Chinese Astrological Signs

Once upon a time the Emperor in Heaven called for a race amongst all the animals in creation. The rules were that on a particular day all the animals had to run a particular course and the winners of the race - the 12 fastest animals - would be immortalized as constellations in the skies and in the 12-year astrological cycle.

The faster animals like the dragon thought they had it in the bag. On the other hand, some animals are not so fast but very clever. And some animals are not so fast and not so clever but diligent and hard working.

The Rat and the Cat went to the Ox with a plan. They knew that the faster animals would likely be over-confident and lazy and sleep in, so they proposed that the three of them start out on the race course at the break of dawn. The Ox agreed. He carried the Rat and the Cat on his back, methodically plodding along the course. By the time the other animals were starting to wake up, he was already mostly done with the course. There only remained a river to cross.

Just as the Ox was in the deepest part of the river - smack dab in the middle - the Rat pushed the Cat off the Ox's back. The Ox continued on, not even noticing while the Cat struggled in the water.

By that time the other animals had started the race and the faster ones were zipping along. But it was too late; the Ox had too great a lead. He headed towards the finish line and just as he was about to cross it and would have been the first animal, the Rat leaped off the Ox's nose, making him the winner. The Ox came in second.

The cat struggled in the water. The Dragon got distracted by the sun and went to chase it. The Tiger zoomed past the struggling Cat, across the river and through the finish line. Tiger was third. Rabbit was fourth.

The Cat continued to struggle in the water (they are not the best swimmers, after all). The Dragon suddenly remembered he was in a race and zipped past the finish line. Dragon was fifth, followed by what Chinese call the "Little Dragon," Snake. Snake was sixth.

After that, Horse and Sheep swam past the half-drowned Cat and came in seventh and eighth. The poor Cat wailed in despair as she clawed at the water, making very slow headway towards the shore. All the while, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig swam passed her. They were ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth.

Finally, Cat made it to dry land and ran as fast as she could across the finish line. But it was too late. The twelve animals had already been decided.

And that is why, there is no Cat in the Chinese constellations.

And that is also why, Cats chase Rats whenever they see them up to this day.

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