Once upon a time, a long time ago, rocks could sing there was a friendship between stars of the night sky and fish in a pond. On top of a cloud of white munchies, The Great King of the sky who was looking around the world suddenly made a worried look. 

"Oh, that's a big deal."

"What's going on?" 

The fairy grandmother, also overseeing below the clouds, tilted her head. The lower world looked as peaceful as ever. The ground was green, the sea was blue, and the flowers were waving around and dancing in the breeze.

"Look, look at the people far beyond the mountains. They are badly in need of rain..." 

When the fairy grandmother followed the fingers of the great man in the sky and looked over the mountains, people in the village, as small as their fingernails, were stamping their feet anxiously, watering the thirsty grain. 

"Not just that. On the other hand, people in a village as small as a grain of rice across the river suffer from too much rain, and in a village as small as a pine tree, they are all asleep because of plague."

"The world is too wide to take care of everyone."

"What should we do?”

The Great King and fairy grandmother put their heads together and tried to find a solution to the problem. When they were pondering for a long time, finally a bright idea popped up. 

"Bingo! I'll send twelve animals to people as guardians who can always be with people and protect them!"

So, 12 oriental zodiac animals—a mouse, a cow, a tiger, a rabbit, a dragon, a snake, a land, a horse, a sheep, a monkey, a chicken, a dog, a pig—went down to the earth and looked after people.

And as time went by, the mountain became a road, and buildings as tall as the clouds were built up full of fields. People now fly in the sky and live in a strong, warm house. Twelve animals no longer needed to take care of people. The fairy grandmother was smiling as happily as ever, looking down at the way people lived. But then, something caught the grandmother's eyes. 

Beyond the big building, in a playground as small as a fingernail, a child was crying. It wasn't just that. There was a child across the bridge, lost and wandering, and another kid in the window was so lonely in an alley with no friends. The child who fought with a friend and the child squealing with difficult homework also came into sight.

The world was still wide, and the worries and difficulties were also weighing on the shoulders of small children. 

The fairy grandmother was heartbroken. So, she decided to send the twelve animals that she had brought back in a long time ago to the lower world and protect children. She hoped that the 12 animals would become guardians for children and protect them from hardship and suffering. 

But there was a small problem. She would have been worried that children would be afraid of the guardians because of their fierce looking.

"It can’t be work. You’ll probably scare kids. I'm going to give you a new look. Let's see..." 

“The quick and smart mouse shall turn into a computer-mouse shape for curious and inquisitive children. Help them to learn more from you so they can become the wisest people. I'll give you a tail shaped in a question mark which will be the key to kids' curiosity. It will surely help your children with a lot of questions. Remember. Every answer starts from the questions.”

“The tough yet good-natured ox may go to brave and vigorous children. This golden horn mask has magic in it that brings out courage and strength in the most defining and intimidating moments in life. Resembling you, the children will grow up to be trustworthy and sincere people, always taking the lead and empowering the vulnerable."

“The gallant and playful tiger may go to children as a cute baby tiger. This ‘King’ sign on your forehead will give the kids strength and will to get through any hardships no matter how hard. Protect children’s fragile hearts so they can fearlessly run across the world and have a broad ambition.”

“The friendly, gentle rabbit shall go to children with warm hearts. I will give you this jewel heart that has the power to make the world beautiful and to calm people’s nerves. With you, the children can surely bloom the rich talents and artistic senses inside them. Let them become brilliant people who shine everywhere.”

“The passionate dragon may go to children with high ambitions. Fly together with them, letting kids dream even farther and higher. I'll give you this magic orb, Yeouiju, which will make their dreams come true. Prevent misfortunes with your auspicious energy and help them cultivate their enormous potential so one day they will have the world at their feet.”

“The brilliant and elegant snake may put on this shiny jewel dress, which will help children get along well with other kids. Teach them the secret of becoming friends with anyone and always acting calm and wisely, so they can grow up with a great charm and charisma. Also, let them know that the true jewel dress is nothing but a confident and relaxed manner that brings out a beautiful heart.”

“The cheerful, gregarious horse may carry this star saddle that can take children all the way to the moon. Let children learn from your endurance and accomplishment so they can find the right path for them and go even ’til the end of it.”

“The gentle and understanding sheep may teach children affection and tolerance. I will give you this golden fleece. So, give children a warm embrace with it and help them grow into caring and compassionate people without losing their warm hearts, so they can one day make a great bowl of generosity that can hold the entire world."

“The wise and confident monkey may go to care for children who have a strong sense of justice and a lot of talents. I will give you this red jewel ball, and this will show you the future. Do not let children lose their hope for a bright future even in hardship and help them become positive and aspiring people."

"The diligent chicken is the first one who announces the morning.  I will give you heart-shaped wings so you can fly to the kids in need earlier than anyone. Resembling you, children will lead brightening the world and tell the good news to everyone."

“The patient and thoughtful dog is more trustworthy than any animals. You may turn into a cute puppy and be a good friend to your children. I will give you a golden bow tie that symbolizes never-changing faithfulness. Always be a reliable friend to children and look after them."

"The polite, caring pig has a peaceful, calm, sincere heart. Let me see, what should I give you?" 

Taking a closer look at the pig, the grandmother found a clover-shaped scar in the pig's buttocks which they'd gotten from helping people.

"What a glorious scar! I will give it a magical power so you will always have a good fortune while helping children."

With this kind of warm-hearted transformation, each animal went down to the lower world with a gift to help their children. The animals that went down to the world were wondering how they can always stay with their children. The first thing to do was to become a necklace and decide to help the children anytime and anywhere.

This is the background of the birth of the 12 oriental zodiac animals necklace. The necklaces filled with the beautiful hearts of the fairy grandmothers and animals who wish the children of the earth to be happy and healthy are now looking forward to getting close to children.