2006 Year of the Horse

Author: Hu Zuqing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-09-01
Features: The horse holds an extremely high status in Chinese national culture, embodying a series of symbolic meanings and connotations. Ancestors believed that the dragon horse was the benevolent horse, the spirit of the Yellow River, and the embodiment of the descendants of Yan and Huang. It represented the core spirit and highest moral principles of the Huaxia nation. In their worldview, ancestors equated the dragon horse with the pure yang of Qian in the I Ching, symbolizing strength, passion, high aspiration, ascent, fullness, prosperity, and development. The I Ching bluntly states, "Qian represents the horse," as it symbolizes the sky, as well as the king, father, gentleman, origin, and the endless cycle of life. The famous saying passed down through generations of Chinese people, "The sky moves with vigor, and gentlemen should constantly strive for self-improvement!" originates from this.
Yes, this dragon horse, forged by the soul of our nation, is incredibly majestic and immensely powerful. It chases the moon and the sun, rides the wind and rain, and never rests day or night. Isn’t this a vivid portrayal of the Chinese nation’s struggle against nature and its conquest of the natural world? Isn’t it a lively metaphor for the descendants of Yan and Huang overcoming difficulties and moving forward forever? Isn’t it a reflection of the Chinese people’s unwavering optimism and upward spirit in the face of challenges?
The horse also symbolizes ability, sages, talent, and achievement. Ancients often used the metaphor of a "thousand-li horse" to represent exceptional talent. A clearer and more unambiguous example of using the horse to symbolize talent is the famous anecdote of "buying a horse’s bone for a thousand pieces of gold." Since the horse symbolizes talent, those skilled in horse appraisal were also regarded as those who could discern and promote talent. For instance, Wang Liang of Zhao during the Qin period, Bo Le of Qin, and Fang Jiujin were all experts in horse appraisal. When talent is hidden or a lack of talent leads to a stifling atmosphere, it is called "a thousand horses in silence." The renowned Qing Dynasty scholar Gong Zizhen once wrote a poem that says, "The vitality of the nine provinces relies on thunder and lightning; when a thousand horses are silent, can the decline be justified? I advise the heavens to mix and match more, and to bestow talent without discrimination."