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In ancient China, the status of ox was very high in fetes or other holy occasions. Generally speaking, living creatures were slaughtered in sacrificial ceremonies. But only on very important fete occasions would oxen be used.
Some folk activities in China were held to express the affection of people for ox. For instance, on the 16th day of the first month according to the lunar calendar, people would run to shake off diseases, and during their run they would take their oxen along, an indication that they regarded the creature as human. Another example is that in east China's Shandong Province, local people have a tradition to feed oxen well on the Tomb-Sweeping Festival, a traditional festival that falls around April 5 of the solar calendar. On that day, people would offer rich and palatable food to oxen in recognition of their hard work. For the Han nationality, the fifth day of the first month in the lunar calendar is believed to be the birthday of ox. On that day, oxen are well treated and freed from work. It is also forbidden to slaughter oxen on that day.
Spring oxen
The Beginning of Spring is one of the 24 seasonal division points of China according to the lunar calendar, by which the solar year is divided according to the sun's ecliptic movement. At least in the Han Dynasty (202 B.C.-A.D. 220) the Beginning of Spring developed into a festival.
On that day, spring oxen were indispensable. Originally spring oxen were made of clay, called Clay Oxen. Later, they could also be made of bamboo or paper. In the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), there was the custom of preparing Clay Oxen in the east suburbs before the Beginning of Spring, and on the day of the Beginning of Spring, officials would go to the spot to welcome spring and carry back the Clay Oxen, during which ordinary people would pour into the streets and witness the parade.
The Chinese believe that Clay Oxen have a supernatural power that can dictate the destiny of the humankind. They worship oxen, hoping these divine creatures will bring about favorable weather, rich harvests, good health and increase of family members in the coming year. In some families, people would post paintings or paper cuttings with the theme of spring oxen, expressing their wish to live a wealthy and happy life.
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Characteristics of People Born in the Year of the Ox
According to the lunar calendar, an animal is used to identify a year in a 12-year cycle and becomes the shuxiang (sign of the birth year) of people born in that year. The Spring Festival (the lunar New Year) of 2009 ushers in the Year of the Ox. Thus, babies who will be born in 2009 and people who were born in 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961, 1949, 1937, 1925 or 1913 have the ox as their shuxiang. In traditional Chinese belief, people who share the same animal sign, or the same shuxiang, would have a similar character, temperament and even fortune in their lives.
It is believed that people born in the Year of the Ox are patient, speak little and inspire confidence in others. They tend, however, to anger easily and have fierce tempers. Although they speak little, they are quite eloquent when they do. They are also mentally and physically alert. Generally easy-going, they can be remarkably stubborn, and they hate to fail or be opposed. They are most compatible with people born in the years of the snake, rooster and rat.
(Source: c-c-c.org) | |
