Time in Ancient China Part one
In ancient times, China, Japan and Korea kept time using the animals of the zodiac. The Chinese zodiac consists of twelve animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. The day is divided into 24 hours so each hour of the animal was actually a two hour time period.
THE HOUR OF THE RAT
This hour starts at 11 pm and ends at 1:00 am. It was believed that during this time rats are the most active since they could have been heard foraging around the home by the occupants if they were awake during this interval.
THE HOUR OF THE OX
This hour started when the hour of the rat ended - 1:00 am to 3:00 am. This was the time ancients would usually feed the oxen.
THE HOUR OF THE TIGER
It is speculated that during the two hour interval of 3 to 5 am the tiger's blood-curdling roar could be heard in the stillness of the early morning
THE HOUR OF THE RABBIT
Rabbits were seen to come out of their holes to eat grass with dew at dawn. This hour started at 5 a.m. and ended at 7 am.
Dragons are central creatures in Chinese mythology and East Asian mythology and folklore on a whole. They serve many roles in the ancient tales and fables. Some are gods, some are monsters, some are evil, some are good, but all were feared. The dragon was believed to have roamed between 7-9 am since morning mists, especially coils around hills, made people think of dragons.
THE HOUR OF THE SNAKE
This refers to the two hour interval between 9 to 11 am. This hour is associated with the snake because ancients observed that snakes come out to sun themselves as the morning sun warms the ground.
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