Origin Tale Twelve Shio Animals

Translate by: Vaynard

In the days of yore, there lived a god.  On December 31, in the morning before the New Year, the god writing a letter to the all animals throughout the country.  And then the god ordered the wind to spread the papers across the country.

In an instant, the animals received the letters, whose contents like this:

"Tomorrow morning at the New Year, I will choose an animal that first came here, from number one to number twelve. Then, every year I will set up one-by one of them as General of the order". 

Signed, God.

The animals are very excited and interested to hear about it. They are eager to become a General. However, there is an animal who does not read letters sent by this wind, that cat who likes to relax and sleep. He just heard the news from the Mouse. Mouse that crafty deceived him and told that they should assemble at the place of God the day after the date of January 2, when they should assemble in the morning on January 1st.

All animals excited and think about winning and position as generals and they all went to bed early to rest so that tomorrow they can begin their journey as soon as possible. Only cows that go straight night, because he realized that he could only walk slowly. Mouse that sly look at a cow head out that night immediately jump and ride in the back of cows, but cows are not aware of it.

In the morning, when it was still dark, Dog, Monkey, Boar, Tiger, Dragon, Snake, Rabbit, Chicken, Sheep and Horse are all immediately rushed off to the place of the god.

As the sun began to rise, which was first reached the Gods residence is Cow. But then the mouse jumped forward and landed right in front of god and say hello to him immediately.
"Happy New Year Gods" said Mouse to Lord. The mouse then became the first and the Cow was crying with disappointment because only became the second generals.

Behind them came the Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Chicken, Dog and Boar come sequentially. Thus they are set up as the winner of one to twelve in order of arrival.

These Twelve animals are then called with 12 Shio Stars.

The animals celebrate a victory and feast while surrounded the god. Then, the cat came to face a very angry and disappointed. He was looking for mouse that had deceived him so he came too late. Cats chase mice ran to and fro.

Since it began the era of Shio Twelve Animals, starting from the first years of Mouse, and Cow, then Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Chicken, Dog and Boar. Cats that did not make it into Twelve Animal Shio, until now still chasing the mouse to and fro because he was annoyed by the mouse that had been duped him.

Read the other story that is no less interesting :

King Of The Foolish, The Mouse Deer And The Snail, and Father, The Beast.