When did the Chinese Zodiac in China originate?

The origin of the zodiac is related to animal worship. According to the Qin bamboo slips unearthed in Yunmeng Shuihudi, Hubei Province and Fangmatan, Tianshui, Gansu Province, a relatively complete zodiac system existed in the pre-Qin period. The earliest handed down document that records the same Chinese zodiac as modern times is Lun Heng written by Wang Chong in the Eastern Han Dynasty.

the zodiac is a visual representation of the twelve earthly branches, namely, Zi (mouse), Ugly (ox), Yin (tiger), Mao (rabbit), Chen (dragon), Si (snake), Wu (horse), Wei (sheep), Shen (monkey), You (chicken) and Kun. In modern times, more people regard the zodiac as the mascot of the Spring Festival and become a symbol of entertainment and cultural activities.

Extended information:

The zodiac is also called the Twelve-Year Animal. In the calendar of China, there are twelve animals on duty in turn, so in our China year, rats, cows, tigers, rabbits, dragons, snakes, horses, sheep, monkeys, chickens, dogs and pigs are used in the calendar. The zodiac began in the sixth century BC, and it was initially applied to a group of numbers of earthly branches, and later it became the year number of the year.

This book tells the story that a long time ago, the Jade Emperor decided to select 12 kinds of animals as animal signs in order to give time to human beings. As a result, all animals on earth started a competition for the "King of Zodiac" ... Therefore, on the day of the meeting of animals, rats ranked first, followed by cows, tigers, rabbits, dragons, snakes, horses, sheep, monkeys, chickens and dogs and pigs, which led to the ranking of animals for 12 years. ?

Another chapter of the story tells how the cat and mouse became enemies. At that time, the cat and mouse were good friends. Before going to the mass meeting, they got up and made an appointment to wake up first. I'm afraid the mouse got up early the next day and went to the meeting alone quietly, ignoring the cat. By the time the cat woke up and rushed to the meeting, the Buddha had already assigned the cat and the mouse for the twelfth year, and since then, he has forged a deep hatred.

When the legend belongs to the legendary folklorist Guo Licheng, it is easier for people to remember heavenly stems and earthly branches's famous age and call them on behalf of the animals of the twelfth year.

Baidu Encyclopedia-Zodiac