Cultural Interests of Horses

Horses have a special place in people's hearts. In ancient times, the most important tool for people to travel and war was to rely on horses. The horse has a very high status in the culture of the Chinese nation and has a series of symbols and meanings. The Dragon Horse Spirit is the national spirit of continuous struggle, self-improvement, and progress that the Chinese nation has advocated since ancient times. The ancestors believed that the dragon horse is the benevolent horse, the elves of the Yellow River, and the incarnation of the descendants of Yan and Huang, representing the main spirit and highest morality of the Chinese nation. The ancestors have equated the dragon horse with pure Yang dryness in the world view. It is synonymous with vigorous, bright, rising, full, and prosperous. The " I Ching " simply said: "Dry is a horse." This is what Confucius said in the "Book of Changes?" The origin of the most resounding Chinese saying that has been passed down from generation to generation summarized in Qian Gua: "Heaven walks healthy, gentleman strives for self-improvement!" This dragon horse, born from the soul of our nation, is extremely majestic and powerful. Infinite, chasing the moon and the sun, fighting against the stars, riding the wind and rain, reluctant to leave day and night. Isn't this a vivid portrayal of the Chinese nation fighting against the sky and conquering nature? Isn't it just a reflection of the Chinese people's optimistic and upward meaning of life in fear of hardships and dangers?

The horse is also a symbol of ability, sage, talent, and accomplishment. The ancients often compared it with the "thousand horses". The Maxima is an excellent steed that travels thousands of miles every day. According to legend, King Zhou Mu had eight horses, and he often rode around the world. The names of the eight horses: one is called Jedi, who can fly without touching the soil or landing on their feet; one is called Fanyu, which can run faster than a bird; one is called Benjing, which can travel thousands of miles at night; and the other is Chaoying, which can Chasing the sun and galloping; one is called Yuhui, the color of horsehair is brilliant and radiant; one is called Chaoguang, and the horse has ten shadows; the other is called Tengwu, which is flying in the clouds and mist; the other is called Niaiyi , With wings on his body, soaring for ninety thousand miles like a Dapeng. Some ancient books imagine the "Eight Horses" as eight different coat colors, each with nice names: Chi Ji, Pirate Li, Qu Huang, Hua Li, and Lu Er. In fact, the magical legends of steeds all describe virtuous talents, and don't really believe them in myths. The Eight Horses of King Zhou Mu are actually a metaphor for his group of people, with outstanding talents and extraordinary abilities, each with their special abilities to jointly assist Zhou Tianzi's great cause in the world.

The more clear and unmistakable description of talents with horses is the famous allusion of "a daughter buys bones". During the Warring States Period, the kings of various countries competed to recruit talents in order to maintain the stability of the country. King Yan Zhao is no exception. He is ready to recruit outstanding talents with a humble attitude and generous remuneration. A courtier named Guo Wei in the State of Yan told King Zhao an old parable about the Chollima: There was once a king who wanted to spend a thousand dollars to ask for a Chollima. Three years have passed, but he has not been able to do so. The doorman took the initiative to ask for a fight, saying that he could get a great horse. The monarch sent him and found the whereabouts of Chollima within three months, but the horse was already dead. The doorman took out five hundred gold to buy the bones of the horse, and returned for business. The monarch said angrily: "What I want is a live horse, how can you buy back a bunch of dry bones for five hundred gold?" The doorman replied, "Yes, today I bought the bones of a Chollima for the king for five hundred gold. , That a living Maxima is not knowing how expensive it is. From this, the people of the world know that the king values ​​Maxima so much, are they worried that other Maxima will come one after another?” Sure enough, less than a year, the Maxima ran over again and again. When Guo Kui talked about this, the topic suddenly changed, and he contacted the present: Today, if the king is really looking for talents and recruiting talents, then let me reuse Guo Kui first. Even the not-so-excellent talents like me are valued. What about the real talents who are better than me? Once Chollima intends to defect to someone, he will come automatically no matter how far away. ( Chinese Zodiac http:///shengxiao/)

This is a story from the "Warring States Policy", which shows us the principle of seeking talents. Just because horses symbolize talents, people who are good at horses are hailed as talents of good knowledge and good deeds. For example, Wang Liang of Zhao State in Qin Dynasty, Bole of Qin State, Fang Jiuhou, etc. are all experts of Xiang Ma. The boring situation of talent burying or lack of performance is called "all horses together." Gong Zizhen, a famous literati in the Qing Dynasty, said in a poem: "Kiuzhou students rely on wind and thunder, and ten thousand horse chapters are deteriorating; I persuade Tiangong to tremble again and cast down talents in any style."