If you browse J-List’s Home & Traditional page, where we stock fun and interesting things for your home along with traditional products from Japan, you’re likely to notice a lot of snake-related products right now. This is because 2013 is the Year of the Snake according to the Chinese zodiac. The animal for the year a person was born in can be quite important in Japan, and there’s a body of beliefs based on the system, for example people born in a Snake Year are thought to be compatible with Roosters and Oxes but not Monkeys or Boars, and so on. Just as you can look up your horoscope using traditional Western astrology, a lot of websites are happy to give you advice based on what your Chinese zodiac animal happens to be.
The story of how Chinese Zodiac came to be is extremely famous, as well-known throughout Asia as Noah’s Ark is in the West. Here’s the story, in case you don’t know it. On the day of the New Year the Gods (or Buddha, depending on which version you read) declared a race among thirteen animals to come and offer New Year’s Greetings. The Ox knew he was the slowest animal, so he started out before the others. The Rat noticed this and hopped on his back, jumping off at the last minute to claim first place. The Ox came in second, followed by the fleet Tiger. The Rabbit was next, with the kind-hearted Dragon behind, who was delayed helping the Rabbit across the river. The Horse ran along then, but the Snake slithered between his legs and startled him, beating him to the finish line. The Sheep, Monkey and Rooster were working as a team to get across the river, and arrived next. Then came the Dog, delayed because he stopped to take a bath along the way, with the Boar coming in last — he’d gotten confused and climbed the wrong mountain, forcing him to backtrack. The thirteenth animal was the Cat, who had forgotten what day the race was held and asked his friend the cunning Rat, who told him the wrong date. This is why there’s no Year of the Cat, and why cats hate rats and mice today.
The Chinese Zodiac is quite important to Japanese people.
