The symbolic meaning of sheep
The first symbolic meaning of sheep: virtue
Sheep are naturally beautiful, symbolizing purity and preciousness. In ancient people's opinion, sheep are a symbol of beauty and kindness. There is a poem called "Lamb" in the Book of Songs, which uses a lamb to describe a noble doctor. The nature of sheep is gentle, and the meaning of sheep is kindness, easy-going, and good luck. In "Shuowen" there is a saying that "beauty and goodness are synonymous". Sheep have the desire to kneel down to nurse, and lambs seem to understand the hardships and hardships of their mothers, so they kneel down to nurse. Therefore, the kneeling breast of the lamb has been endowed with the meaning of "the most filial piety" and "knowledge of etiquette". "Spring and Autumn Fanlu" records: "When a lamb eats from its mother, it will kneel down and receive it, like a person who knows etiquette."
The second symbolic meaning of sheep: good luck and good fortune
"Sheep" was connected with "xiang" in ancient times, and "xiang" can also be written as "auspicious sheep", which means good luck and good luck. The sheep is also a symbol of "auspiciousness". In ancient times, some people hung a sheep's head on their door at the beginning of the year, gave sheep as gifts during social interactions, or used sheep as betrothal gifts, all of which were considered auspicious. It is said that when an antelope sleeps at night, it will find a tree, find a right position, jump hard, and hang its horns on the branch of the tree to ensure that its entire body is suspended in the air and other beasts cannot reach it. Regarding the origin of the antelope's horns, it was first seen in "Piya·Shi Beast": the antelope sleeps at night with its horns hanging from the tree, without touching the ground, leaving no trace, to prevent enemies.
The third symbolic meaning of sheep: perseverance
If you see sheep-like white clouds floating in the blue sky in the early morning, this is a symbol of life and happiness. symbol. The ancient Romans also believed that if the first animal they saw that day was a sheep, it symbolized love and happiness. “Christ calls himself the Good Shepherd” because of the gentle and peaceful nature of sheep. Sheep will follow people obediently in the wilderness without water or grass. Sheep have strong endurance and keep moving forward, which are the characteristics of people born in the Year of the Sheep. It looks gentle but has great vitality.
Famous breeds of sheep
Boer goats
Hengyuan Boer goat lambs
Boer goat: is an excellent meat Use goat breeds. This variety is native to South Africa and has been introduced for seed use by many African countries as well as New Zealand, Australia, Germany, the United States, Canada and other countries. Since the first batch of Boer goats were introduced from Germany in 1995, many regions including Jiangsu, Shandong, Shaanxi, Shanxi, Sichuan, Guangxi, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Henan and Beijing have also introduced some Boer goats and passed pure The multiplication group gradually expanded to surrounding areas and all over the country, showing good meat characteristics, wide adaptability, high economic value and significant hybrid vigor.
The wool color of the Boer goat is white, the head and neck are reddish brown, and there is a red hair band on the neck. Boer goats have wide, drooping ears and short, thin coat. The legs are short, the limbs are strong, the hindquarters are plump and muscular. It has strong fecundity and can usually give birth to three babies in two years. Lambs grow and develop quickly, have good growth rates, high meat production capabilities, and strong feed intake. They are currently the most popular meat goat breed in the world.
1. Boer goat is a meat goat breed with large body size, fast growth, strong fecundity and many lambs, high slaughter rate and large meat production, tender meat, good palatability, and tolerance to roughness. Feeding, strong adaptability, strong disease resistance and stable genetics.
2. Appearance characteristics
2.1 Head
The head is thick, with big, brown eyes; the mouth and jaw structure are good; the forehead is prominent, and the curve is consistent with the nose The horns are curved accordingly, and the nose is aquiline-shaped; the horns are solid and medium in length. The ram's horn base is thick and curved backward and outward, while the ewe's horns are thin and upright; there is a mane; the ears are long and large, wide and drooping.
2.2 Neck
The neck is thick, moderate in length, and proportional to the body length; the shoulders are broad and fleshy, the body and armor are proportional, the armor is broad and not sharp, the chest is deep and wide, and the neck is The chest is well integrated.
2.3 Body and abdomen
The forequarters are well developed and muscular; the body is deep, broad and cylindrical; the ribs are opened commensurate with the waist, the back is broad and straight; the abdomen is compact; The rump
金文
is wide and long, with full muscles in the buttocks and legs; the tail is straight, with a thick and upturned tail root.
2.4 Limbs
The limbs are straight, short and stout, with tough pastern joints, solid hoof shells and black color; the forelimbs are of moderate length and well-proportioned.
2.5 Skin and coat
The skin of the whole body is soft, and there are obvious wrinkles on the neck and chest, especially the rams. There are stains on the eyelids and hairless parts. The hair on the whole body is thin, short, shiny, and has a small amount of hair. The head, neck and ears are brownish red. The head, neck and forequarters are brownish-red, with brown allowed, and there is a white band from the forehead to the lip. The body, chest, abdomen and front skin are white, with brown-red spots allowed. The tail is brownish red and is allowed to extend to the buttocks.
2.6 Sexual organs
Ewes have a pair of well-structured udders. Rams have a pendulous scrotum with two evenly sized, well-structured and larger testicles.
The average weight is 65-75 kg and 90-150 kg. Mutton has moderate fat content and good carcass quality. For sheep with an average weight of 41 kg, the slaughter rate was 52.4, and the average lamb carcass weight was 15.6 kg.
Small Tail Han Sheep
China’s national treasure, the Small Tail Han Sheep, is the most outstanding breed of sheep in our country. It is rated as "universal" by domestic and foreign sheep raising experts and known as "China's national treasure". With its low price and generous returns, it has been the first choice project of the central poverty alleviation project to promote agriculture through science and technology for many years.
Small-tailed Han Sheep[1] is an excellent local breed that can be used both for meat and fur. Multiple births are high, with two births in one year or five births in three years, with 3 to 5 lambs per birth, and up to 8 in many cases; fast growth, tall individuals, one-year-old rams are more than one meter tall, weighing more than 180 kilograms, and one-year-old ewes are tall More than 80 centimeters, weighing more than 120 kilograms, strong adaptability, resistant to rough feeding, easy to raise; adaptable to both free-range and captive breeding; extremely strong immunity. The annual profit from raising a suitable ewe is more than 1,000 yuan. People in the production area said with deep understanding: "Raising a small-tailed Han sheep is better than growing an acre of grain."
Small-tailed Han sheep are It is a well-known sheep breed for both meat and fur in my country and even the world. It has the advantages of early maturity, multiple fetuses, multiple lambs, fast growth, large body, large meat production, good fur, stable genetics and strong adaptability. It can be fattened and slaughtered at the age of 4 months, with an annual slaughter rate of more than 400; it can be bred and fertilized at the age of 6 months, with 2 litters per year, 2 to 6, sometimes as high as 8; the average lambing rate per litter is more than 266, every year Up to more than 500; weight can reach 40 kilograms at 6 months old, 88 kilograms at one year old, and adult sheep can reach 100 to 120 kilograms. Among the sheep breeds in the world, the small-tailed Han sheep has high yield, large size and good efficiency. It eats green grass and straw, dedicates "deliciousness" and "beauty" to humans, and gives "gold" and "gold" to farmers. silver". It is not only one of the best projects for farmers to get rid of poverty and become prosperous, but also the most reliable project for the government's poverty alleviation work. It is also an important measure for the country to close mountains and return farmland, plant grass and raise sheep, and build ecological agriculture.
High-legged and small-tailed Han Sheep
It has the advantages of producing more meat, good fur, stable genetics and strong adaptability. It can be fattened for slaughter at the age of 4 months, with an annual slaughter rate of more than 400; it can be bred and fertilized at the age of 6 months, with 2 litters per year, 2 to 6, sometimes as high as 8; the average lambing rate per litter is more than 266, every year Up to more than 500; weight can reach 50 kilograms at 6 months of age, 100 kilograms at one year old, and 130 to 190 kilograms for adult sheep. Among the sheep breeds in the world, the small-tailed Han sheep has been designated as a famous livestock breed by the country due to its high yield, large size, and good efficiency. It is known as China's "national treasure", the world's "super sheep" and the "high-leg sheep" breed. .
[2]
Appearance characteristics: Tall individual, well-proportioned body structure, white fur, raised nose bridge, large drooping ears, round fat tail, upturned tail tip, tail length no longer than the hock; broad and deep chest , the ribs are open, the back and waist are straight, the body is long and cylindrical, the limbs are high, strong and straight. Rams have large heads and thick necks, with large spiral-shaped horns, while ewes have small heads, long necks, mostly horns, and well-developed hindquarters.
Variety characteristics: early maturity, rapid early growth and development, tall body, good meat quality, estrus in all seasons, strong fecundity, hereditary
Oracle
Stable and other characteristics.
Production performance: two births a year or five births every three years, with 3 to 5 lambs per litter, and up to 8 lambs; the average weight of one-year-old rams is 85 kg, and that of ewes is 62 kg; Adult rams weigh 98 kg and ewes weigh 70 kg. The average shearing weight is 3.5 kg for rams and 2 kg for ewes. They come into heat 5 to 6 months early when they mature and can produce lambs that year. The lambing rate is 260 to 270.
Suitable areas: Northeast, North China, Northwest, Southwest and other places.
Main uses: This breed is an excellent female parent material for the development of mutton sheep production in my country or the cross-breeding of mutton sheep breeds to develop lamb meat production.
How to identify breeding rams: Large male sheep are good at fighting, that is, two sheep collide with each other with their heads. The one of the same age that wins the fight is healthier.
How to choose Species: Tall individual, well-proportioned body structure, white fur, raised nose bridge, large drooping ears, rounded fat tail, upturned tail tip, tail length no longer than the hock; broad and deep chest, open ribs, straight back and waist, long body It is cylindrical in shape, with high limbs, strong and straight. Rams have large heads and thick necks, with large spiral horns, while ewes have small heads, long necks, most have horns, and well-developed hindquarters
Dorper sheep
Dorper sheep are from South Africa The meat sheep breed has the characteristics of early maturity, rapid growth and development, strong feeding ability, strong adaptability, and obvious meat characteristics. Dorper sheep are bred from a cross between Horned Tauset sheep and Persian black-headed sheep. They were originally bred and raised in the drier areas of South Africa. They are famous for their strong adaptability, rapid early growth and development, and good carcass quality. Dorper sheep are divided into two types: white-headed and black-headed.
1. Appearance characteristics: Dorper sheep have a unique barrel-shaped body, no horns, short, dark, black or white hair on the head, and short and sparse light-colored hair on the body (mainly in the Front half), there are obvious dry and dead hairs on the abdomen.
2. Breed characteristics: Dorper sheep are extremely adaptable and have good adaptability to different climates and grazing conditions in South Africa. It has a wide feeding habit and is not picky about food. It can
Saanen Dairy Goat
Origin: Originated in Switzerland, it is the representative of dairy goat breeds and has the widest distribution. Unless the climate is very hot or It is found in almost all countries in the world except in very cold areas, and more than half of the dairy goat breeds are related to it.
Salient features: It has the typical body shape characteristics of dairy livestock, with well-developed hindquarters. The coat is white, sometimes with light yellow tips. It has four long appearance characteristics, namely long head, long neck, long trunk, long limbs, well-developed hindquarters and well-developed breasts. Both male and female sheep have beards, and most of them have no horns.
Breed overview: Originated in Switzerland, it is one of the best dairy goat breeds in the world and is the representative type of dairy goat. Almost half of the existing dairy goat breeds contain Saanen dairy goat blood to varying degrees [3].
Appearance characteristics: It has the typical body shape of dairy livestock, with well-developed hindquarters. The coat is white, sometimes with light yellow tips. It has four long appearance characteristics, namely, long head, long neck, long trunk, and long limbs. Both male and female sheep have beards, and most of them have no horns.
Production performance: Adult rams weigh 75 to 100.0 kg, up to 120.0 kg, ewes 5
Goats
0 to 65.0 kg, up to 90.0 kg, Ewes have good lactation performance, with a lactation period of 8 to 10 months, and can produce 600 to 1200.0 kg of milk. The milk production varies greatly depending on the conditions in different countries. The highest individual milk production record is 3430 kg. The lambing rate of ewes is generally 170-180.0, and the highest can reach 200-220.0.
White Goat: The whole body of the white goat is full of treasures. White goat meat is delicious, rich in protein, and low in fat and cholesterol. It is one of the important meat products for humans. Goat milk has a lower fat content than cow's milk and is easy to digest and absorb. Therefore, goat meat and milk are ideal foods for humans, especially middle-aged and elderly people, children and patients with high blood pressure and heart disease. The ancients listed them as precious supplements. Goat skin is an important raw material for high-end leather products.
Reproduction and Feeding Management Goats mature earlier than sheep. The age of first mating varies by breed and region. Generally, early-maturing varieties are 8 to 12 months old, late-maturing varieties are about 18 months old, and young ones are first mated. Ewe weight is equivalent to more than 70% of adult weight. Female goats have obvious signs of estrus such as meowing and tail wagging. Estrus lasts for 1 to 2 days, and the estrus cycle lasts for 18 to 20 days. Most breeds
Goat
are bred in autumn and winter. However, some varieties, especially those distributed in low latitudes, can be in estrus all year round, producing three crops every two years or two crops a year. The gestation period is 146 to 150 days. The lambing rate is generally above 150. Ewes that give birth to their first lambs usually give birth to a single lamb, and after the second litter, they often give birth to two or three lambs.
Mainly grazing. In pastoral areas and mountainous areas, animals are grazed all year round, with supplementary feeding only during heavy snowfall and before and after lambing of ewes. In agricultural areas, farmers tend to raise animals dispersedly, using riversides, roadsides and other open spaces for seasonal grazing or grazing. In places where there are no grazing conditions, some animals are housed all year round. During the green grass season, each sheep is fed 3 to 5 kilograms of mowed grass per day; during the dry grass season, each sheep is fed 1 to 1.5 kilograms of hay per day. Breeding rams, late pregnancy and lactating ewes should be supplemented with concentrate. It is heat-resistant, but it is afraid of strong wind and cold rain, so it is necessary to protect it from cold and rain. Take a medicated bath two weeks after shearing. Male lambs not used for breeding are castrated about half a month after birth.
Lingzhou black goat meat is rich in protein and amino acid composition, which is closer to the needs of the human body. It can improve the body's disease resistance, nourish the spleen and stomach, strengthen muscles and bones, reduce phlegm and wind, and quench thirst. The effect of saliva. It has the effects of nourishing yin and strengthening yang, replenishing deficiency and strengthening the body, improving human immunity, prolonging life and beautifying the body. Especially it has obvious nourishing effect on the elderly, frail and sick patients, and is suitable for both young and old. Sheep like to eat leaves, such as locust leaves, elm leaves, acacia acacia leaves, poplar leaves, wolfberry leaves, albizia leaves, mulberry leaves, oak leaves, etc. The crude protein content of these leaves is around 20% based on dry matter. They are non-toxic and nutritious. They are a source of fat for sheep and fat preservation in winter. Therefore, in the cold winter months, when the sheep cannot graze far away, the sheep can be driven to the woods, riverbanks, and roads to eat these leaves. Some leaves contain tannins and have an astringent taste, which sheep do not like to eat. Oleander leaves, castor leaves, and sumac leaves are poisonous and feeding is strictly prohibited.
Nanjiang Yellow Sheep (Asian Yellow Sheep)
Originally produced in Nanjiang County, Sichuan, my country’s animal husbandry scientists applied the principles of modern livestock genetics and breeding and used artificial selection and multi-variety complex hybridization methods. It became my country’s first new breed of meat goat. In 1995 and 1996, it passed on-site identification and reexamination by the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resources Management Committee, and it was determined that Nanjiang Yellow Sheep is the new goat breed with the best meat performance in my country. It was officially named by the Ministry of Agriculture and issued a "New Livestock and Poultry Breed Certificate". Nanjiang Yellow Sheep (Asian Yellow Sheep) is native to Nanjiang County, Sichuan. It is my country's first new meat goat breed that was developed through artificial selection and multi-variety complex hybridization methods by Chinese animal husbandry scientists applying the principles of modern livestock genetics and breeding. In 1995 and 1996, it passed on-site identification and reexamination by the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resources Management Committee, and it was determined that Nanjiang Yellow Sheep is the new goat breed with the best meat performance in my country. It was officially named by the Ministry of Agriculture and issued the "New Livestock and Poultry Breed Certificate".
Nanjiang yellow sheep are bred using complex breeding and crossbreeding methods, using Newbin dairy goats, Chengdu Mayangs, and Jintang black goats as the male parent, and Nanjiang County local goats as the female parent, and later introduced to Toggenberg Dairy goat blood. At present, among the goat breeds in my country, they are the breed group with better meat production performance.
The cultural tradition of sheep
Historical origins
Sheep are the animal food most closely related to the lives of ancient ancestors. Sheep accompanied the Chinese nation into civilization and was closely related to The development of the traditional culture of the Chinese nation has deep historical origins, which affects the emergence and development of our country's writing, food, morality, etiquette, aesthetics and other cultures.
Chinese characters are one of the oldest and most widely used characters in the world. The origin and development of Chinese characters are closely related to the civilization of the Chinese nation. It is the basic carrier of traditional Chinese culture. Chinese characters contain extremely rich information and are the most powerful "original" means of recording, reflecting, and revealing the development process of the ancient culture of the Chinese nation. Record". Our country’s early writing is like the fossil of ancient culture, recording ancient culture and the concepts of ancient people. Chinese characters are like a specimen, inheriting ancient Chinese culture. Sheep culture is a traditional culture with Chinese national characteristics.
In the Han Dynasty, Xu Shen interpreted the word "sheep" and said: "It is beautiful and sweet. Follow the sheep and follow the big ones." Qu Dajun in the late Ming Dynasty and early Qing Dynasty applied Xu Shen's model and said in "Guangdong News": " There are few sheep and many fish in the southeast, and some people in the coastal areas do not know the taste of sheep. There are many sheep in the northwest, but there are few fish. The same is true for the people who have both, so the words "fish" and "sheep" are used as "fresh". "
"Sheep" and "Xiang" are both holidays. Dong Zhongshu, a great scholar of the Western Han Dynasty, said: "Sheep are auspicious, so they are used in auspicious rituals." "Hanshu Nanyue Zhi" records: "At the time of Wei Tuo, there were five-colored sheep, which were considered auspicious." [6]
In the old days, Han folk had a custom of "giving sheep away" every year. "The sixth day of June is overcast, and cattle and sheep are as valuable as gold." It is also believed that those born in the year of horse, dog, and rat should avoid the day of sheep, and those born in the year of sheep should avoid rat, cow, and horse. , dog day.
The horse-riding game of "Sheep in the Mouth" is popular among Kazakhs, Mongolians, Tajiks and other ethnic groups. On festive days, people herd a sheep a few hundred meters away, and the riders divided into teams to grab it.
The Xibe people have a wedding custom of "grabbing the sheep bones", and then let them choose a drink. The one who drinks the wine is lucky, and then he has to drink three glasses in a row. Afterwards, brothers and sisters from both sides grabbed the sheep bones. Family harmony and prosperity.
The social custom of "respecting guests with a sheep's head" is popular among Kazakhs in Xinjiang. When new friends arrive, a sheep is slaughtered to entertain them during the meal.
Guangzhou is known as the Sheep City, which comes from a beautiful legend: During the reign of King Zhou Yi, five immortals rode five sheep with six bunches of grain ears in their mouths and came to Chuting (the ancient name of Guangzhou) and presented the ears of grain to May there never be famine here, people. The immortal's words faded away, and the sheep turned into stone. Today, there is a Five Sheep Book in Guangzhou's Yuexiu Mountain Park, on which stands an 11-meter-high stone sculpture, which has become a famous urban sculpture at home and abroad - the Five Sheep Sculpture.
In the Ming Dynasty, there was a folk saying: "When cattle eat grass, it is like watering; when sheep eat grass, it is like burning." This means that if cows eat grass, the grass can still grow, but if sheep eat grass, the roots of the grass will be destroyed.
Health
From a cultural perspective, the key to the occurrence of human civilization is the invention of planting plants and feeding animals. If humans could not plant plants and raise animals, they would always be in the primitive stage of fishing, hunting and gathering, and civilization would not be possible. The transition from extractive fishing and hunting production to productive agriculture and animal husbandry is a great revolution in human society. This great revolution brought great changes to human society, and the way of living began to transition from wandering to settled, thus gradually bidding farewell to the instinctive production activities and living ways left over from the animal kingdom.
The myth of "Five Sheep Holding the Grain" is said to have occurred in the Zhou Dynasty not long after our country entered a civilized society and the animal husbandry industry was already very developed. The Chinese nation cannot enter a civilized society without a material foundation. In our country, the first step is the development of animal husbandry. Sheep were the first to be domesticated, thus solving the problem of hunger and good meals for our ancestors. From eating fish to eating sheep is a material manifestation of the progress of Chinese food civilization. Therefore, sheep are the most important to the activities and lives of the Yan and Huang ancestors. From the age of fishing and hunting, when wild animals were the main source of food, to the age of animal husbandry, when people learned to adopt and accumulate prey, food was accumulated.
"Animal" is the beginning of food accumulation. The five animals have become the staple food of health-preserving food, among which sheep are the main ones. Therefore, "sheep" has become the "food" for "nurturing" health, and "food" and "sheep" constitute "Nurture"; "shan" (connected with meal in ancient times) means there is a sheep in the mouth, and "die" means eating sheep to fill the stomach. The word "moon" indicates that meat was the main food at that time.
Virtue
Sheep are naturally beautiful, symbolizing purity and preciousness. In China, the original meaning of beauty and aesthetic consciousness originate from eating. The original sense of beauty contained in the word "beauty", that is, the aesthetic sense of taste, is the precursor of other human aesthetics. The worship of taste aesthetics is the source of human aesthetic activities.
Another theory of the origin of the word "beautiful" is that it comes from the people in ancient times who wore sheep's horns and sang and danced during labor or festivals.
Goodness In the ancient people's concept, the sheep is a symbol of goodness. There is a poem called "Lamb" in the Book of Songs, which uses a lamb to describe a noble doctor. "Shuowen" says that "beauty and goodness are synonymous".
Being gregarious is an important characteristic of sheep. "The Book of Songs" has "Who says you have no sheep, there are three hundred-dimensional flocks." Xu Xuan in "Shuowen" notes: "Sheep are good at flocking." This gave rise to "the masses", which reflects the Chinese nation's emphasis on groups. [7]
Filial piety The lamb seems to understand the hardships and hardships of its mother, so it kneels when feeding. The kneeling breast of the lamb has been endowed with the meaning of "the most filial piety" and "knowledge of etiquette". "Spring and Autumn Fanlu" says: "When a lamb eats from its mother, it will kneel down and receive it, like a person who knows etiquette."
Fa In ancient times, the word "fa" was "狋". According to the explanation of "Shuowen": "It is as flat as water. If you touch it and it is not straight, go away." It means that the Dharma should be as flat as a bowl of water, so it should be "water"; "廌" is the ancient There is a legendary one-horned sacred sheep, the Xie Zhi, which is loyal and loyal. When someone fights, it will touch the wrong party with its horn, so the two words "匌" and "Qu" are used on the right half. The legendary Haechi is a symbol of fairness, impartial law enforcement and avoiding evil.
Yiyi means principles or actions that are fair and appropriate, and actions that are in line with justice or the public welfare are "righteousness". Sheep gives people a feeling of goodness. Sheep are sacrificed for people's lives or sacrifices. The Haechi sacred sheep notarizes and enforces laws. Therefore, sheep are things with "righteousness".
Music Jiegu, known as "the first of the eight tones", is made of sheepskin. After working, primitive people liked to wear sheep horns and sing and dance.
"Five-note and Twelve Temperaments" is my country's early music system theory. The five tones represent the pentatonic scale based on the sounds produced by the "five animals" of cows, sheep, chickens, pigs and horses, among which the sound of sheep braying is "Shang".
Harmony Sheep have a gentle nature; they must be harmonious to be in groups; happiness is the "harmony of heaven and earth". The meaning of sheep: kind and easy-going, good luck. "Harmony" means impartiality, no less than anything, and the ancients called it a great virtue.
Good luck and good luck
In ancient times, "sheep" was connected with "auspicious". . The ancients hung sheep's heads on their doors at the beginning of the year, gave sheep as gifts during social interactions, and used sheep as betrothal gifts, all for its auspicious meaning.
According to legend, when the antelope sleeps at night, it is different from ordinary livestock beasts. It will look for a tree, find the right location, jump hard, and hang on the branch of the tree with its horns. Make sure that the entire body is suspended and other beasts cannot reach it.
Regarding the origin of the antelope's horns, it was first seen in "Piya Shi Beast": the antelope sleeps at night with its horns hanging from the tree, without touching the ground, leaving no traces, to prevent enemies.
Song Dynasty Yan Yu's "Canglang Poetry Talk·Poetry Analysis" said: "Poets sing about emotions. People in the prosperous Tang Dynasty were just interested in it. An antelope hangs its horns and there is no trace to be found. So it is The beauty is so thorough and exquisite that it cannot be ignored." He also used "the sound in the air, the color in the image, the moon in the water, and the image in the mirror" to describe this ethereal and far-reaching beauty that is "endless in words but infinite in meaning." Poetry.
Also: In Volume 16 of "Jingde Chuan Deng Lu", Zen Master Yi Cun said to the crowd: "If I were traveling east and west, you would search for each sentence; if I were an antelope hanging its horns, where would you go?" Touch it?"
Again: Volume 17 of "Jingde Chuandeng Lu" contains Zen Master Daoying saying to the crowd: "Like a good hunting dog, you can only find traces.
Suddenly I met an antelope with its horns hanging, but there was no sign of it, and I didn't recognize its breath. ”
Later people understood it as a Zen term, a metaphor for a “wonderful saying” that is unreasonable and unobtrusive.