched its nose in anticipation. When the signal was given, a mass of fur and scales plunged into the churning waters. The Ox waded into the current with the Cat and the Rat perched securely on his head. He swam with a steady, rhythmic stroke, ignoring the splashes of the swifter but less enduring predators. As they neared the opposite shore, the Rat, consumed by a sudden surge of ambition and fear that there might only be room for one at the very top, pushed the Cat into the deep water. Before the Ox could react or even realize what had happened, the Rat leaped from the Ox's head onto the bank and scurried across the finish line first. The Jade Emperor smiled and declared the Rat the winner of the first year. The Ox, arriving a moment later, was given the second year.
Following them was the Tiger. Though the current was fierce and several times threatened to sweep him downstream, the Tiger’s sheer strength and will allowed him to climb the muddy bank to claim the third year. Then came the Rabbit. The Rabbit had not swum at all; instead, he had jumped from one stone to another, moving with a grace that masked his desperation. When he reached the middle of the river, he slipped, but luckily, he caught hold of a floating log that drifted toward the shore. With a final, exhausted hop, the Rabbit took the fourth position.
Suddenly, the sky darkened, and a shadow fell over the Heavenly Gate. The Dragon descended through the mist. The Jade Emperor was surprised that such a powerful, flying creature had not come in first. When asked, the Dragon explained that on his way, he saw a village suffering from a terrible drought. He had stopped to make rain for the people and then encountered a rabbit clinging to a log, whom he gave a gentle puff of breath to push safely to the shore. Impressed by the Dragon's benevolence, the Jade Emperor granted him the fifth year.
Next, the sound of rhythmic hooves echoed near the gate. The Horse was galloping toward the finish, certain of the sixth spot. However, the Snake had secretly coiled itself around the Horse's front leg. Just as the Horse was about to cross, the Snake uncoiled and lunged forward, startling the Horse and causing him to stumble back. The Snake took the sixth year, and the Horse was relegated to the seventh.