Chinese Zodiac Story: The Great Race for Kids

In the Great Race, the Jade Emperor invited the animals to cross a wide river, and the order they finished became the order of the zodiac: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. Here is a version you can read aloud, plus ways to turn it into practice.

The story, ready to read aloud

Long ago, the Jade Emperor wanted a way to measure time. "I will hold a race," he announced. "The first twelve animals to cross the great river will each have a year named after them."

The Rat and the Cat were friends, but neither could swim well. They asked the kind Ox for a ride on his back. Halfway across, the clever Rat pushed the Cat into the water. Just as the Ox reached the shore, the Rat leapt off his head and landed first. So the Rat became the first animal, and the hard-working Ox came second.

The Tiger swam against the strong current and arrived third, tired but proud. The Rabbit hopped from stone to stone and floated the last part on a log, finishing fourth. Everyone expected the Dragon, who could fly, to win — but he arrived fifth. "I stopped to make rain for a dry village," he explained, "and I blew the Rabbit's log toward the shore." The Emperor was pleased with his kindness.

Next came the sound of hooves: the Horse galloped out of the water, but the Snake had been hiding around his leg. It slithered out and frightened him, taking sixth place, so the Horse came seventh. The Goat, the Monkey and the Rooster worked together on a raft, and the Emperor named them eighth, ninth and tenth. The Dog loved playing in the water so much that he came eleventh, and the Pig stopped for a snack and a nap, finishing last of all.

And the Cat? It crawled out of the river too late. Some say that is why cats chase rats to this day.

About the versions

This is a folk tale, and families tell it in many ways — the details of the Dragon's delay, the raft and the Cat change from book to book. What stays the same is the order. If your child hears a different version at school, comparing the two is a great conversation, not a problem.

Questions to talk about

• Was the Rat clever or unfair? What would you have done?
• The Dragon lost places by helping. Was that a good choice?
• Which animal is your year? Which animal is a grandparent's year?
• 2027 is the Year of the Goat. How old will you be?

Turn the story into writing practice

The twelve animal characters are a satisfying set because kids can recite them in order from the story.

• Start easy: 牛 (ox), 羊 (goat) and 狗 (dog) have clear shapes and fewer strokes.
• Then the middle: 鼠 (rat), 兔 (rabbit), 马 (horse), 鸡 (rooster) and 猪 (pig).
• Save the hard ones: 龙 (dragon), 虎 (tiger), 蛇 (snake) and 猴 (monkey) once stroke order feels comfortable.

A good routine is three animals a day for four days, in race order. On the fifth day, read the story again and ask your child to write each animal as it reaches the shore. Younger children can simply trace and color; older ones can try a short quiz with the pinyin shown and the characters blank.

For a class, act it out: twelve kids, twelve name cards with the characters, and a "river" of blue paper. Each animal holds up its card as it finishes.

Try it

FAQ

Keep practicing

• Chinese zodiac worksheets
• Chinese New Year worksheets
• Stroke order worksheet
• HSK / YCT word lists

← All guides