The Horse in Chinese Culture: Symbolism, Legends, and Cultural Significance

 



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The Twelve Earthly Branches and the Twelve Zodiac Animals

The Twelve Earthly Branches (十二地支) and the Twelve Zodiac Animals (十二生肖) are two important concepts in Chinese culture, closely linked to the Chinese calendar and divination traditions. The Twelve Earthly Branches refer to the twelve symbols—Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, and Hai—which were developed by ancient people using knowledge of astronomy, geography, and meteorology. These symbols were used as tools for marking time and guiding production and daily life.

The Twelve Zodiac Animals, on the other hand, are the symbolic representations of the Twelve Earthly Branches. They are represented by twelve animals and are used to denote a person's birth year. The Twelve Zodiac Animals are a vital and vibrant element of East Asian culture, and they are a rich and artistic code of symbolism.




The mythological story of the zodiac horse

The Horse, ranked seventh among the Twelve Zodiac Animals, corresponds to the Earthly Branch "Wu," which is associated with the time period known as "noon" (11 AM to 1 PM). In Chinese cosmology, the Horse is represented by the hexagram "Qian" in the I Ching.

An intriguing legend is often told in China, particularly around the birthday of the Jade Emperor (January 9th). According to this tale, in ancient times, people had no way to calculate years, so they turned to the Jade Emperor for help. The Jade Emperor, thinking that animals had the closest connection to humans, decided that using twelve animals to name the years would make the system easier to remember.

But with so many animals on Earth, how would he choose just twelve? The Jade Emperor decided to hold a grand race—animals would race across a river, and the first twelve to reach the other shore would be selected as the Zodiac animals.

The Horse was once a majestic, winged steed—a celestial horse that could travel freely between heaven and earth. The Jade Emperor was so impressed with the heavenly horse that he made it his mount. However, the horse, proud of its position as the Emperor's steed, began to act recklessly and without regard for rules. As a result, it was sent down to the mortal world.

Upon descending to Earth, the Heavenly Horse realized the consequences of its arrogance. It humbled itself, began pulling carts, carrying goods, and even fighting in battles. Through its hard work and dedication, the once prideful horse became a beloved companion of humanity. When the Jade Emperor chose the Twelve Zodiac Animals, the Horse was the seventh to arrive in the Heavenly Palace. Seeing the transformation the Horse had undergone, the Emperor paired it with the Earthly Branch "Wu," designating it as the "Horse of Noon" in the Zodiac.

This tale highlights not only the Horse's importance in the Chinese Zodiac but also its journey from celestial arrogance to humble devotion, reflecting its unique role as a hardworking and loyal companion to humans.


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