Context (Analysis)
They represent the twelve "branches" (shi-sh chi) of the Chinese cycle, but not in the right order which should be as numbered. " The twelve branches" have the names of as many animals, and the ten " stems" (shih kan) are combined in couplets to give multipliers to the branches (Scott. Upper Burma Gazetteer, I.i, p 209). What this means, I do not know, but what appears to happen is that the twelve animals are arranged in decades, the second of which beg" with no. 11 and ends on no. 8, so that each animal gets a different year in each decade of the 60 years cycle and they year is indicated by referring to " the second year of the dog" the fifth of the goat etc. The ?secasenary cycle system is dated by the Chinese from the 61st year of Hwang-Ti' s reign - B.C. 2637. (Information from Professor Hutton)
Event Date
Author: maa

Description (CMS Description)
Twelve small jade animals strung together with a small black bead in between each. They are out of order. From the label they are: 1. The rat. 9. Monkey. 11. Dog. 8. Goat. 10. Cock. 12 Bear. 2. Ox. 3. Tiger. 6. Snake. 4. Hare. 7. Horse. 5. Dragon
Event Date 3/8/1992
Author: maa