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

It is recorded in the Book of the Later Han Dynasty: "The Duke of Zhou began to make local cattle in the spring, and unearthed them to show that farming was sooner or later." By the Han Dynasty, the custom of whipping spring cattle in early spring had become quite popular. Whipping spring cattle means urging old cattle to plow the fields, and it also means good weather and abundant crops.

Whip the cows to welcome the arrival of spring.

During the beginning of spring solar term, Qiling Village, Wuyuan County, Jiangxi Province held a "Spring Cattle Whipping" activity. The villagers wrapped Mu Chunniu in red silk, hung red flowers, carried it out of the ancestral hall, held banners to welcome the spring, beat gongs and drums, and marched along the ancient village Tianjie to the terraced fields to attract villagers and tourists to watch.

After cruising to the terraced fields, the villagers put the spring cattle on the altar to worship the spring god, whipped them with wicker in their hands, and sang: "Welcome the mountain god, whip the spring cattle, a dozen good weather, two dozen peaceful countries and people, three dozen peaceful times, four dozen peaceful seasons, five dozen bumper crops, six dozen prosperous livestock, seven dozen seven stars shining high, eight dozen everything is fine, nine dozen nine belong to one, and ten.

It is understood that the significance of holding the activity of "whipping spring cattle" in Qingling ancient village is to send air conditioning, promote spring ploughing, pray for good weather on 20 18, and at the same time show good omen and encourage farming.