The Great Race- A Vietnamese Zodiac Folklore

We have always been chasing after something or the other. And life has always been a race towards what we chase. Here's how one of the oldest chase that started with a race!

While we've all grown up watching 'Tom and Jerry' where generations of Toms have hunted Jerrys remorselessly. But have you ever wondered the reason behind the rivalry?

It all goes back to ancient Vietnam, where all the animals including the dragon, the ox, the dog, the monkey and many more, were headed to the Jade Emperor as a part of a race. 

Now, what was this race for? 

The king of God's decided to create a unified calendar for his mortal subjects. His Divine Majesty decided that he would select twelve animals, each of whom were to become guardian spirits of a single year in a 12-year cycle.

To determine exactly which animals would become the guardian spirits, he gathered all the creatures in the animal kingdom and informed them that on the first day of the new year, a Great Race was to take place. He proclaimed that the first twelve animals to reach the top of the highest peak in the land, the abode of the gods, would have the great honour of becoming guardian spirits.

It happened that, at this time, the cat and the mouse were great friends and both of them being bad swimmers, had to think of a plan on how they'd cross the river during the course of the race. 

A day before the race, the following conversation could be heard between these two best friends.

Cat : Yo bro! How do you plan on crossing the river tomorrow?

Rat : Tomorrow? Dude the race is the day after tomorrow. I'll meet you near the old well, early that day and we'll think of something. 

Cat : Alright then, I'll see you there!

The cat was gullible and did not doubt his good friend.

Next day, all the animals except the poor, naive cat, set off for the race. 

On finally reaching the river, the cunning rat, now tricked the ox into helping him cross the river on her back. This way, the ox came second after the sly rat in the zodiac. And so, the first year in the 12-year cycle became the Year of the Rat.

Then came the Tiger, and told how the current was so strong he never would have made it if not for his powerful strength. Next, the rabbit, who crossed the river, hopping from stone to stone or occasional logs. When the dragon came fifth, King Jade, asked the reason for the delay of this powerful creature, to which he answered that on his way, he had to make it rain to help the people of earth. This caused the delay. 

The horse came galloping up next, but hidden in the horse’s hoof was the snake. The snake’s appearance frightened the horse so much he momentarily fell back allowing the snake to beat him, giving the snake the 6th spot while the horse took the 7th.

The goat, monkey and the rooster came next, and after them, came the merry dog who said he enjoyed playing in water so much that he lost track of time. 

(Typical dog behaviour right..) 

At last, came the pig. 

Then out of nowhere turned up the cat, who had slept through the entire episode, eventually discovering that he had been duped, feeling terribly betrayed. But he was too late as there was no room for number 13. Furious, he immediately went chasing after the rat.

The cat never forgave the mouse and, according to this story, this has been the reason cats always hunt rats. Had it not been for the Jade Emperor's "Great Race", William and Joseph would never have found their plot for the "Tom and Jerry".