This iron cow was found on the east bank of the Yellow River outside the west gate of Gupu House in yongji city, where the historic Pujin Bridge is located. There are four iron cows sinking at the bottom of the water. Next to each iron cow, there is an iron man, like a cow eating grass. According to archaeological research, Tieniu was cast in the 13th year of Kaiyuan in Tang Dynasty (725).
According to historical records, these four huge iron oxen were all used to tie iron cables, which formed the earliest, longest and largest pontoon bridge on the Yellow River, and was an important link between Shanxi, Shaanxi and Henan provinces. At the end of Yuan Dynasty, the bridge was destroyed and left idle for a long time. Later, due to the changes of the Yellow River, it was gradually buried by sediment.
Why is the Yellow River Iron Bull fixing the bridge cable, not other animals? Iron ox has many functions besides fixing cable tray. The Book of Changes said: "Niu Xiang Kun, Kun is soil, and soil is better than water." As the ancients said, soldiers will block, and water will cover up. Putting cast iron cattle on the riverbank is a shock to the wanton flooding of the Yellow River, symbolizing flood prevention, flood control and benefiting the people.
In ancient times, where were zoos and the Internet like this? You can see any animal you want. In the eyes of ordinary people, the old buffalo is a loyal and practical Hercules. Who can tell us, what animal can adapt to this duty better than the cow in people's mind at that time?
The animals that our ancestors knew at that time were all in the zodiac, and the animals that could enter the zodiac were the most familiar animals at that time. It is said that cats are all later species, which failed to catch up with the ranking of the zodiac and were occupied by rats. At that time, when building any animal statues, it was impossible to go beyond the scope of the zodiac. So, who else can you choose to build such a big iron bridge cable?
The reason why the big iron cow is used to pull the iron cable bridge is mainly because the cow is a symbol of strength. The stable and peaceful image of cattle makes people look practical and can calm people's mood. When crossing the bridge, people will feel a sense of fear when they see the surging Yellow River. At this time, seeing cows pulling big chains on both sides makes people feel calm and at ease when crossing the bridge. The four iron cows on the ancient Yellow River Road were built to stabilize the iron piles of the iron cable bridge. Kaiyuan Tieniu, also known as Tang Tieniu, is located in the west of Yongji15km, on both sides of the ancient Yellow River Road in the west of Zhou Pu, with four statues each. Cast in the 12th year of Kaiyuan in Tang Dynasty, the bridge was destroyed at the end of Yuan Dynasty and was not used for a long time, so it was called "Hezhen Iron Bull". Due to the changes of the Yellow River, it was gradually buried by sediment. It is 5 1 m away from the west wall of Puzhou City and 51m away from the west gate. Tieniutou west end east, two rows across the river. Lying posture, 1.5 meters high, 3.3 meters long, round eyes, bearing, vivid and realistic. There is a transverse iron shaft behind the oxtail, 2.33 meters long, which is used to tie the bridge cable. There is a cast iron Ren Hu with a high nose and deep eyes on the side of the cow as a traction shape, and the exposed part is 1.5 meters high and the shoulder width is 0.6 meters. Four cows and four people are different in shape and basically the same in size. According to estimates, each iron cow weighs about 30 tons. Below it are the chassis and iron columns, each weighing about 40 tons. There is an iron mountain between the two rows.
So why did the Tang people build iron oxen to pull chains? There are several reasons for this.
First, cattle are practical, steady and honest.
Cattle are steady, honest, diligent and hardworking. People have a sense of trust in their hearts and are full of confidence in the iron pile with the image of cattle. The direct feeling is that there is a strong cow pulling, nothing! Don't worry about crossing the bridge.
Second, in the ancient Yin-Yang and Five Elements, cattle belong to soil, and soil can overcome water.
In ancient times, there was a saying that yin and yang and five elements were born together, and soil could control floods, which is what the ancients said, "When soldiers come, they will block water and come to the soil." This vigorous cow is stable, practical and powerful, and its five elements belong to the soil, which can restrain floods and is the most reliable mascot.
3. Cattle is a symbol of farming culture.
Ancient life was dominated by farming, and agricultural production played a decisive role. Cattle is an important tool in agricultural production and represents the prospect of agricultural development. So the big iron cow here means another meaning, that is, everything is for agricultural development, and so is the iron cable bridge.
Based on the above analysis, it is of far-reaching practical and symbolic significance to use cattle to pull the iron rope here. There is no animal more suitable for pulling iron bridges and cables than cattle. Iron ox has many functions besides fixing cable tray. The Book of Changes said: "Niu Xiang Kun, Kun is soil, and soil is better than water." As the ancients said, soldiers will block, and water will cover up. Putting cast iron cattle on the riverbank is a shock to the wanton flooding of the Yellow River, symbolizing flood prevention, flood control and benefiting the people.
In fact, why cattle are eternal doubts? There are many controversies in history. What belongs to the earth's cattle, full of power, is bullshit. They read ancient books and use the iron bars of elephants and tigers. Later, the builders of the pontoon bridge learned from the lessons of the ancients and switched to iron columns. No one is curious about why it is an iron pillar anymore. Always use your head and think more, or you will believe me if I make up a few words. hahaha.
Because on the whole, stubbornness is the most honest and stable, and it is not afraid of hard work to plow pear fields. In the minds of farmers, cattle are the treasure of the family, a good helper for farming at home, and a good hope for a bumper harvest. The strength of cattle is also the greatest among domestic animals domesticated by people. They are kind, loyal and strong. ...
The original intention of flood control is to protect farmland from flooding, resulting in poor harvest. Food is the foundation of human life, which indirectly guarantees the stability of state power. So in ancient times, iron cows were used to control or suppress floods.
You can't use wild animals because they are not tamed by humans! Cattle and the like were the best and most valuable in ancient times!
Many people say that we have never seen any animals in ancient times. Nonsense, Shan Hai Jing, Nine Dragons, which was not invented by the ancients, Zhao Zhouqiao is also a masterpiece of the ancients. Facts have proved that financial constraints and bridge construction funds are very cautious things, not to mention the floods with the Yellow River. The only reason is that cattle are soil and soil is water, that's all.
Cattle, in the ancient Chinese zodiac in China, are ugly, symbolizing the sacred land division. Mouse, a name, symbolizes heaven. Together: create the world.
How the water of the Yellow River flows out of heaven and into the ocean, which is gone forever. From the Taoist culture, the sea is the Tao, and the Tao is transformed into three talents. The Yellow River is like one, heaven and earth are in harmony. The integration of the bridge and the three places highlights the "virtue of virtue", which means: the virtue of virtue in the street. It embodies the profound application of Taoist culture in Tang Dynasty. China Bridge culture focuses on the culture of "taking virtue as the street", and its length, width and height are all related to astronomical calendar. So the ancients had the custom of stepping on the bridge. The bridge has become a beam that spans the natural barrier, which is also called "heaven". Using cattle to describe the land and inherit it with people shows the auspicious totem of being in harmony with people at the right time and place.
The animals of the zodiac have the purpose of "name". For example, the tiger means "power" and the rabbit means "Tao". Artistic conception is a way to exercise power. Because animals have different names and intentions, cows are land, and of course only iron cows can be used. This is the totem cultural effect of Taoist culture in the history of China, which is irreplaceable by other animals. Otherwise, we will lose the artistic conception of pottery culture in the history of China's historical and cultural development.
The Book of Changes said, "Cow, Kun is soil, and soil is better than water." "Water to cover" symbolizes stopping floods, conquering floods and benefiting the people.
The year of the rat is coming, and next year is the year of the ox. Wish 202 1 a good year! ! !
In the zodiac, "cow" ranks second, but in fairy tales, animals of other genera have objections to "mouse" ranking first, but there is no objection to the ranking of cattle among the zodiac animals!
The big iron cow found in Pujin Ferry site of the Yellow River is called Kaiyuan Iron Bull, also known as Tang Iron Bull. It was cast in the 13th year of Kaiyuan in Tang Dynasty. At that time, the main function of the iron cow was to fix the Pujin pontoon bridge.
During the Kaiyuan period, Zhou Pu's economy developed rapidly, and Zhou Pu became one of the six major cities in China. However, the long-term use of bamboo cable boat bridge at Pujin Ferry has been in disrepair for a long time, and it can't bear the passage of trucks and goods, which seriously can't keep up with the pace of development. At that time, Li Longji, Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, heard the invitation and approved the reconstruction of Pujinqiao.
Finally, the plan for the construction of Pujin Bridge was finalized. The bamboo cable was changed into an iron cable, and four huge iron cows were used as lock piles. After the iron cow was cast, it lay on both sides of the river and tied with iron cables, and the first fixed iron cable bridge on the Yellow River was built.
The historical task of Big Tie Niu is to lock piles, and Pujinqiao is an important link connecting Shanxi, Shaanxi and Henan provinces. After the destruction of the Yuan Dynasty, it was abandoned for a period of time, and it was reopened in the Ming Dynasty until the Yellow River was completely silent after its diversion.
Until 1988, Yongji County, after strict investigation, these four big iron cows finally came to light. The largest iron cow is 72 tons, and the smallest is 45 tons. This important archaeological achievement has aroused widespread concern in society.
China has been dominated by agriculture since ancient times, and farming is the main production activity. Niu Geng first appeared in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period.
The use of technology and ironware in Niu Geng greatly saved the social labor force, expanded the scale of production, promoted the development of social productive forces, and then promoted the reform of the social system at that time, prompting the slave society to change to the feudal social system.
The history of Niu Geng runs through the whole of China for more than two thousand years. Cattle are gradually closely linked with agriculture.
Cattle culture came into being.
In ancient China, there was a traditional activity of "herding cattle to welcome the spring" in beginning of spring every year, which was used to wish a bumper harvest this year, and even a beautiful vision of national prosperity.
The custom of "whipping spring cattle" continues to this day.
Zhou Li Yue Ling: "Digging cows to send cold."
The Book of Rites of Han Dynasty said: "On the day of beginning of spring, ... all the officials in the capital were in Tsing Yi, and all the officials in counties, townships and counties were wearing green grass, setting up green flags and plowing cattle and people outside the door to show the people."
In the first year of Jing You in Song Dynasty, Tu Niu Jing was published nationwide.
During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, whipping cattle in the spring was listed as a national celebration.
"When Fu Nan was Years Old" in the Kangxi period of Qing Dynasty said: "On the day of beginning of spring, officials each had colorful sticks, and those who beat local cattle were three, which was called whipping spring to show the intention of persuading farmers."
There is a lyric of a four-year-old "whipping a spring cow" in the Year of Yixian: "One whip says that the weather is good, the second whip says that the country is peaceful and the people are safe, and the third whip says that the son of heaven will live forever in spring."
Visible, whether ordinary farmers or rulers, good weather, peace and prosperity, have been firmly linked with cattle.
The ruler pays more attention to cattle.
There is no doubt about the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty. At the beginning of his reign, Emperor Gaozu, the founder of the Tang Empire, made an ancient sacrifice. Cattle, sheep and pigs were called "Tai Prison", while sheep and pigs were called "Shao Prison". It shows that the country is in the grass, the people's livelihood is declining, and it needs to recuperate. Cattle farming is an important material for agricultural production, so it is necessary to reduce the use of cattle in sacrifices.
As we all know, when the ancient emperors of China changed the Yuan Dynasty, they all wanted to grant amnesty to the whole country to show their great kindness, that is to say, almost all of them could be acquitted. but
Tang Zhaozong's Amnesty Order of Gaiyuan Tianfu clearly defined the scope, but in prison, the ten evils and five crimes, killing cattle and casting money, conspiring to make drugs, murdering people, holding wars and robbing officials, committing stolen goods, took advantage of officials and prisoners in the name of abuse of power, and in prison, officials used their feelings to cause unjust abuse, regardless of whether they had stolen goods or not, which was not limited by the original exemption.
"Slaughtering cattle to make money" means literally. Slaughtering cattle to make money is not acceptable. It can be seen that killing cattle was a felony in the Tang Dynasty!
What I said at the beginning is similar to the cow in the zodiac, which is one of the cow cultures.
Why is the ugly cow in the zodiac an ugly cow?
There are two versions.
First, the zodiac cow corresponds to the second "ugly" of the zodiac, so it ranks second and is called "ugly cow". Zodiac cows can be divided into ugly cows, ugly cows, ugly cows, ugly cows and ugly cows according to different birth years.
Secondly, we know that cows have made indelible contributions to agriculture since ancient times, and feeding cows well is also a major event for farmers' uncles. When it's ugly (1 until 3 o'clock), farmers will get up and feed the cows. Cows are associated with ugliness and become "ugly cows".
In ancient times, people used cows as totems.
According to Shan Hai Jing, Emperor Yan is a bull's head, but in fact, his tribe takes cows as its totem.
According to Records of the Historian, Emperor Yan "started from Lieshan and lived there" and was the leader of the Jiang tribe. He lived in the early Yangshao culture in primitive society.
The ancient Emperor Yan led the tribe to nomadic fishing and hunting along the northwest river, and then came to the Central Plains in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River. He tasted grass with the smell of ox tongue, knew the valley with the sensitivity of ox eye, moved mountains and filled the sea with the strength of ox, and cultivated land to promote agriculture.
Cattle gradually became the folk patron saint, which originated from the ancient animal totem belief and later evolved into an animal god. Since the Qin dynasty, there has been a custom of offering sacrifices to the cow god.
In modern times, the meaning of cattle is more profound. Lu Xun's self-deprecating poem, "Bow your head and be a willing ox", shows the spirit of a willing ox.
Qi Jinggong loves his youngest son very much. He once pretended to be a cow with a rope in his mouth and asked him to play with him. Lu Xun used this allusion to describe his willingness to be as diligent as a cow for the broad masses of the people and have no regrets.
Is everyone beginning to like cows?
In ancient times, where were zoos and the Internet like this? You can see any animal you want. In the eyes of ordinary people, the old buffalo is a loyal and practical Hercules. Who can tell us, what animal can adapt to this duty better than the cow in people's mind at that time? The animals that our ancestors knew at that time were all in the zodiac, and the animals that could enter the zodiac were the most familiar animals at that time. It is said that cats are all later species, which failed to catch up with the ranking of the zodiac and were occupied by rats. At that time, when building any animal statues, it was impossible to go beyond the scope of the zodiac. So, who else can you choose to build such a big iron bridge cable?