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In the long river of China's ancient
culture, the twelve zodiac animals, as symbols of time and personalities, have
deep roots in traditional folklore and daily life. These twelve unique animal representatives—rat,
ox, tiger, rabbit, loong, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and
pig—cycle in a fixed order, repeating every twelve years. They not only mark
individuals' birth years but also carry rich cultural significance and
philosophical insights.
在中国悠久的文化长河中，十二生肖作为时间的符号和个性的象征，深深植根于民间传统与日常生活中。这十二位独特的动物使者——鼠、牛、虎、兔、龙、蛇、马、羊、猴、鸡、狗、猪，按照固定的顺序循环往复，每十二年一轮回，不仅标记着个人的出生年份，还蕴含着丰富的文化意义与人生哲学。
Origin of the Twelve Zodiac Animals
十二生肖的起源
The origin of the twelve zodiac animals can
be traced back to the pre-Qin period. It is closely connected to the ancient
Chinese system of Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, serving as a product of
people's observation and reverence for the natural world. Each zodiac animal
corresponds to one of the Earthly Branches, such as the Rat in the branch of
Zi, the Ox in the branch of Chou, and so on. They are not only units of
measuring time but also embody people's understanding and imagination of the
laws governing the universe.
十二生肖的起源可追溯至先秦时期，它与中国古老的天干地支纪年法紧密相连，是古人对自然界观察与崇拜的产物。每一生肖对应着地支中的一个，如子鼠、丑牛、寅虎等，它们不仅是时间的计量单位，更融入了人们对宇宙运行规律的理解与想象。
Symbolic Meanings of the Zodiac Animals
生肖的象征意义
- Rat: Clever and agile, symbolizing wisdom
and adaptability. People born in the Year of the Rat are believed to possess
exceptional insight and problem-solving abilities.
-鼠：机智灵敏，象征着智慧与适应力，鼠年出生的人被认为具有超凡的洞察力和解决问题的能力。
- Ox: Diligent and steadfast, representing
stability and endurance. Individuals born in the Year of the Ox are usually
hardworking, reliable, and down-to-earth.
-牛：勤劳踏实，代表着稳重与耐力，牛年出生的人通常勤奋可靠，脚踏实地。
- Tiger: Brave and majestic, symbolizing
strength and courage. Those born in the Year of the Tiger are known for their
resolute character and charismatic leadership.
-虎：勇猛威武，象征力量与勇气，虎年之人性格刚毅，富有领导魅力。
- Rabbit: Gentle and delicate, embodying
peace and kindness. People born in the Year of the Rabbit are often thoughtful
and pursue harmony.
-兔：温顺细腻，寓意着和平与善良，兔年出生者通常心思细腻，追求和谐。
- Loong: Mysterious and noble, symbolizing
power and honor. Those born in the Year of the Loong are believed to have
extraordinary potential and creativity.
-龙：神秘尊贵，象征权力与尊荣，龙年出生者被认为具有非凡的潜力与创造力。
- Snake: Wise and profound, representing
intuition and transformation. Individuals born in the Year of the Snake are
quick-minded and adept at adapting to changes.
-蛇：智慧深沉，代表直觉与变化，蛇年之人思维敏捷，善于应变。
- Horse: Free-spirited and energetic,
symbolizing passion and vitality. People born in the Year of the Horse are full
of energy and pursue freedom.
-马：自由奔放，象征着热情与活力，马年出生者充满活力，追求自由。
- Sheep: Gentle and refined, representing
kindness and artistic qualities. Individuals born in the Year of the Sheep have
a mild temperament and artistic talents.
-羊：温文尔雅，代表着仁慈与艺术，羊年之人性格温和，有艺术天赋。
- Monkey: Clever and humorous, symbolizing
intelligence and agility. Those born in the Year of the Monkey are usually
mentally agile and possess a good sense of humor.
-猴：机智幽默，象征着聪明与灵活，猴年出生者通常思维活跃，富有幽默感。
- Rooster: Industrious and honest,
representing punctuality and integrity. People born in the Year of the Rooster
are hardworking, value their reputation, and uphold honesty.
-鸡：勤奋守信，代表着准时与诚实，鸡年之人勤奋努力，注重信誉。
- Dog: Loyal and reliable, symbolizing
friendship and loyalty. Those born in the Year of the Dog are known for their
loyalty, integrity, and trustworthiness.
-狗：忠诚可靠，象征着友谊与忠诚，狗年出生者忠诚正直，值得信赖。
- Pig: Generous and optimistic, symbolizing
wealth and contentment. People born in the Year of the Pig have an easy-going
nature, are easily satisfied, and often enjoy good luck.
-猪：宽厚乐观，寓意着财富与满足，猪年之人性格随和，容易满足，常有好运气。
Preservation and Influence of Zodiac
Culture
生肖文化的传承与影响
The twelve zodiac animals are not only an
integral part of Chinese folklore culture but also permeate everyday life,
literature, art, festival celebrations, and even fortune-telling practices.
During the Spring Festival, the zodiac becomes an indispensable theme in
celebratory activities. People predict their fortunes for the year based on
their zodiac signs and exchange gifts with zodiac elements to convey blessings
and good luck. Additionally, the cultural expressions of zodiac stories,
paper-cutting, sculptures, and New Year paintings greatly enrich the artistic
forms of the Chinese nation.
十二生肖不仅是中国民俗文化的重要组成部分，还渗透到了人们的日常生活、文学艺术、节日庆典乃至命理学中。每到春节，生肖便成为庆祝活动中不可或缺的主题，人们通过生肖属相预测一年的运势，互赠带有生肖元素的礼物，以此传递祝福与好运。此外，生肖故事、剪纸、雕塑、年画等艺术品，也极大地丰富了中华民族的文化表现形式。
说明：文中部分图片来源于网络，如有侵权，请联系删除。
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