What does it mean to send spring cattle?

Sending a picture of spring cattle means busy farming in the new year and abundant crops. Generally speaking, beginning of spring will send photos of spring cattle, which is a traditional custom to welcome spring. It is intended to remind people that spring will not miss the busy farming season, which is a courtesy to spring and an expectation for a bumper harvest.

"Spring Cattle Map" is a graphic description used in ancient China to predict the weather, rainfall, dry branches, five elements and crop harvest. The custom of sending pictures of spring cattle originated from the custom of "whipping spring cattle" in early spring. Send spring cattle, commonly known as "spring", and send pictures of spring cattle door to door during the vernal equinox. In the past, most people who sent pictures were folk singers, and when they sent pictures, they would also say auspicious words about spring ploughing. Although the lyrics are improvised, they also rhyme.

The content of "Spring Cattle Map"

According to legend, Spring Cattle Map flourished in the early Tang Dynasty, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties and lasted for thousands of years. The internet age says that spring has gradually declined, but it can still be seen in rural areas. In the traditional farming society, "Spring Cattle Map" is an illustrated way to predict the agricultural time of a year, including dry branches, five elements, weather, rainfall, drought, agricultural harvest, livestock diseases and even social stability. "Spring Cattle Map" has a picture above and a book below.

The words "cattle grazing map" are engraved right above; The gossip carved in the corner of the map indicates that there is Taoist divine power to help; Main picture: a cow and a god of Petunia; There are seven-character poems on the left and right in the picture, which are used to briefly predict the weather and agricultural harvest of that year. The lower part is a year's yellow calendar, marked with 24 solar terms, etc. It is an encyclopedia guide to farmers' life, especially the daily taboos that everyone likes to see and hear.