Once upon a time, in the year of the Rat. There was a small village where strange things started to happen. People would see rat - like shadows scurrying around at night. One by one, the villagers' livestock began to disappear. They found strange bite marks on the fences. Then, a young girl claimed she saw a giant rat - like monster with glowing red eyes in the barn. It was so terrifying that she fainted. After that, every night, the villagers could hear the squeaking and scratching sounds of the unknown rat - being, making the whole village filled with fear.
Common elements in zodiac horror stories include the idea of the zodiac animals being vessels for dark spirits. In the year of the Pig, for example, pigs that are possessed by evil spirits and start acting in abnormal ways. There's also the concept of a cycle of horror related to the zodiac cycle. Every time a certain zodiac year comes around, the same horror events seem to repeat. And the environment often plays a role too. If it's the year of the Horse, the story might be set in a desolate horse ranch where strange noises come from the stables at night. The characters in these stories usually have a connection to the zodiac, either they are born in that year or they have some family heirloom related to the zodiac which ties them into the horror.
There were many different versions and legends about the twelve zodiac animals. One of the most popular versions was about the Jade Emperor's birthday. It was said that when the Jade Emperor celebrated his birthday, he ordered all the animals to come to celebrate his birthday on the ninth day of the first month. He also decided to select twelve animals according to the order of registration as guards on the road to heaven, and they would take turns to be on duty every year. In this story, the mouse and the cat were neighbors, but the cat often bullied the mouse. In order to be able to attend the Jade Emperor's birthday celebration, the cat asked the mouse to wake it up and go with him. The mouse agreed to the cat's request and set off quietly on the morning of the ninth day of the first month. When the mouse faced the wide river, it was worried. However, the cow that was the first to go out silently walked to the river. The mouse took advantage of the moment when the cow swam into the water and nimbly jumped into the cow's ear. The cow did not care about the speculation of the mouse because it was usually known for its simplicity. This story showed the relationship and mutual help between the twelve zodiac animals. Other stories about the twelve zodiac animals included the story of the monkey and the rooster participating in the selection, as well as the story of the origin of the dragon.
Another aspect of the zodiac origin story is the cultural significance and symbolism attached to the animals or signs over time. These symbols have been used in art, literature, and divination. In many cultures, the zodiac signs are seen as a way to categorize people, predict future events, or understand one's character based on the traits associated with their birth sign.
The origin of the zodiac story has a long history. It may have started as a way for ancient Chinese farmers to predict the best times for farming and other activities based on the characteristics of the animals. The animals were selected based on their prevalence in the local environment and their perceived qualities. As time passed, more cultural and symbolic meanings were added to each animal in the zodiac, and it became an important part of Chinese cultural heritage. It also spread to other Asian countries and influenced their cultures as well.
Definitely not a true story. Awakening the Zodiac is a work of fiction that takes us into an imagined world. It's designed to captivate and thrill, not to represent actual happenings.
In reality, the zodiac isn't based on a true story. It's a system based on ancient beliefs and cultural interpretations, not on actual events or individuals.