A video titled "Ancient Chinese Mural Zodiac: ‘Cat Instead of Snake'?" sparked widespread discussion among netizens at the start of 2025. The video showcases murals from the Weishan Tomb in Hunan province, featuring twelve anthropomorphic figures with animal heads and human bodies. These heads represent the monkey, pig, rooster, tiger, horse, goat, dog, cat, ox, dragon, rat, and rabbit.
murals /ˈmjʊrəlz/ 壁画
anthropomorphic /ˌænθrəpəˈmɔːrfɪk/ 拟人化的
“十二生肖”壁画中的“猫” 图源网络
Observant netizens pointed out that, unlike the modern zodiac, this version replaces the snake with a cat. Some humorously commented, "Looks like the Year of the Cat is just around the corner!" and "Perhaps those born in the Year of the Snake were actually born in the Year of the Cat."
图源网络
A staff from Yuelu Academy said, "This appears to be an ancient version of the twelve zodiac animals, differing from the modern one. The specific details are still under research. The exact time period of the mural, as it may not yet have been determined."
The mural was discovered in 2006 in Xinhua, Hunan province. Subsequently, it was removed and transported to Yuelu Academy for preservation and further study. Currently, replicas of the murals are on display on the second floor of the Meseum of Chinese Academy at Yuelu Academy, Hunan University.
网友分享的维山墓壁画“十二生肖”图
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