What is the true origin of the 12 zodiac signs?

The ancients explained the relationship between the earth's branches and the lesser beasts in terms of the twelve points of the day and night in ancient times. Then, inspired by the twelve hours, the order of the twelve signs of the zodiac was invented.

1, Zi Hour:

Midnight, also known as Ziyou, Midnight: the first of the twelve hours. (23:00 to 01:00 BST).

Night 11:00 to 1:00 a.m. the next day, belongs to the son of the time, it is the rats to take advantage of the quiet of the night, frequent activities, so it is called "son of the rat".

2, ugly time:

Cock crows, also known as pheasants: the second hour of the twelve-hour period. (1:00 to 3:00 BST).

It is ugly from 1:00 to 3:00 in the morning. Cattle are used to grazing at night. Farmers usually wake up at night to feed the cows, so they are called "ugly cows".

3. Yin hour:

Plain, also known as dawn, morning, daytime, etc.: The hour is the time between day and night. (3:00 to 5:00 BST).

From 3:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. is Yin Yin. This is the time when the tigers that walk around the clock are at their fiercest. Ancient people often heard the tiger whistle at this time, so it is called "Yin Yin"

4, dawning:

Sunrise, also known as the beginning of the sun, dawn, the rising sun, etc.: It is the time when the sun just appeared and rose. (5:00 to 7:00 BST).

5:00 to 7:00 in the morning. At dawn, rabbits come out of their nests, and they like to eat grass and morning dew, so they are called "dorabe" (卯兔).

5, the hour of the hour:

Eating time, also known as early food, etc.: the ancients "morning food" time, that is, eating breakfast time, (07:00 to 09:00 BST).

7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., is the hour. This time is generally prone to fog, legend has it that the dragon likes to ride in the clouds, but also at the time of the rising sun, steam, so it is called "Dragon".

6, Si time:

Sumi, also known as Riyu, etc.: near noon is called Sumi. (Beijing time 09:00 to 11:00).

9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. is the sixth hour. When the fog lifts and the sun shines brightly, snakes come out of their holes to feed, so they are called "Snake of the Sixth Hour".

7, noon:

Feeding time, also known as Nipu, Xishi, etc.: (15:00 to 17:00 Beijing time).

The application time is from 3:00?pm to 5:00?pm. The sun is in the west, and the monkeys are crying at this time, so they are called "Noon Monkeys".

8, not yet:

The declining sun in the west, also known as the sun fell, sun central, etc.: the sun is west for the sun fell. (13:00 to 15:00 BST).

From 1:00 to 3:00 in the afternoon, it is the time of the unsettled sun. In some places, this time is called "Sheep out of the slope", meaning that it is a good time for sheep, so it is called "not sheep".

9, Shen time:

Feeding time, also known as the day store, sunset eclipse, etc.: (Beijing time 15 food to 17:00).

3 p.m. to 5 p.m., is the Shen time. The sun is in the west, and monkeys like to cry at this time, so they are called "Shen monkeys".

10, You time:

Sunset, also known as sunset, sunset, evening: meaning the sun sets. (Beijing time 17 is to 19 o'clock).

From 5 to 7 p.m., it is the time of You. When the sun goes down, the chickens are circling in front of their nests, so they are called "You Ji" (酉鸡).

11, Hundred Days:

Dusk, also known as sunset, sunset, sunset, etc., when the sun has set, the sky will be dark. The sky and the earth are dim and everything is hazy, so it is called dusk. (Beijing time 19:00 to 21:00).

7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the evening is the eleventh hour. People are ready to rest after a long day's labor. The dog lies in front of the door to guard it, and when there is any movement, it barks loudly, so it is called "Hundred Days' Dog".

12, Ohio:

People fixed, also known as the fixed dusk and so on: this time the night is already deep, people have stopped activities, rest and sleep. The people are also quiet. (Beijing time 21:00 to 23:00).

9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at night is the Hai time. When it is quiet at night, you can hear the sound of pigs arching in the trough, so it is called the "Hai Pig".

Extended Information

The twelve signs of the Chinese Zodiac are also known as the Twelve Years of the Beast. In the Chinese calendar, there are twelve New Year animals that rotate on a rotating basis, so in our Chinese year, the calendar uses the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, chicken, dog and pig.

The zodiac began in the sixth century BC. Early collections of numbers and branches of the earth were applied to each other, and only later became the chronological year.