From many aspects, the twelve zodiac signs should have originated in China. The reasons are as follows:
First: In the book "Lunheng" written by Wang Chong of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the twelve zodiac signs were There are more systematic and clear records. From his records in "Mao Shi Chapter", "Poisonous Words Chapter" and "Ridicule Chapter", we can see that the following are rat, ugly ox, Yin tiger, Mao rabbit, Chen dragon, Si snake, Wu horse, Wei sheep, Shen The concepts of monkey, rooster, dog and pig were quite clear in the Eastern Han Dynasty.
Second: In the "Book of Zhou" Volume 11 "Jin Dang Gonghu Zhuan", the zodiac signs have been explained in detail. For example: "In the past, we were brothers who were born in Wuchuan Town. The older one was born in the year of rat, the younger one was in the year of rabbit, and you are in the year of snake."
Third: According to the archaeological unearthed data "Rishu", it can be seen that the Qin Dynasty has Generally speaking, the twelve earthly branches are connected with the twelve beasts. (Although the twelve beasts at that time were different from the twelve beasts later)
Fourth: In the ancient books of the pre-Qin Dynasty, such as "The Book of Songs. Xiaoya. Jiri" and "Book of Rites" Volume 17 There are also some records in "Yue Ling" and "Wu Yue Chun Qiu" Volume 4 "He Lu Nei Zhuan", but whether it is the chronology of the twelve zodiac animals is still controversial.
Judging from the above examples, there were twelve animals, or twelve zodiac signs, before the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods and even in the Zhou Dynasty. This shows that the Twelve Beasts have a long history in China, and it also shows that the Twelve Beasts were invented by the Chinese themselves, rather than being introduced from the West or other places. Their origin must be the Central Plains of China.