In my opinion, the Zodiac is an ancient culture in China. No matter how stupid the ancients were, they would never regard a mouse as the first of the 12 zodiac animals.
In the Chinese zodiac, dragons and tigers are totems worshipped by people, while horses, cows, sheep, chickens, dogs, pigs and rabbits are all domestic animals raised by human beings and are also good friends of human beings.
The remaining three are "monkeys, snakes and rats". There are many other animals. How did these three get into the zodiac spectrum? Rats, in particular, are recognized pests at all times and in all countries. Why are they still the first elephants?
I read a lot of materials, but most of them are fabricated fairy tales, which are not convincing at all.
I think this problem should be analyzed from the evolutionary history of mankind to convince people. I think the mice in the zodiac should be squirrels for the following reasons:
Because there was a "nest" in the evolutionary history of mankind? In the new era, people built nests in trees at that time, so monkeys, snakes and squirrels became human neighbors. Except poisonous snakes, monkeys, non-poisonous snakes and squirrels, they could all be kept as pets. Especially squirrels, lively and lovely. If you raise it, you can't live without people. I raised them when I was young, and I was very considerate.
Everybody think about it. When people live in trees, there are wild animals everywhere. Every day, their lives are unstable, and they even fidget when they sleep. If a squirrel friend calls the police whenever there is an enemy, then we can rest assured.
At that time, the squirrel was man's best friend, and it was completely natural to regard it as the first of the twelve zodiac animals.
But later, I didn't understand why the mouse wanted to usurp the throne. Maybe the gods and ghosts are afraid of the wicked, and the mice are powerful, so they put down their butcher knives and become Buddhas.