The Zodiac Twelve
30:01 Share

WBUR Podcasts, Boston. According to the Chinese calendar, this week marks the start of a new year, the year of the snake.

The Chinese calendar works in a repeating cycle of 12 years, known as the zodiac. Each year is represented by a different animal. And it's believed that if you're born in a given year, you'll have the personality traits of that year's animal. So if you're born in the year of the snake, for instance, you're said to be especially intelligent and mysterious.

But how did the Chinese zodiac come about? And how did its 12 animals get selected? In today's story, we'll find out. Whistling

I'm Rebecca Shear, and welcome to Circle Round, where storytime happens all the time. Today, our story is called The Zodiac Twelve. Versions of this tale come from the East Asian country of China. The Zodiac Twelve

Some really great people came together to bring you our version of this folktale, including Tai Ma and Jimmy Wong. Veteran actor Tai Ma has appeared in numerous films, including The Farewell, Tiger Tail, and Five Blind Dates. Grown-ups, you can also see Tai in the Hulu series Interior Chinatown. Actor, musician, and singer Jimmy Wong stars in the animated feature Wish Dragon. And fun fact, you can see both Tai and Jimmy in Disney's live-action film Mulan.

So, circle around everyone for the Zodiac 12.

Once upon a time, there was no official way to keep track of time. Sure, you could notice when the sun was rising and setting. You could observe when the seasons shifted from one to the next. But there was no way to count the years, which made it tough to remember when big, important events happened, including your own birthday. So, once upon a time, the Jade Emperor...

the powerful ruler of heaven and earth, came up with an idea. He called it... The Zodiac. I shall create the Zodiac, an ever-repeating cycle of 12 years. To make it easy for everyone to remember those 12 years, I shall name each year after a different...

Animal. Not a bad idea, right? There was just one problem. Two, actually. First... How shall I decide which animals will have years named after them? And second... How shall I decide the animals' order? The Jade Emperor thought and thought until he came up with another idea.

I shall hold a race. I shall invite all of the animals to compete. The first 12 to reach the finish line will earn their own place in the zodiac.

The morning of the race, the Jade Emperor was pleased to see how many critters had crawled, slithered, hopped, and winged their way to the starting line outside his palace. Welcome, my friends, to the Great Zodiac Race! Today's race will take you through a deep rolling valley

been down a series of green grassy hills, you will know you've reached the home stretch when you come to the banks of a wide, fast-flowing river. The first 12 of you to cross that river will earn a place on the Zodiac. The first to arrive will get the first year.

And the second to arrive will get the second year. All the way down to the twelfth. So, my friends, what do you say? Are you ready to race? I said, are you ready to race? All right then, on your mark, get set, go!

There was a boisterous blur of feathers, fur, and scales as the animals made a beeline for the deep, rolling valley. But somewhere around the fourth or fifth green, grassy hill, a trio of animals managed to pull ahead. And the first three racers to reach the wide, fast-flowing river were Rat, Cat, and Ox.

In modern times, rat and cat are sworn enemies, right? They simply do not get along.

Well, back when our story takes place, Rat and Cat were close friends. And they knew full well that they couldn't swim anywhere near as fast as Burly Brawny Ox could. So they asked him for a lift. Here's what Cat and I are thinking, Ox. We'll ride on your back as you swim across the river, and we'll face the opposite direction so we can act as lookouts. That's right. And the moment Rat and I see another racer catching up,

We'll let you know to put on some speed. Ox had always been agreeable and good-natured, so he accepted Rat and Cat's offer. And as he swam... How's it looking up there, you two? Anyone on my tail? Not yet.

And swam. How about now? Nope. No one. His passengers exchanged a self-satisfied smirk. Isn't this great, Cat? It sure is. We're practically flying across the river. We sure are. At this rate, I'm totally going to be the first animal in the Zodiac. You sure are. Wait, what? What?

Why should you be the first animal in the Zodiac? Because I'm crafty! And clever. It was my idea to hitch a ride with Ox, you know. It was not! It was my idea! No! It was mine! Look over there! There's a big fish jumping out of the water! With those powerful claws of yours, you could grab that sucker and have a real feast! The truth is, there was no big fish jumping out of the water.

But just as Rat hoped, Cat's thoughts instantly turned from competing to eating. And the moment she turned her head to find the fish... Where is it? I don't see it. Rat pushed her off of Ox's back and she landed in the water with a splash. Ox was working so hard, took no notice of the commotion. How are we doing, you two?

We're almost at the shore, but I'm getting tired and slowing down. You gotta let me know if there's anyone behind me. Oh, there isn't anyone behind you, Ox. But guess what? There's someone in front of you! Next thing Ox knew, Rat was springing off his back and into the river. The wily and well-rested rodent had no trouble paddling the rest of the way to shore.

Within seconds, he was standing on the riverbank, shaking himself off and bowing before the Jade Emperor, who was waiting with one of his scribes. Congratulations, Rat! You are the first animal to reach the finish line. Therefore, the first year in the Zodiac will be named after you. Scribe?

Can you note that down, please? The scribe recorded the first place winner on a parchment scroll. The Jade Emperor gave Rat a smile. You must be proud of yourself, Rat. Tell me.

How did such a small animal accomplish such a big victory? With all due respect, Your Majesty, I may be small in size, but I'm big in brains. I had the brilliant idea of enlisting the help of a gracious friend. And look, here he is now. Rat motioned toward the water, and there was Ox, his broad chest heaving, his woolly coat dripping as he trudged on to the bank.

Well done, Ox. You are the second animal to finish the race. So the second year in the Zodiac will be named after you. Ox was annoyed by Rat's trick, but he was too good-natured to rat the rodent out. And besides, second place was nothing to sneeze at. So he accepted his position with dignity. But just as the scribe was recording Ox's name...

All eyes shifted to the river, and there was Tiger, dragging her striped, sinewy body out of the water. She stumbled to the Jade Emperor, then collapsed at his feet. Oh, Tiger, what happened? You look like you've been through quite an ordeal. I have, Your Majesty. Whew!

I was swimming strongly and making good headway when I got caught in the current and sucked into a whirlpool. I used every ounce of strength I had to break free from the spinning water and make it to safety. And now, here I am. Well, I am proud of you, Tiger.

You persevered, and you didn't give up. So as the brave, courageous third animal to finish the race, you have earned yourself the third position in the Zodiac. I wonder who will be next. The Jade Emperor didn't have to wonder long, because all at once, a big sturdy log came drifting to shore. And perched on top of that log...

was Rabbit. Welcome, Rabbit! Don't you look snug as a bug on that log. You just earned yourself the fourth position in the Zodiac. Fourth? That's marvelous! Miraculous! Miraculous? How so? When I came to the river and saw how wide and fast it was, I got nervous about swimming across.

So, I used my smarts to figure out another way to get to the other side. I hopped across a bunch of rocks that were sticking up out of the water. A most elegant solution! Well, people do talk about how elegant I am. But I haven't told you the rest of the story. You see, the rocks were very slippery. And as I was hopping my way across, I lost my footing.

Next thing I knew, I was tumbling into the water. Oh no! Oh yes! Here's the miraculous part. As I was thrashing and splashing around, what should I spy drifting my way? But this log! I jumped up on top of it, and somehow made it all the way to the finish line. You have always been known for your luck, Rabbit! So congratulations!

Now we just need to wait for the fifth animal to arrive and... The Jade Emperor fell into silence because at that very moment, the riverside fell into shadow as if a bank of storm clouds had scutted in and blocked out the sun.

But when the emperor and animals craned their heads upward, it wasn't storm clouds they spied. It was the fifth animal to finish the race, and the most surprising one so far. Who do you think the fifth place winner is? We'll find out after a quick break.

Support for Circle Round comes from Indeed. You just realized that your business needed to hire someone yesterday. How can you find amazing candidates fast? Easy, just use Indeed. There's no need to wait. You can speed up your hiring with Indeed.

And Circle Round listeners will get a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at Indeed.com slash Circle Round. Just go to Indeed.com slash Circle Round right now and support the show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Indeed.com slash Circle Round. Terms and conditions apply. Hiring? Indeed is all you need.

Circle Round superfans have been raving about the Circle Round Club, an exciting way to support our public radio podcast and get ad-free episodes, exclusive swag, early access to events, and bonus bedtime stories. Check out this rave review. One thing I like about Circle Round Club is all the bedtime stories. It's really fun, and they're almost like a mini sort of Circle Round story, except they're much shorter.

Grownups, get your Circle Round superfan signed up today at wbur.org slash circleroundclub. I'm Rebecca Shear. Welcome back to Circle Round. Today our story is called The Zodiac 12. Before the break, the Jade Emperor was holding a race to determine the 12 animals of the Zodiac. Rat used his crafty ways to toss cat into the water and finish first.

Ox came in second, and Tiger came in third. After Rabbit earned fourth place by floating to shore on a log, the riverbank was plunged into darkness. Hovering in the air above, his scaly body so massive it blocked out the sun, was Dragon. He gave his tail a flick, then glided down to the bank. Greetings, friends. How did I do? You did very well, Dragon.

As the fifth animal to reach the finish line, you shall be the fifth animal in the Zodiac. But if I may ask, given how powerful you can fly, what took you so long to get here? That's a mighty fine question, Your Majesty. And I have a mighty fine answer. As I was racing through the air, I kept my eyes fixed on the ground below.

Goodness. That was very kind of you, dragon.

You've always been so charitable. Well, my charity didn't end there. After saving the village, I continued on my way. And as I was soaring above the river, I saw Rabbit struggling against the current. You saw me? I did more than see you, Rabbit. I saved you. I conjured a breeze and blew a big, sturdy log your way.

Then I used my powers to send you and that log to shore. That is so sweet of you, dragon. Thank you. Yes, dragon. Thank you. Your consideration towards others is commendable. Scribe, please mark down dragon as the fifth animal in the zodiac. And mark me down six.

Everyone gave a start as a long, wriggling creature came slithering their way. Hello there, snake. We didn't see you coming. I thought it would be smart to stay inconspicuous. I have always been known as a mysterious soul.

Now you'll also be known as the sixth animal of the Zodiac. Congratulations! As the scribe recorded Snake's sixth place finish, there was a clattering of hoofbeats. Galloping down the riverside, her powerful legs kicking up a cloud of dust, was Horse. Greetings, everyone. I hope I'm not too late.

As you may know, we horses aren't big fans of water. So, hoping I could run across the river rather than swim, I looked around and around until I found a nice shallow spot to cross. Then I ran all this way to get to you. Am I one of the winners? That you are, horse. Scrape, mark horse as the seventh animal in the zodiac. Oh my gosh!

The best day ever! Horse flashed rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, and snake a toothy grin. As one of the warmest and friendliest animals, she was delighted to be in such good company. And that company was about to get bigger. Did we get here in time? Please tell us we did. It would be too good to be true.

All eyes turned to the river, where Goat, Monkey, and Rooster were floating to shore on a raft made of logs and vines. Welcome to the finish line, Goat, Monkey, and Rooster.

How clever of you to build that raft. But your majesty, we didn't build this raft. Rooster found it. Tangled in the weeds on the other side of the river. So I suggested we form a team to see what we can do.

And that's when I offered to break the raft free by eating all the weeds. And I offered to carry the raft to the water and steer it with a stick. So, now that we're here with you, tell us, how did we do? You did well, very well indeed. A goat?

For the creativity you displayed by breaking the wrath free with your appetite, you shall be the eighth animal in the Zodiac! Thank you, your majesty! And Monkey, for the nimbleness you showed in getting you and your friends across the river, you shall be ninth! Oh, thank you, your majesty! Last but not least, Rooster,

for the leadership you demonstrated by bringing this team together. You shall be 10th. Your Majesty, thank you. The question now is, who shall our next finisher be?

The Jade Emperor didn't need to wait long for an answer, because just then... Woof, woof! Loyal and faithful Dog came bounding over, his shaggy body dripping with water. Well, Your Majesty, how did I do in the race? Did I make it into the Zodiac? You did make it, Dog. The 11th position is officially yours. Though given how fast you've run and how well you swim...

I assumed you would finish the race sooner. And I meant to! I really did! But the water was so cool and refreshing and I was having so much fun splashing around. I guess I lost track of time. That's alright. It's in your nature to be fun-loving and playful. Since you're the eleventh animal in the Zodiac, let's wait and see who's

Number 12. The group on the shore waited and waited until at last who should come waddling toward them? Pig, sorry if I'm late. You know we pigs are great runners and swimmers, but we're also great eaters. And after the race started, my belly started growling. So I stopped for an early morning snack. Then I stopped for a late morning snack.

Then I stopped for lunch. Then I stopped for tea. Then I felt so sleepy, I had to take a nap. So, two questions. Did I win? Who wants to join me for dinner? The Jade Emperor gave Pig's pink head a friendly pat. We appreciate the invitation, Pig. You've always been so generous and caring, and I am pleased to report...

Then you did win. You earned yourself the 12th position in the Zodiac. The Jade Emperor motioned for the scribe to record Pig as the final winning contestant. Then he raised his arms high in the air. My friends, I thank you for your splendid effort today. From this moment forward...

You shall all be remembered with gratitude and honor as the twelfth animal of Zodiac. A minute! The animals ceased their cheering and swiveled their eyes toward bedraggled, breathless Cat. Her sodden body was trembling, and her disheveled hair was standing on end. Am I...

Too late to earn a place in the Zodiac? I am afraid you are, Cat. The twelve winners have already been chosen. They have? Who came in first place? A rather good friend of yours, I believe. The first animal in the Zodiac is officially Rat. Cat froze.

Then she arched her back, twitched her tail, and fixed her glittering eyes on her former friend. You! You! You rat! You betrayed me! And now you're gonna pay! With a hiss and a yowl, Cat sprang into the air and lunged at Rat.

The quick-thinking rodent leaped out of the way, then took off down the shore, scampering and scurrying as fast as his tiny legs could carry him. Cat never forgave Rat for his betrayal, and that's why, to this very day, cats still chase rats. They're hoping to get revenge on the cunning little critter who tricked them out of a position in the Zodiac and a place in history. ♪

Now it's your turn. Ask a grown-up to help you find your animal of the zodiac. You could check out a book from the library or consult the internet. Read through the list of your animal's personality traits and see which ones click with you. Then find some paper and draw a picture of your zodiac animal. Ask your grown-up to snap a photo of you and your artwork and email it to circleround at wbur.org.

We may feature it in the Lions Roar, the monthly newsletter of the Circle Round Club. To learn more about this super fun membership opportunity for super fans like you, visit our website, wbur.org slash circle round. Circle Round Club

This week's episode, The Zodiac 12, was adapted by me, Rebecca Shear. It was edited by Dean Russell. Our original music and sound design is by Eric Shimilonis. Eric's featured instrument this week was the Yong Chin. You can learn more about this hammered string instrument and see a photo of Eric playing one on our website, wbur.org slash circle round. Circle Round's artist is Sabina Han, who has created a black and white coloring page for every story, and you can print them out and color them in.

Grownups, you can download all of our coloring pages at wbur.org slash circleround and click on Coloring Pages. Special thanks to this week's actors. Evan Casey, Paul Date, Alyssa Keene, James Konachuk, Shelley Lee, Erica Rose, Chris Tucci, Dawn Ursula, Tai Ma, and Jimmy Wong.

Veteran actor Tai Ma has appeared in numerous films, including The Farewell, Tiger Tail, and Five Blind Dates. Grown-ups, you can also see Tai in the Hulu series Interior Chinatown. Actor, musician, and singer Jimmy Wong stars in the animated feature Wish Dragon. And fun fact, you can see both Tai and Jimmy in Disney's live-action film Mulan. And you can hear both Tai and Jimmy in our 2020 episode, Dirt into Gold. ♪

Grown-ups, if you enjoy Circle Round, please leave us a five-star review on your favorite podcast app and tell your friends about the show. We'd love to make the Circle Round circle even bigger. So thanks for your help and support. Circle Round is a production of WBUR, Boston's NPR news station. I'm Rebecca Shearer. Thanks for circling round with us.

Now that you've made it to the end of this Circle Round episode, we want to know, what's your favorite Circle Round story? Thousands of fans just like you have been telling us about the Circle Round stories they like best. Take a listen. Maybe one of their favorites is one of yours, too. My name is Ryan from China. My favorite story is the Blizzard Wizard.

My favourite part is when the girl swings his hair to the edge of the castle. My name is Alex and I live in Scotland. My favourite circle and story is Laughing and Crying because I like the part when the king rubs onions on his eyes. My name is Goldie from Minneapolis and

My favorite episode is the fun trip. My name is Lars and I live in Portland, Oregon. And my favorite circle and circle is the empty barrel. And my favorite part was when that woman said, "My barrel! It's empty! Again!" My name is Marilyn.

And I love the Minnesota. And my favorite circle around is the upside down tree. And I like to put where the high end turns the tree upside down.

Hi, my name is Margarela. I live in Minnesota and my favorite Circle Round story is Chameleon Contest because I like the part when Chameleon blends into her dress. My name is Imogen. I live in Maple, New Jersey. My favorite Circle Round story is The Fallen Sparrow. I like the part where Zoe cuts open the pumpkin and it's full of gold.

Did someone mention a story you've missed? Not to worry. Grownups, you can find all of our Circle Round stories, plus links to the Circle Round Club, picture books, coloring pages, and oh so much more on our website, wbur.org slash circleround.