Cattle are the most industrious and the most bitter. The period of agricultural civilization that mankind entered first began with the cultivation of the land by cattle. Cows are good friends of human beings, and people who belong to cattle have a special affection, always using the spirit of cattle to spur themselves to be diligent and progressive.
The cattle pull the great plough that transforms nature, ploughs the wilderness and desert, and sows thousands of acres of turquoise; pulls up the great plough that transforms society, buries sins and ugliness, and can be called the "boat of civilization" for thousands of years.
Professor Huang Jun of the Central Academy of Fine Arts
Chinese love cows, they have more natural emotions, especially Chinese intellectuals. "Horizontal eyebrows cold to The Ganfu, bowing down to the cow", Mr. Lu Xun's most reasonable quote has become a true portrayal of the personality characteristics of the Chinese nation.
He is a master of traditional Chinese studies, a philosopher, a religious scholar, a historian, and a former director of the National Library
Folk regard cattle as gods, and legend has it that immortals once rode a green bull to the human world. In many places in our country are popular worship of cattle, every year in the spring to hold a ploughing ceremony, firecrackers, people rejoice, even the emperor to participate, some places also set up "cow temples", worship "cow gods", or stone carved cattle and copper cast cattle into the water to calm the water, to prevent flooding. "Roundabout Morning Glory Star, Kyaukgyao River Han Girl", the story of the cowherd weaver girl that has been passed down through the ages, and praises the love of the world.
Lyricist and former director of the China Opera and Dance Theatre, Qiao Yu (left)
Zodiac culture is both important and magical to the Chinese nation. We are only trying to engrave it through one kind of carrier - the zodiac seal, to promote it, to praise it. In order to create the "Hundred Cows Welcoming Spring" print, we have depicted the cattle in the town water, the cattle in the paintings, the cattle in real life, and the squatting in the field, observing the hard-working cattle, seeing the ruminant and tired cattle in the cowshed, and watching the cows drinking water by the spring. We have sketched a lot of cow action modalities and obtained a large number of image materials that can carry the charm of cattle. Thus finding an artistic language suitable for expressing the "soul of the cow". Over the years, we have felt from some great people such as artists, scientists, revolutionaries, and from some thick and simple masses, their noble moral sentiments, their firm will to fight, and their solid pace of struggle, and they have inspired us to create and bred some good images of Xiao Niu.
Lute player, composer and music educator Liu Dehai
In order to show Xiao Niu's perseverance and spirit of hard work and dedication, we have been enlightened from the folk saying of "nine pounds of lions and ten pounds of heads", highlighting the mighty bull head. Bull heads are mostly exaggerated and enlarged, eclectic. On the head of the bull, the changeable horns are prominent and eye-catching, a pair of large eyes are round and moving, and most of the Xiao cattle have raised shoulders and low tails, with obvious pioneering labor, infinite strength, and some invincible tendency. Enlarge the tripe, implying generosity and tolerance. Pay attention to capture the dynamics of the tail's instant wobbling, so that in addition to the head, it also has a playful beauty.
Performing artist Wang Fuli
The knife method is changeable, the rhythm is visible, through the contrast of square circles, yin and yang, rigid and soft thickness contrast, the printing stone is full and ethereal. Whether it is a pioneering cow with a heavy head, a climbing cow with great strength, a bull fighting bull that soars into the sky, a deep and dignified lying cow, or a lively and childish cow, a friendly and kind old cow... They all strive to have a distinct personality and a divine form.
Zhu Qishan, a member of the China Book Association
These abstract cow shapes are the material carriers of the cow god that we have carefully refined, such as the clumsy and concise cow in the ancient rock paintings, the simple and simple cows in the portrait bricks, the strong and upright cows in the bronzes, and the cattle in the murals. Looking back at today's spring cow, the spirit is moving, the contrast between ancient and modern times, and I feel more pleased with the progress of the times. The creation of Xiao Niuyin does not add background or decoration to show the simplicity of the cow.
Poet, writer, translator, and children's writer Bing Xin
And so on, just for creative thoughts. We promote the "cattle nature", advocate its form, contain our own feelings, or to enlighten the people at the time. Obviously, these feelings for cattle are beyond people's real feelings for cattle and beyond the blind worship of cattle totems at a certain stage, but a stable and relatively clear spiritual worship - the soul of the zodiac. It has also become the embodiment of the power to inherit traditions and forge the future.
Wen Huaisha, a master of traditional Chinese studies, a writer, and a poet
The intention of the two of us to engrave the portrait of Xiao Niuqun is to outline an artistic conception of labor, weight and dedication, so that people can feel our sincere sustenance and hope through "Hundred Cows Welcoming Spring", so as to use the "Xiao Niu Soul" to inspire a spirit of hard work and dedication for the prosperity of China. This is also the spiritual pillar of our creation.
Author: Chen Guanying, Zhang Weiping
Editor: Wang Xiaojun