People often use "five grains are abundant, six animals are prosperous" to bless the New Year, what kind of animal does the "six animals" in this sentence refer to? Why are these six animals called the "six animals"? What role do they play in our country's agricultural culture?
We must understand that "a bumper harvest of five grains and a prosperous harvest of six livestock" is actually an expectation and blessing for a bumper agricultural harvest and rural prosperity. Among them, "five grains" refers to major crops such as rice, wheat, millet, beans, and potatoes, while "six livestock" refers to six types of domestic animals: pigs, cattle, sheep, horses, chickens, and dogs.
In China's ancient society, agricultural production was mainly farming, and these six types of livestock were an indispensable part of agricultural production. Each of these six livestock species plays an important role. Pigs and sheep are the main meat of humans**, cattle and horses are important laborers, responsible for tasks such as plowing and transportation, chickens are poultry that provide eggs and meat, and dogs are important companions of humans, which can not only help people take care of their homes, but also play an important role in hunting and other fields. Therefore, these six types of domestic animals are called "six animals", which symbolizes the prosperity of agricultural production and the abundance of rural life.
It is worth mentioning that in China's agricultural culture, these six kinds of livestock are not only tools for production and life, but also the sustenance of people's emotions. For example, dogs are seen as a symbol of loyalty, cattle are a symbol of diligence and endurance, horses are considered the embodiment of bravery and strength, and chickens are a symbol of courage and justice.
In modern society, with the development of science and technology and the change of production methods, the tools and methods of agricultural production have undergone great changes. However, "a bumper harvest of five grains and a prosperous harvest of six livestock" is still a good expectation for a bumper agricultural harvest and rural prosperity. At the same time, these six kinds of domestic animals still carry rich historical and cultural connotations in China's agricultural culture, and are a symbol of people's emotional sustenance and expectation.
2024 Chinese New Year outlook