What does the custom of "whipping spring cattle" mean in spring?

Every solar term in beginning of spring, the government will hold a ceremony of "whipping the spring cattle" to show the beginning and harvest of spring ploughing. According to historical records, "Whipping Spring Cattle" prevailed in the Tang and Song Dynasties and originated from the imperial palace. Especially after Song Renzong promulgated "Tu Niu Jing", this custom spread widely and became an important part of folk culture. During the Yongzheng period of the Qing Dynasty (65,438+03), except for the first year, the rest went to the Xiannongtan for sacrifices and field trips every year. In the fourth year of Yongzheng, he even asked officials at all levels in the country to personally carry out the ploughing ceremony, saying, "I want local officials who are guarding the soil to carry out the ploughing ceremony, so that it is difficult to harvest crops, know the hardships of farmers, measure sunny and rainy days, and observe the fertility of the soil." Since then, every Spring Festival, county officials beat gongs and drums to bring paper-wrapped spring cows from the county government to the Xiannongtan. People set off firecrackers and threw rice and soybeans at the cows along the way, wishing a bumper harvest in the new year.