Creation
Giuseppe Castiglione (1688-1766), an Italian missionary in China, designed the 12 statues of the water clock fountain for Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
Inspiration came from the Chinese Zodiac system, based on a twelve-year cycle, with each year related to an animal sign. In order, they are rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. The cycle is calculated according to the Chinese lunar calendar.
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