新年快乐 ！HAPPY YEAR OF THE RAT!
We are happy to resume posting on our blog after a break due to technical updates and changes in our administration. Our Hong Kong-based office also moved. All were good news as we secured long-expected official approvals to develop further our activities. So…
Happy New Year of the Rat!
We wish you and your loved ones, health, and prosperity!
This Year of the Rat starts, for China and the world, by a first challenge: the nCoV. The spreading of the virus is still at an early stage, but thanks to responsible citizen behavior and shared efforts, we will prevail eventually!
A little more…
For our friends not totally aware of the Chinese Culture - but who could be? it is so rich! - we are happy to remind them that there are 12 animals, used in succession, to qualify the cycle of 12 years that is the basis of the Chinese Traditional Calendar. These animals are:
Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.
This year 2020 (formally from 25 Jan 2020 to 11 Feb 2021) is, therefore, the beginning of a new cycle, starting with the Rat (you may choose to say « Mouse» favored in the Western world, rather than « Rat» as the Chinese Zodiac does not distinguish between these two).
Of course, the full Chinese Zodiac system is much more complicated. For example, each animal is also given an attribute, among Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, and Metal. This year is METAL RAT, after last year's EARTH PIG and next METAL OX.
'… and why no Year of the Cat?
This is the recurring question…
Here is the story:
When Buddha (or the Jade Emperor, depending on versions) decided to organize the cycle of the years, he invited all animals to join him so he may dedicate one year to each of them. Thirteen animals answered Buddha’s call, including the cat.
To determine the order of the years, Buddha announced that a race would be organized, the challenge to cross a river. The order of arrival on the opposite bank would decide the final zodiac’s order.
At that time, the cat and the mouse were very good friends. So, as there was still time before the race, the cat decided to take a nap and asked his friend, the mouse, to wake him up on time before the start of the competition.
The mouse decided to reduce the number of her competitors, and did not wake the cat up. So when the cat woke up, it was too late. The race was over.
This story explains two things :
1- the cat did not end up in the 12 zodiacal animals.
2- since then, cats have hated mice.
And the fate of the mouse in the race?
Well, the little clever animal managed to stay on top of the ox’s head during the crossing of the river. Despite the flow, the strong ox managed to be the first to reach the opposite bank. But as he almost arrived, the mouse jumped from his head in front of him, and was the first to put feet on the ground. So, the order of the zodiac was decided: mouse, then ox…
HAPPY NEW YEAR AGAIN!
Disclaimer: We do not endorse any opinion about astrology; the only purpose of this post is to share a cultural tip about China.