Rabbit and Similar Chinese Pronunciation Changed to Cat
2011 Year of the Cat Also Triggered a Baby Boom
[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] As Vietnam welcomes the new year of 2023, the Year of the Water Rabbit (Gyemyo-nyeon, 癸卯年), cat decorations are filling the streets, attracting the attention of tourists. Unlike other East Asian countries, Vietnam includes a cat instead of a rabbit in its 12 zodiac animals, and every year with the character 'Myo (卯)' is recognized as symbolized by the cat.
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) in Hong Kong on the 23rd, cat decorations have been installed nationwide across Vietnam to celebrate the Lunar New Year holiday. SCMP reports that among the 12 zodiac animals, Vietnam differs from other countries in two animals: a cat replaces the rabbit, and a water buffalo replaces the ox in the zodiac.
In Vietnam, the 12 zodiac signs are called 'Thu Bi,' and the creation myth of the 12 zodiac animals is similar to those of China and other East Asian countries. However, while in Korean and Chinese folklore the cat was eliminated from the 12 zodiac competition, in Vietnamese folklore, despite interference from the rat, the cat secured the fourth position.
The change from ox to water buffalo in Vietnam’s unique 12 zodiac signs is a natural regional variation, but the replacement of the rabbit with the cat has several theories. The most plausible theory is that the Chinese character for rabbit, 'Myo (卯),' and the character for cat, 'Myo (猫),' have similar Chinese pronunciations, so the zodiac may have been altered during its transmission from China to Vietnam.
Another theory is that since rice farming and maritime trade were the main industries in Vietnam, cats, which catch rats, were very useful animals and thus valued more than rabbits, leading to the cat’s inclusion in the 12 zodiac signs. The Year of the Cat especially symbolizes good luck and smooth sailing in Vietnam, and in 2011, this belief led to a baby boom with a sudden increase in newborns.
Meanwhile, Vietnam calls the Lunar New Year 'Tet,' one of the biggest holidays of the year, usually celebrated with about a week-long holiday including the weekend. This year, the Vietnamese government announced a 7-day holiday from the 20th to the 26th.
Also, due to the significant temperature difference between the south and north, the Lunar New Year scenes vary greatly. The north, including the capital Hanoi, experiences a winter season similar to Korea, while the southern Ho Chi Minh area endures heat approaching 30 degrees Celsius.
The northern region decorates with pink peach blossoms, and the southern region with yellow apricot blossoms to celebrate Tet. Pink peach blossoms are said to symbolize health and wealth, while yellow apricot blossoms represent academic luck and the expulsion of evil spirits from the home.
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