HOW THE RAT WON THE RACE

  
 

According to Chinese folklore, the animals quarrelled as to who was to head the cycle of years. The gods were asked to decide and they held a contest: whoever was first to reach the opposite bank of the river would be first, and the rest of the animals would receive their years according to their finish.

All twelve animals gathered at the river bank and jumped in. Unknown to the ox, the rat had jumped upon his back. As the ox was about to jump ashore, the rat jumped off the ox's back, won the race and was duly rewarded for its intelligence and cunning. 

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