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Unit 7  Chinese Zodiac Culture Tasks today The origin of Chinese Zodiac 12 Chinese Zodiac animals Character of Persons under the Rat Sign Character of Persons under the Dragon Sign The Use of Zodiac Animal Signs Chinas Horse Culture Key sentences Chinese Zodiac animals and idioms Do you know the12 zodiac animals The origin of Chinese Zodiac In ancient times, our ancestors counted the years with 10 celestial (天上的）stems and 12 terrestrial branches[天干地枝]. Although this was scientific, most people were illiterate and could not memorize or calculate easily. Thus the animals that influenced peoples lives were chosen to symbolize the terrestrial branches: the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey , rooster, dog and pig. For a long time there has been a special relationship between humans and the 12 zodiacal animals. Humans admired them, took them as totems, and in the artistic field, those animal signs were among the features of those themes. This can be reflected in artisans paper-cut works, New Year pictures, pottery and bronze wares, especially on the bronze mirrors before the appearance of glass ones, on which elaborate forms showed creativity and passion as well as wishes for a good life. 12 Chinese Zodiac animals The 12 Zodiac Animals There are many folk tales and popular legends behind the 12 Zodiac Animals. One of them says that Xuanyuan Emperor wanted to chose 12 animals to work as his imperial guards. The cat asked the rat to enter for him somehow he couldnt come in person. But the rat forgot it. As a result, there was no cat in the 12 Zodiac Animals. Thenceforth a cat became a natural enemy of a rat. The 12 Zodiac Animals, likewise called 12 Shuxiang, is a popular way of counting one’s age. The ancient people matched the 12 Earthly Branches with the 12 Zodiac Animals Zi (Earthly Branch 1)---rat Chou (Earthly Branch 2)---ox Yin (Earthly Branch 3)---tiger Mao (Earthly Branch 4)---hare Chen (Earthly Branch 5)