Cat Plays a Trick

The animals were in a big stir. The Jade Emperor had declared a big race to decide which animals would represent the years of the calendar. The animal who could reach the other side of the river would be first, and the rest would receive their year according to the order they finished the race. Full of vitality and enthusiasm, the dragon began to brag that he would of course be the first. Full of wisdom and charm, the snake only smiled; intuitively he knew that he would be the one to win. The mild little rabbit said nothing but determined that he, too, would be at the forefront of the race.

All of the animals gathered at the river bank. At the Jade Emperor’s signal, they jumped into the water and began to swim to the opposite shore. The tricky rat jumped on the ox’s back just as the race was beginning and so began to cross with no effort at all. 

The independent and hard working horse and the well liked and intelligent monkey began to pull ahead, but were soon caught up by the shrewd rooster and the honest and faithful dog. Halfway across, the pessimistic goat began to complain that the race was not fair, and the sincere, but lazy, pig dropped back behind the others. The sensitive and loving tiger had been last, but he began to catch up. 

The independent and rowdy cat did not join the race. Instead, he waited on the opposite side of the river, thinking how he could win a place in the zodiac without actually having to work for it.

At last the animals began to approach the shore. The ox, a born leader, had been swimming persistently at an even pace, so he was far in the front of the others. Just as he began to put his hoof onto the dry river back, the tricky rat leaped off his back and arrived first. He raced over to the Jade Emperor, gave a deep bow, and claimed his year as the first in the cycle of the lunar calendar. The others began to emerge from the water and go in order to the Jade Emperor.

Second came the ox who was followed by the tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. Just as the rabbit was nearly to the emperor, the cat leaped forward with a towel and a carrot in his paw. Quickly he whispered into the rabbit’s ear, “Here, my friend, rest a moment, dry yourself off and have a little snack.” Gratefully, the rabbit hoped out of line to do just that. 

Immediately, the cat took his place. He said to himself, “Well, the rat is not the only tricky one in this race! Although I am not the first, I too have joined in without any effort.”

And from that day to this, the animals lead the years of the lunar calendar. The talented, ambitious cat is always behind the rat, but he is patient and hopes one day to spring ahead.