In the eyes of China people, cattle have always enjoyed an honorable position. It has played an extremely important role in the development of farming culture and is a close partner of human beings. Cattle, buffaloes, cows and yaks are still closely related to our lives, and we work hard to plow, transport and milk. Meat, bones, horns, skin, hair and dung are all useless.
Poets of all ages have always praised cows, such as the poems of Wei Zhuang and Du Fu in the Tang Dynasty: "Cows crow in the depths of green mulberry" and "An inch of barren land makes cows plow". Lu Xun praised the cow for "eating grass and milking milk" and confessed that "bowing down is a willing cow", which can be said to be well known to all women and children. In the dusty classics, cows are also closely related to many political and military events and celebrities.
In ancient times, the princes were blood-sucking allies, holding the bull's ear in the bead plate, and the main ally held the plate, so the main ally was called "holding the bull's ear". "Zuo Zhuan's seventeen years of mourning for the public" said: "The alliance of governors, who holds the bull's ear." Since then, people have extended "leading the way" to a leading position in a certain aspect.
Cattle are also used in wars, such as the "Fire Bull Array" recorded in the history books. In 279 BC, King Hui of Yan acceded to the throne, and Qi sent Tian Dan to surrender to the Yan army. He also used more than a thousand oxen, with a lance tied to the horn and a reed tied to the tail. At night, the fire was lit, and the fire oxen rushed forward, followed by 5, warriors. As a result, the Yan army was defeated, and Tian Dan recovered more than 7 cities one after another.
There is also a legend that Lao Zi rode a green cow. "Biography of Immortals" said: "I traveled to the west, and Yin Xi saw that there was a purple floating customs, but I passed by the green cow." Laozi came out of Hangu Pass, and later generations wrote a famous couplet at Hangu Pass: "Tian Wen is not allowed to ride lightly; I am willing to ride an ox again every time I meet Lao Tzu. "
There are many words composed of "ox" in ancient books, such as "ox wine", which is not the name of a kind of wine, but an article made of ox and wine as a reward, comfort and gift in ancient times, and "offering ox wine to work in a military camp" (Biography of Zang Guan in the Later Han Dynasty). Later, "ox wine" was extended to another name of a gift. There is also the word "cattle and horses go". At the beginning of Sima Qian's "Letter to Ren An", he said that "Taishi Gong cattle and horses go to Sima Qian to worship again". "Cattle and horses go" refers to the servant who runs between them and is in charge of them. Later, it will be used as a proxy for self-modesty, just like saying "me" and "me".
among the painters of the older generation, Mr. Li Keran is one whom I admire very much. His character and paintings are all valued by the world. His painting studio is called "Shi Niu Tang". In fact, he is the hardworking, tenacious, helpful and indifferent old cow! During his long artistic career, he studied and painted cows, and contributed countless excellent works to the people.
I like his "Cattle Grazing Map". The gentle old cow and the innocent shepherd boy live in harmony in the drawing, and the background is so colorful, or the spring breeze willows, or the maple leaves are like fire, or the crows fly home, or the misty rain is far away. The buffalo image he created shows a national spiritual temperament, down-to-earth and silent dedication. With superb pen and ink techniques, he shows the various poses of buffalo in a very general way, whether it is walking or stopping, standing or lying, straight or side, all of which are lifelike, and pays special attention to the authenticity of details, such as "the cow nose is really painted like wet", which embodies the meaning of "the cow nose has moisture". And those shepherds, playful and innocent, expressed the expectation of human beings to return to childhood at a higher level. Li Keran wrote inscriptions on these paintings to praise the noble character of cattle from different angles, such as "those who give more, those who take less"; "Cows are also powerful, bowing their heads and not trying to be brave, and working hard for agriculture all their lives without taking credit."
Around us, there are many people with cow's character and disposition, such as "pioneer cow" who dares to blaze new trails, "old ox" who bears hardships and stands hard work, "old stubborn cow" who looks for the truth but does not give in, and "newborn calf" who is young and brave in difficulties and dangers ... How can it not be awe-inspiring!