Harvest Mouse

According to a well-known Chinese tale,
the Jade Emperor invited twelve animals to a great race.

The Rat, knowing it could not outrun the others,
asked the Ox for a ride across the river.
Just before the finish line,
it leapt from the Ox's back and became the first animal of the zodiac.

The story is not really about winning a race.
It is about finding a way.
As the first animal in the zodiac cycle,
the Rat came to represent beginnings,
adaptability, and survival in changing circumstances.

In traditional Chinese folk culture,
the Rat is also associated with abundance and continuity of life,
as its presence was once seen as a sign of full granaries and thriving households.

A new cycle often begins in unexpected ways.