153299

The Origin of the Zodiac Sheep

In ancient times, there was a saying of six animals. The ancients regarded “horses, cows, sheep, chickens, dogs, and hogs” as the six animals, and we are not unfamiliar with the animal sheep. Sheep have been the animals that people like to keep since ancient times, and the sheep in the zodiac is not only famous on the “list” , is still in the forefront, which is enough to explain its important position in the minds of the ancients. Next, I will tell you how the sheep became the zodiac sign.

Sheep has accompanied humans for a long time and has a close relationship with humans, which is indeed worth writing about. Because of its moderate physique, poor attack power, and almost no threat to people, it is not as ferocious as jackals, tigers and leopards, making it one of the most ideal hunting targets. And because it eats grass, produces milk, meat, hair, and skin, plus its docile personality, it is easy to tame, so it becomes the earliest animal raised by humans.

In the ancient Hongpan era, there were no grains in the world. Humans lived on vegetables and weeds. Severe malnutrition made them pale and hungry. One autumn, a divine sheep came to the mortal world from the Heavenly Palace, and found that the human face was pale and sluggish. When I asked why, I realized that human beings don’t grow food, and they don’t even know what food is.

Shenyang was very kind, and immediately told people to bring them some seeds next time. It turned out that at that time, only the Tiangong Royal Field was planted with nutritious food. The stingy Jade Emperor was reluctant to share the delicious food with humans. After Shenyang returned to the Tiangong, he sneaked into the imperial field in the middle of the night while the guardian deity was asleep, plucked the five grains (rice, millet, wheat, beans, and hemp), put them in his mouth, and slipped into the mortal world before dawn.

Humans were very curious when they heard that the Shenyang had brought them five grains and seeds. Shenyang gave the seeds to the human beings, and instructed the method of planting the five grains, and quietly returned to the Heavenly Palace.

Humans sowed five grains and seeds, and crops grew in the same year. When harvesting, human beings see the ears of five grains, which are like sheep’s heads and tails. The harvested grains are fragrant and sweet, and the harvested linen clothes are light and warm. After harvesting in autumn and winter, people held grand sacrificial ceremonies to thank the gods for their kindness in sending seeds. This kind of peasant ancestor worship ceremony of autumn harvest and winter storage is still held in some rural areas.

The ceremony of offering sacrifices to the sheep with fire alarmed the Jade Emperor, and the Jade Emperor thought of the appearance of five grains in the world. Immediately thought of Shenyang bringing Gu Ge to the world. After finding out the situation, the Jade Emperor angered Shenyang and ordered Tiangong to slaughter the sheep in the human world, and asked people to eat the mutton.

In the second year, a strange thing happened. In the place where the sheep was like, grass first grew, and then lambs grew. Since then, the sheep have been passed down from generation to generation in the world, living by eating grass and selflessly using their meat and milk. Dedicated to human beings, human beings hold sacrificial offerings every year to commemorate the sacrifice of sheep.

When human beings heard that the Jade Emperor wanted to pick twelve animals for the human zodiac and bestow them as gods, people unanimously recommended the sheep as this zodiac. Although the Jade Emperor was brooding about the sheep stealing the valley, it was difficult for everyone to agree, and he had to agree that the sheep became the zodiac sign.

“Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig” We can memorize the order of the zodiac, and the zodiac has been the magical animal in people’s minds since ancient times. Important content of folk art performances such as New Year pictures, paper-cuts, shadow puppets, sculptures, toys, and accessories.

In folk activities such as saying goodbye to the old year, welcoming the new year, celebrating the abundance of the gods, thanking the gods, eliminating disasters, and keeping peace, the artistic images of the twelve zodiac signs have unique cultural significance. It is a cultural treasure of our country.