Over 200 years ago, in the Old Summer Palace, before it experienced that devastating plunder, the zodiac animal heads had not yet been scattered across the world. Arranged in the shape of the number eight, these bronze statues would automatically spout water corresponding to each time period. At noon every day, all twelve fountains would activate simultaneously, creating the most iconic scene of this fountain clock. The magnificent spectacle is not only defined by its exquisite craftsmanship but also by the profound cognitive system people have developed to comprehend the vastness of the universe and all things.

Two to three thousand years ago, the Chinese people created this system, combining the ten heavenly stems with the twelve earthly branches to represent each year. The twelve zodiac animals were selected as auspicious symbols for the twelve earthly branches. Unlike the Western zodiac with its twelve constellations, the Chinese zodiac assigns a philosophical dimension to the passage of time, emphasizing the unity of heaven and humanity and the spiritual essence of all things, forming the marvelous culture of the zodiac. This system gradually spread beyond China and persists in its original form in Japan, Korea, North Korea, and Singapore, while evolving into various versions in other countries and regions.

If a zodiac clock were to be built today, the style would undoubtedly be vastly different. In Thailand, the clock would start with the Snake. In Cambodia, the most revered Ox would be upgraded to the top of the zodiac. In the Vietnamese version, the character Mao for rabbit was misheard as Mao (cat), so the Chinese Year of the Rabbit became the Vietnamese Year of the Cat. As the clock travels to India, the Tiger would be replaced by the Lion, and the Rooster would become the Garuda. In Turkey, the Dragon would transform into a crocodile. From Egypt to Greece, the donkey, crab, crane, and eagle have been introduced to the zodiac lineup. In ancient Babylonia, the most surprising addition was the beetle, or dung beetle, making the species diversity quite extensive. However, the most significant deviation is found in Myanmar, where the twelve zodiac signs have been directly reduced to eight. People born there have a unique zodiac sign for each of the seven days of the week.

It seems that people love to believe that the zodiac is a relic of mythical tales, containing some mysterious secrets or a certain mission. These small animals can transcend national borders, languages, and races, striking a chord, perhaps because they touch upon a universal theme for humanity: time. Regardless of East or West, year after year, the anticipation for a vibrant and exciting year ahead remains the most fundamental expectation for everyone.