2020 is the Year of the Rat, or mouse, in China. Mice have been a fixture of life since ancient times, and its figure and image can be found everywhere in human cultural products. However, in Chinese culture, the mouse carries negative connotations for many.

Although the mouse often has a negative image of a creature everyone despises, it is included in the zodiac with the industrious ox, the brave tiger and the alert monkey. Moreover, the mouse can even be the top of the zodiac. So how does the mouse rank first in the Chinese zodiac?

Wash painting painted by Qi Baishi.[Photo/Xinhua]

It is said the 12 zodiac animals were selected and determined by the Jade Emperor, a god in Chinese myth. The animals — ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, chicken, dog, pig and cat — were selected as the 12 zodiac animals, but the ranking was decided after a discussion between the Jade Emperor and the shortlisted animals. The Jade Emperor informed these animals they must enter the palace early the next morning for a meeting.

The cat was very happy to receive the notice. Afraid of oversleeping and delaying the event, the cat told his good friend, the mouse, to wake him early and the mouse agreed.