Rat (zodiac)
First animal of the Chinese zodiac, associated with midnight and winter.
The Rat (or Mouse) is the first animal in the repeating 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac, which forms part of the Chinese calendar system. It is associated with the first Earthly Branch symbol 子 (zǐ) and begins the cycle of twelve years, months, and double-hours. The Rat is linked to the Black Tortoise (Xuánwǔ) group and the lunar mansion Xū, corresponding to the direction North and the darkest part of winter.
Quick Facts
- P
- shǔ
- W
- shu / 3
- Mi
- sh · u · 3
- H
- chhú
- J
- syu2
- Y
- syú
- Ci
- s · yu · 2
- Buc
- chṳ̄
- Mblmc
- chṳ̌
- Oc-Bs
- l̥aʔ
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
In Chinese tradition, the first Year of the Rat is said to have been the equivalent of 2637 BCE, though other dates are also given. The Prime Minister of the first emperor, Huangdi (the Yellow Emperor), is said to have worked out the sixty-year zodiacal cycle in that year. The rat is associated with the first Earthly Branch symbol 子 (zǐ), which starts a repeating cycle of twelve years, and there are also a yearly month of the rat and a daily hour of the rat (the Chinese double hour from 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., with midnight at its midpoint).
Reader's Guide
The Rat holds a foundational role in the Chinese zodiac as the first of the twelve animals, initiating the repeating 12-year cycle that structures the Chinese calendar. Its significance extends beyond mere chronology: the rat is tied to the Earthly Branch 子 (zǐ), the first of the twelve branches, and to the Heavenly Stems cycle, which creates a repeating cycle of five rat years over a sixty-year period, each associated with one of the Five Phases (Fire, Water, Wood, Metal, Earth). In traditional Chinese astrology and astronomy, the rat is linked to the lunar mansion Xū, part of the Twenty-Eight Mansions, and to the celestial region of the Mystical Warrior (Xuánwǔ), representing the direction North and the darkest part of winter. The rat also governs the first double-hour of the day, from 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., centered on midnight. In popular culture, the Year of the Rat is associated with beliefs about prognostications, lucky numbers, colors, and romantic connections, and the rat is often seen as symbolizing keen and quick intelligence. A popular modern story attributes the rat's first place in the zodiac to a competition held by the Jade Emperor, where the rat achieved first place by playing a flute while riding on the ox's back. The zodiacal rat is recognized in other cultures, such as Japan, where it is called nezumi and is also the first in a twelve-year cycle. The Year of the Rat is celebrated during Chinese New Year worldwide, and the rat appears as a motif on coins and postage stamps.
Did You Know?
- The rat's associated double-hour is from 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., with midnight as its midpoint.
- The rat is linked to the lunar mansion Xū, equivalent to the star Beta Aquarii (Sadalsuud).
- In a popular story, the rat achieved first place in the zodiac by playing a flute while riding on the ox's back.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the Rat in the Chinese zodiac?
The Rat is the very first animal in the twelve-year Chinese zodiac cycle, serving as the starting point for the entire repeating sequence. It is tied to the Earthly Branch symbol 子 (zǐ) and marks the beginning of each new zodiac round.
What time and direction does the Rat represent?
The Rat governs the double-hour from 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., the deepest stretch of midnight. It is also linked to the North direction and the darkest period of winter in the Chinese calendar system.
How does the Rat connect to the Five Elements?
Over the full sixty-year cycle, the Rat pairs with each of the five elements—Fire, Water, Wood, Metal, and Earth—producing a distinct elemental Rat year every ten years. This pairing modifies the character traits traditionally attributed to the Rat sign.
What is the Rat's connection to the lunar mansions?
The Rat is associated with the lunar mansion Xū (虛), which corresponds to the star Beta Aquarii (Sadalsuud) in the modern sky. It also belongs to the Black Tortoise (Xuánwǔ) constellation group, reinforcing its link to the North and winter darkness.
Why is the Rat considered important in Chinese mythology?
As the opener of the zodiac cycle, the Rat sets the starting point for all twelve years, twelve months, and twelve double-hours in the Chinese calendar. Its position as first gives it a symbolic role of new beginnings and the emergence from the deepest darkness of winter.
More in Animals in Chinese mythology 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced