CHINESE TAIL ABOUT THE 12 ANIMALS IN THE ZODIAC.

The Jade Emperor (Heaven Emperor) ordered that animals would be designated as calendar signs and the twelve that arrive first would be selected.
At that time , the cat and the rat were good friends and excellent neighbors. When they heard of this news, the cat said to the rat: "We should arrive early to sign up, but I Usually Get Up Late." The rat then 'promised to awaken' his friend and go together. However, on the morning when he got up, he was 'too excited to recall his promise', and went directly to the gathering place.
On the way, the rat encountered the tiger, ox, horse, and other animals that ran much faster. In order not to fall behind them, the rat thought up a good idea. The rat made the straight-forward 'ox carry him' on the 'condition' that 'he sang for the ox.'
At last, the ox and the rat arrived first. The ox was happy thinking that he would be the first sign of the calendar, but the rat had already slid in front, and became the first lucky animal of the Chinese zodiac.
Meanwhile his neighbor the cat was too late so when the cat finally arrived, the selection was over.
That is why other animals appear behind the rat.
Many famous scholars in history had their own interpretations about this interesting topic. There was a scholar in the Song Dynasty (960-1279CE) called Hong Xun. With a prosperous economy in many respects of the society, and radiant culture, this period was considered as another period of golden age after Tang Dynasty (618-907CE). In agriculture, the productive technology was improved which promoted the output of food; in handicraft industry, the division of labor became more detailed which made the handicrafts technology reach an advanced level; additionally, the development of the commodity economy exceeded the previous level. Particularly, the earliest paper currency appeared at that period. As for the development of science and culture, tremendous achievements were made during this period. Two of China's 4 great inventions were achieved: typography and compass, and application of gunpowder also developed rapidly. With regard on literature, a large number of outstanding scholars and poets emerged and built up the splendid cultural atmosphere of the Song Dynasty.
The scholar Hong Xun explained his thought about the 12 animals based on Yin Yang Theory.
Among the 12 animals: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig, only the rat, tiger, dragon, monkey, and dog have five toes. Five is an odd number which is thought to be in Yang side (positive). Only in the rat, the fore-paws have 4 toes and the hind-paws have 5 toes, making the animal both odd and even number according to his paws' toes. Horse has one toe, also an odd number. Other animals have toes of even numbers which are thought to be Yin (negative). Snake has no toe but its tongue has two tips in even number. Yin and Yang animal signs were interlaced. Scholars of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644CE) followed and developed this idea.