The cultural symbolism of the zodiac ox

In Chinese Chinese characters, as long as they are compatible with cattle, they will either have so little strength or spirit, otherwise they will be a genuine cow.

The words "yak", "gu", "calf", "rhinoceros", and "犋" refer to different types of cattle.

"Animal husbandry" refers to a place where cattle are grazing. "Plow" refers to the utensils used by cattle to cultivate the land. "Sacrifice" in ancient times meant a sacrifice made with cattle. A person with a stubborn temper is called "犟". The horns are called "Yuan". The unrepentant nature of the bull is called "牾". In addition, such as "mu", "wu", "special", "牿", etc. are also related to the original family.

In the Chinese zodiac , the ox is the largest in size, which is in contrast to the mouse . Therefore, people use "rats" as a metaphor for small or small, and "ox" for large or large.

For example, if the material is too small, it is "small test with a bull knife" or "killing a chicken with a bull knife" or "cooking a chicken in a cattle pot".

"Bull eyes, cow mouth, cow anus, cow feet" describe some parts of the human body that are coarse and indecent.

The curse sound is rough and unpleasant as "cow sound and horse roar" or "cow sound and horse tune".

To say that Ning to be a leader in a small place and not a subordinate in a big place is "preferred to be a chicken mouth than a cow queen."

The cow has a large body and naturally more hairs, so it is called "cow hair" as numerous and fine. The book "Baopuzi" says: "Study is like a feather, and the winners are rare", emphasizing that learning is not easy. Du Fu's poem "When Shang Yang was in the Qin Dynasty, the decrees are like cow hair", which is a detailed description of the harsh and harsh ancient decrees.

The ancients used bamboo and cattails to paint and ox-drawn carts for books, so there is a story of "sweat and oxen". Liu Zongyuan's text: "It is a book, but the place is full of buildings, and when you go out, you will sweat." Later generations often referred to books as "sweat cows full of buildings."

Cows have four sacs and can regurgitate after eating. They have a large appetite. The people ridicule people as “tripes”, those who drink well are called “cow drink”, and those who have a strong temper are called “bull temperament”. Calling to stop tantrums or to stop liars is "pull the nose." Scolding people for not cherishing items as "Bull God". To ridicule people is "cow-like". Calling people to act as slow as a cow is "delayed in a cow's steps". Those who buy wives and ask for grass are ridiculed as "ramming the bull's head", that is, wearing fakes to cover shame.

Calling those who brag about falsehoods is "boasting" or "boasting."

Today, the criminals who attempted to be unreasonable, slanderous, and opportunistic are "scalpers."

Those who do not agree with each other are referred to as "the wind, the horse and the cow are not related" or "the bull's head is not the same as the horse's mouth".

It doesn't matter whether it is "mosquito bites the horns", which means that there is no sense at all.

A good detour to the side door is to "snap the horns".

"Clay cow enters the sea" refers to no return.

Niu is famous for its foolishness and loyalty. People often refer to unwise and stupid people as "stupid cows" or "feeding cows". In ancient times, the illiterate was ridiculed as "green cow" (blind cow). The world said that unknown words mean "playing the piano against the cow". It is called "Hu Niu Hu Ma" by people. As the "Zhuangzi" says: "You call me a cow, and you call me a cow, and call me a horse, you call me a horse." Describing the ugly or Xiao children Zhi as "ghosts, ghosts, and snakes" (the teacher's intention was to be insulted). Repaying kindness to others, "Being a cow and a horse" means being a cow and a horse and farming for others.

There is a sentence in the Han Scripts that "remember the cow's clothes and cry when the evil is evil", so later generations describe the poor conditions of the poor and humble as their wives as "the cow's clothes cry against each other."

Mencius said that "the wood of Niushan tastes the beauty", originally referring to the beauty of the local woods of Niushan in Linzi County, Shandong Province, and later generations used to refer to the baldness of people.

Han Yuyun: "The skin of the cow, the puffball, and the defeated drum", later generations described the extremely subtle things as also useful, the so-called "niu puffball".

In addition, "returning to the horse and herding cattle" metaphors the end of the war, and the soldiers are disarmed and returned to Tian Yongxi. "Nine cows and a tiny fraction" are a small part of the vast majority. "Nine cows and one tiger" describes great power. The metaphor of "Tu Niu Lin Mu Ma" is tangible but insubstantial. "Riding a bull to find a bull" metaphor forgets its roots and has the meaning of what he wants. "Wu Niu Chuanyue" describes excessive fear. "Lao Niu cart" mocks human incompetence. (Chinese Zodiac http:///shengxiao/)

In folk slang, "the black man, the plowing ox, the iron green horse, and the one who works is the two." It means that a person is strong and physically strong, and one person does the work of two people. "If you have money to buy cows and horses, it is better to be angry with the cows." It is impractical to say that people should choose talents who have the ability to do things instead of not grasping the key points, but paying attention to trivial matters. "Cattle eat straw, duck fish shrimp", and that not everyone good fortune.

---