The Zodiac
The Chinese zodiac signs form a recurring 12-year cycle, and each year is represented by one of 12 animals. 2018 is a year of the Dog. And 2019 will be a year of the Pig.
The year you were born determines your zodiac sign, e.g. if you were born in a year of the Dog (1970, 1982, 1994, 2006), you will be a Dog.
Despite this original story of the zodiac animals being a Chinese legend, it is still very much a part of Japanese culture. This is because up until the late 19th Century, Japan followed China's lunar calendar
During the New Year's celebrations in Japan, you can buy prayer boards (called ema) with the image of the upcoming zodiac animal artistically drawn or painted on the front. On the back of these boards, you would write your wishes for the New Year and hang your board at your local temple. Japanese New Year's cards and stamps are also issued by the Japanese postal service with that year's animal.
The legend
According to legend, The Jade Emperor (The Emperor in Heaven) had ordered that animals would be designated as the calendar signs by way of a race - the first twelve animals to cross the finish line would be the 12 that would be used, and the calendar would follow the order in which they finished. At the time, the Cat and the Rat were great friends and neighbors; unfortunately, the Cat had a habit of sleeping in, so when they heard the news of the race the Cat asked his friend the Rat to wake him early so they could go sign up for the race. The Rat agreed but, come the day of the race, in his excitement he forgot to wake the Cat.
When the race began, the Rat realized he would have no chance of keeping up with the other animals and so asked the Ox to carry him. The Ox agreed, on the proviso that the Rat would sing to him as he ran. However at the last minute, just before the Ox crossed the finish line, the Rat jumped off the Ox's nose, crossing the line first with the Ox in second and the Tiger in third. The Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig finished in that order and make up the rest of the animals on the calendar. Meanwhile, when the Cat awoke to realize the race was over, his hatred of the Rat grew so intense that every time they met, they fought. That is why cats still hate rats to this day.
2018 The Year of the Dog
The Dog is the eleventh in the 12-year cycle of Chinese zodiac sign. The Years of the Dog include 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006 and 2018.
The dog is the symbol of loyalty and honesty. People born in the Year of the Dog possess the best traits of human nature. They are honest, friendly, faithful, loyal, smart, straightforward, venerable and have a strong sense of responsibility. On the negative side, they are likely to be self-righteous, cold, terribly stubborn, slippery, critical of others and not good at social activities.
The Story of Hachiko
Probably the most famous dog in Japan is Hachiko the Akita of Shibuya station.
In 1924, Hidesaburō Ueno, a professor at the University of Tokyo, took Hachikō, a stray, Akita, as a pet. Ueno would commute daily to work, and Hachikō would leave the house to greet him at the end of each day at the nearby Shibuya Station. The pair continued the daily routine until May 1925, when Ueno did not return. The professor had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage, while he was giving a lecture, and died without ever returning to the train station in which Hachikō would wait.
Each day, for the next nine years, nine months and fifteen days, Hachikō awaited Ueno's return, appearing precisely when the train was due at the station.
Hachikō attracted the attention of other commuters. Many of the people who frequented the Shibuya train station had seen Hachikō and Professor Ueno together each day. Initial reactions from the people, especially from those working at the station, were not necessarily friendly. However, after the first appearance of the article about him in Asahi Shimbun on October 4, 1932, people started to bring Hachikō treats and food to nourish him during his wait.[
Hachikō became a national sensation. His faithfulness to his master's memory impressed the people of Japan as a spirit of family loyalty to which all should strive to achieve. Teachers and parents used Hachikō's vigil as an example for children to follow. A well-known Japanese artist rendered a sculpture of the dog, and throughout the countryEventually, Hachikō's legendary faithfulness became a national symbol of loyalty, particularly to the person and institution of Emperors
Hachikō died on March 8, 1935, at the age of 11 based on his date of birth. He was found on a street in Shibuya. After his death, Hachikō's remains were cremated and his ashes were buried in Aoyama Cemetery, Minato, Tokyo where they
rest beside those of his master, Professor Ueno.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hachik%C5%8D
https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/chinese-zodiac/facts.htm
Comments
Post a Comment