Zodiac statues - Jyuunizo

Japanese: 十二支像 - じゅうにしぞう

They are also called the twelve animals or the twelve elements. They represent directions and times, and are assigned to the twelve branches (Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig) which are used in combination with the ten stems to control the seasons and personnel changes. They are the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. It is said that the twelve signs (the zodiac), which developed as astrology in West Asia, were brought to China from India through Buddhism and other sources. In Lunheng, written by Wang Chong of the Later Han Dynasty, the twelve signs of the zodiac are explained according to the theory of the mutual destruction of the five elements.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

十二生肖，十二属ともいう。方位や時刻を表し，十干と組み合わせて歳時や人事の変化運用にあてる十二支(子丑寅卯辰巳午未申酉戌亥)に配当された動物。つまり，ネズミ，ウシ，トラ，ウサギ，タツ，ヘビ，ウマ，ヒツジ，サル，トリ，イヌ，イノシシである。西アジアの占星術として発達した十二宮(黄道十二宮)が，インドから仏教などを通じて中国にもたらされたのではないかといわれる。後漢の王充の著した《論衡》物勢では，五行相剋説にしたがって十二支像を説明している。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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