The Origin of Chinese Zodiac
生肖的起源
In ancient times, our ancestors counted the years with 10 celestial stems and 12 terrestrial branches. Although this was scientific, most people were illiterate and could not memorize or calculate easily. Thus the animals that influenced people's lives were chosen to symbolize the terrestrial branches： the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep，monkey, rooster, dog and pig.
在古代，我们的祖先认为一年有10个天干和12个地支。虽然这是科学的，大多数人是文盲，无法记忆或计算不容易。因此，这影响了人们的生活，12种动物被选为象征着12地支：鼠，牛，虎，兔，龙，蛇，马，羊，猴，鸡，狗，猪。
For a long time there has been a special relationship between humans and the 12 zodiacal animals. Humans admired them, took them totems, and in the artistic field，those animal signs were among the features of those themes. This can be reflected in artisans' paper-cut works, New- Year pictures, pottery and bronze wares, especially on the bronze mirrors before the appearance of glass ones, on which elaborate forms showed creativity and passion as well as wishes for a good life.
很长一段时间人类和12生肖之间有特殊关系。人类羡慕他们，拿它们做腾图，并在艺术领域里，这些动物的象征着那些主题。这可以体现在工匠的剪纸作品上，新年画，陶器和青铜器，特别是那些青铜器的外观，其精心制作的形状表现出创造力和热情，以及祝愿美好生活。